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| " Blue " |
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| " I am so outta here"
The old saying “The
road to hell is paved with good intentions” came into play this past weekend.
Last week Dusty was a tiny bit off in either her right stifle or hock and
walking around seems to help her loosen up. Blue is out of shape so
saddling up right out of the stall probably isn’t a good idea for him
either. First thing in the morning I put Blue and Dusty in the side
paddock so they could move around for a bit before going to
work. Then I went in for breakfast.
Blue was my first
choice for a ride since he isn’t in as good a shape as he should be this
year. My plan to start his reconditioning program was to walk him
for twenty minutes to half an hour to get him accustomed to being ridden
again. Let me say that although Blue is well trained he’s no
saint. He still holds the title of laziest horse I’ve ever met even
considering that my Erik was no ball of fire either. Blue wins the
“sorry, not steering today” ribbon, hands down.
He eventually
surrendered his stubbornness and allowed me to steer (guide) him. We
finally got a decent pace at the walk, too. Blue has a way of making
the rider’s position look ridiculous, sort of like twisting your body into a
half-open scissor. Okay, so it wasn’t entirely his
fault. The truth is I’m so used to Dusty being responsive and moving
to a feather light cue when I had to get after Blue I basically turned myself
into a contortionist to get him to listen. There’s a lot I had to
work on with my position and re-training myself how to ride a "real"
horse with no intention of listening to me. You know, the kind of
horse I was accustomed to before Dusty.
After about forty-five
minutes of adjusting my thighs, calves and seat constantly, then throwing in
some work with no stirrups for good measure, I was tired. So we
called it a day. As I trudged uphill to the barn and passed Dusty
staring at me over the fence from her paddock I just knew I didn’t have it in
me to ride her too.
Even though she’s a
willing participant and eager to learn, combined with being very comfortable, I
told her she had the day off.
As much as I hate to
admit it--or worse yet, give in to aging--I think there comes a time when you
have to know your limitations. Maybe the time of riding a few green
horses a day might be a distant memory of the past. As are the days
of riding for hours just for fun or jumping courses. Maybe they’re
not. The one thing I did realize as I was slogging uphill with Blue
trailing behind me is I need to get in better shape by dieting and exercising
more. Last time I looked at the calendar of years flown by I
realized I’m not getting any younger, but maybe I can hold off the
inevitability of aging by operating at a higher level of fitness.
It seems to me instead
of running around like a chicken without a head I need to organize my time more
wisely and learn to take some time for myself. At this stage of the game we
should be able to do what is good for us and gives us pleasure. That
may sound a tad selfish but if we don’t look out for our own happiness, who
will?
Until next time
Quote for Today
Adults -
When you can no longer bend down to touch your toes whilst trotting, it is then
you begin to realize you are not quite as youthful as you think!
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I wish we lived across the lane from one another - we could be riding buddies on the good days and Ben and Jerry's buddies on the not so good ones. :)
ReplyDeleteI have been considering the benefits of ponying - I can pony Keil Bay and Cody both ways and maybe if I squint my eyes real hard I can pretend I'm doing something fancy like the French guy whose name I am blanking out on right now! I am hoping the end of summer brings me some energy.
billie,
DeleteThat sounds perfect! I wish we lived closer too.
With Fall just around the corner and cooler temps I think we'll all feel the energy rise again. Maybe you were thinking of Phillipe Karl? He's the only Frenchman I can think of right now. (A mind is a terrible thing to misplace) ;)
no point in having horses and trying to ride them if you're not going to do it right. i kind of feel like it's all or nothing. i either want to be sure i can dedicate myself to doing it properly or i don't want to do it at all... if that's selfish, then selfish needs a new definition.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way and I'm trying to find the time to do it right. There has to be a way to find more time for riding.
DeleteI'm with you all the way on this one. I've been swimming nearly every day, so my overall fitness is pretty good...have a few years on you...but I haven't been riding. So, when I do get in the saddle, despite everything, riding more than one horse can be a bit of a challenge.
ReplyDeleteThen again, a good part of it is getting said horse READY to ride. I keep thinking if someone else did all the tacking up and cooling off for me, I could manage more rides.
Jean,
DeleteI've always thought that having my horses tacked up and ready to go would be a luxury. That's not going to happen anytime soon though. Then again I guess grooming and tacking up is good exercise. And also a way to check everything out with our horses and do a little bonding too.
Amen sista!! I so hate to admit it, but I'm in agreement with you, especially about the dieting and getting more exercise part...dirty words every stinking one!!! *sigh*
ReplyDeleteLorie,
ReplyDeleteDieting and exercise is a dirty job but somebody's got to do it.
It's hard to give the horses their due - they expect the best of us and sometimes it's hard to deliver. The horses say we could all do with a little improvement . . .
ReplyDeleteKate,
ReplyDeleteI'm only glad I can't read their minds. Although, sometimes by the expressions on their faces I think I can guess, and it's not always good.
How is that even when the kids are grown and there are no more school runs and after school activities to fill our time, we still struggle to find time to ride? **sigh**
ReplyDeleteMartine,
DeleteI've been wondering about that myself. Seems I'm busier now than when they were all home.
What if you bring both horses in together and then groom and tack them up together? That would almost be as good as having someone get them ready for you. ;)
ReplyDeleteI find that the grooming before and after takes more time than actually riding. If I have to, I can shorten my ride (although I don't want to), but I cannot avoid the prep and clean up and my horse wants his special time after a ride (i.e. grazing and carrots). I always feel bad if I have to put him away quickly and move on to the next thing. For what it is worth, I don't think there is anything wrong with alternating days with each horse. I dream about riding every day, but even with my own horse, there are always some many other things demanding my time.
Val,
ReplyDeleteTacking them both together would be a little awkward since they both use the same saddle :)
I think I might have to alternate days for the time being. Dusty's fit but Blue isn't so he could use a day off in between riding. They do like their treats afterwards don't they?
Work smarter- not harder! :)
ReplyDeleteI detest riding on horses that make you work, work, work to get them to move for the exact reason that you wrote about. You end up twisting your body in such strange ways that you wear yourself out and get sore in weird places. I rode one lesson horse who wouldn't listen to my leg or crop so out of frustration I cracked him on the shoulders once with the reins- he stepped right out. Guess he wasn't expecting that.
I guess I should have carried a crop but I wasn't expecting him to be quite so stubborn. With Blue the more often you ride the better work habits he shows. So I'm hoping he'll get it together after a few rides.
ReplyDeleteI find it difficult recognizing my limitations. My attitude is 25 years younger, but my body eventually protests and reminds me that I am older. :-)
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely nothing wrong with having time for yourself. It's hard saying "no" sometimes, but it is necessary for your own well-being.
Being a little older and having a horse that can sometimes be a challenge, I know how exhausting it can be contorting your body to get a response! Blue may be a little out of shape, but he's still one handsome dude. :-)
Wolfie,
DeleteI don't usually give in and the bar is set pretty high for my limitations too. I guess I just got a little frustrated last weekend. It's been a while since I've ridden Blue and I sort of forgot that when he first starts back in work he's lazy. He is one handsome dude as you say. I can't wait to put some pictures up of him when he gets into good shape again. He's an awesome horse with a different personality than I've ever encountered in a horse before. Very cool.
Horse or no horse, dieting and exercise is the way to go for all of us. Loved your description of "scissoring" but it must be frustrating to work so hard to get a horse to do what he knows how to do. Hope Dusty feels better soon so you both can enjoy the cooler weather we are having. You know, just BE.
ReplyDeleteDJ, I wish i was one of those people who can just BE. But if there's something to do I have to gt it done. Exercise and diet are definitely in my future! You must get lots of fitness time in just walking and playing with Toby.
DeleteDear Grey Horse Matters,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. I’ve just started riding lessons (English) as a middle-aged adult--more to commune with horses than to actually learn to ride. I’ve been reading your blog and some other equine-related sites and books this past year, all of which inspired my decision to sign up for the lessons offered by my local park district. At my third once-a-week lesson, I rode a handsome fellow whom I’ll call “Mister.” I rode Western as a child and never had a problem getting any horse to move. On the contrary, my challenge was getting them to stop. Maybe Mister knew that and decided to show me something new, for he was the first horse in my life who refused to go for me. But it wasn’t just me: The previous week, he had done the same with another adult student.
The antidote to such stubbornness, according to our teenaged instructors, is to kick as frequently and as hard as we can. “You can’t hurt ’em!” they yell at us. “Just kick ’em hard!”
I have several questions for you and your readers:
1. Aren’t there any other ways I can convey my wishes to this horse other than kicking? (Clucking alone doesn’t do the trick.) What were you doing exactly when you wrote you became a contortionist with Blue?
2. If Mister is always a problem, as I’ve heard, shouldn’t he be used in more advanced classes?
3. Our first class was spent grooming the horses. Mister was assigned to me that day, too, and I saw what I thought was a sense of humor in him. For instance, after I’d struggled mightily (and failed) to lift his leg and clean his hoof, I stood up to take a break. Just as I did, Mister looked at me and lifted one leg, then the other--as if to say, “This? Is this what you wanted me to do?” I laughed. Two weeks later when I was riding him in the ring, I wanted him to travel in the dirt area rather than the center grass as he seemed to prefer, so I directed him to the right. I swear I could feel him thinking, “Right? Just how far right do you want me to go, Lady? This far?” And I knew he intended to run my knee into the fence. I managed to escape injury, but I had to give him credit for showing me I needed training in my communication skills. My question: Is a beginning class too dreadfully boring for such a smart horse? (The instructors and veteran students use other, less positive adjectives to describe him. However, I’ve since heard tales that he opens gates and unties knots.)
I feel like a failure already, even though my ride on a mare the week before was fine. I appreciate any thoughts and advice you have to offer for a rank beginner. Or books you recommend. The information I gleaned from Sally Swift’s “Centered Riding” has already been shot down by my instructors.
Thank you,
The non-horse-whisperer who’s blue in the Bluegrass
C.J.,
DeleteGood for you for getting back on a horse and deciding to take lessons! I'm not all that comfortable giving advice because I don't know the "Mister" personally and I can't see what exactly is going on in your lessons. I will say he does seem smart and perhaps a little bored so he's decided to amuse himself at the student's expense. I'll also go out on a limb and say that maybe the teenaged instructors aren't quite as experienced as they might be in figuring out how to solve a problem. "Kick 'em hard and as often as possible" might not be the solution for this particular horse or any horse for that matter. It often doesn't make the horse feel friendly towards his rider and inclined to listen. The park horses may be immune to a lot of cues especially if they are trained as safe for anyone to ride on trail rides.
Now on to answer your questions:
1. I never actually kick my horses because they are all trained to go with a squeeze and they are trained to respond to different seat positions. This is sort of what I meant about Blue. I was trying to make him circle right without using the reins so I put both reins in my left hand, shifted my (tripod bones) seat position forward with more pressure on the right bones and lifted my shoulder and twisted it and arm back toward his rump looking over my shoulder with my head position. Believe it or not he made a perfect right circle just by listening to my position and shifting his balance. Not sure if this is explaining it correctly but I'm trying to simplify the movement I did and why I was joking about being a contortionist.
2. Mister is most likely a problem because he's so smart and knows when he can take advantage of a beginner for his own amusement. Maybe the teenage trainers should get on and show you all how it's done. They seem to think they know all there is to know about how a horse should be ridden.
If you continue to ride him you may be able to form a bond with him and gain his respect and he'll then work with you because he wants to. It might be hard but if you can approach him with confidence combined with kindness he may just give you a chance.
You should never feel like a failure for trying. You rode the mare previously and did fine so it may be that Mister is just more difficult to get through to. With more riding experience I'm sure you'll be able to figure him out eventually. He sounds like the sort of horse I would get a kick out of, any horse who knows how to untie knots and open gates definitely has a sense of humor.
I also think that the information you gleaned from "Centered Riding" couldn't possibly hurt your efforts to better your riding skills. Without knowing your instructors personally I don't like to say they seem inexperienced but they shouldn't shoot down your efforts. I feel the more books you read and videos you watch can only be helpful. You can sort out what you don't think is correct and keep what you think is helpful. I'll get back to you about what books I think might be helpful soon. I'd have to go through the many books I have to see what might give you some insight as a beginning English rider. If any of my readers could contribute please feel free to reply.
And finally: If there are other lesson barns in your area with experienced trainers you might want to try lessons at a few different barns. This might be a solution until you find the right combination of horses and trainers you feel comfortable with.
Hi again C.J.'
DeleteI realized I've done a post on some books that I've read. Here's the link: http://greyhorsematters.blogspot.com/2010/11/list-of-classic-books.html
They may not be what you're looking for at this time but they are all thought provoking and give some good insights. I was also thinking that for present day clinician/trainers I do like Mark Rashid's books and videos. I'll keep searching for some appropriate books and videos in the meantime.
Dear Grey Horse Matters,
DeleteThank you so much for your detailed and diplomatic response. Your description of communicating with Blue through body movements is what I’d hoped you would write, and what I imagined I was going to learn at the park. Your suggestion that Mister is immune to many cues makes perfect sense and helps me think about him differently. I’m not sure seeing him only once a week is frequent enough to develop a bond--he sees far more people than I see horses. I’m going to ask if I may visit with him more often, and I suppose I need to find a way to make myself special to him. As for my youthful instructors, I’m trying to cut them slack because I doubt they’re trained to be teachers. That said, I suppose I got what I paid for: The city’s equestrian program is affordable and I don’t have the resources just now to find a better program. So I’ll persevere. Even if I make little progress with the horses, at least I can keep reading about them! You’ve given me an ample book list to pursue. Thank you! I appreciate your approach to the range of philosophies and strategies, too. I want to work with horses in a positive and intuitive way, not in a domineering or aggressive manner. I want to understand the horse’s perspective during our interactions.
Again, thank you for your thoughtful response, and for blogging about your own experiences.
Your Quote: Touch my toes while trotting?! You're kidding, right? It does bring back memories ... but I'm still hanging in there. Always love your photos!
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not I can still touch my toes. But not while trotting!
ReplyDeletePlaying catch up here - your last post was hilarious! Still chuckling :o) When DH offered me my first horse for Christmas several years ago, he was talking to a lady about a high energy, green broke 4 year old Thoroughbred. After careful consideration (potential ER visits topping the list), I decided I was just a wee bit too old for that kind of thing anymore.
ReplyDeleteSince DH is not that big of a horse person (and a guy), my explanation was to point out that the Thoroughbred was kind of like a Maserati whereas I was at the minivan stage of life. *laugh*
Jen,
ReplyDeleteI love the Maserati vs. Minivan stage of life! Great analogy.
I have had to give up riding. Three lumbar fusions takes away all my give and boing, so I get bleeding saddle sores in 20 minutes of walk. I am 51. Now I drive, but my driving horses keep crossing the Bridge. Now I have a 17 year old green pony not hooked up yet, so there is a lot of walking. Yesterdays lesson was leg yeilding in-hand. Got to get control of the shoulders using the reins before we hook her to the cart. My feet hurt.
ReplyDeleteCara,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that you had to give up riding and your driving horses keep crossing the Bridge. It's still nice to be able to work with horses through driving though. Your new green pony sounds like she will be fun to drive once she gets the ground lessons down. Once you're able to get into the cart I hope your feet won't hurt anymore.
I do empathise with all you have said. Now that my daughter has a pony to ride, she is full of plans which would be great if they didn't include me. She expects me to join her level of horsey activity - and as I contemplate it I do feel quite old!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad my kids are grown and have no interest in going to shows anymore. Now it's mostly riding for pleasure. Maybe once you get into it with your daughter you'll feel it's fun.
ReplyDeleteYour contortionist description really made me laugh out loud, I could just picture it! Ha ha. I have a feeling you will get blue back in shape in no time (and you too). He is one fine looking horse! I really like your reply to C.J, I agreed with everything you said, I wish I had a book in mind. I too think she may want to look around for a different place, but I feel for "Mister" I bet he's probably a pretty fun ride deep down inside, just terribly bored and quite a bit burnt out. Poor guy. I thought you were very kind in regards to the "instructors".
ReplyDeleteMary,
ReplyDeleteThanks, I think Blue and I will be able to get back in shape too. Him probably sooner than me.
Oaky, before you start the diet, we really do need to meet for one more ice cream cone. And I wish that Billie was close enough to join us. I think the key to "conscious aging", which is a term that I'm starting to focus on, is to stay fit and strong and keep doing what you love to do. So, maybe we should go for a walk before we eat the ice cream.
ReplyDeleteHi Victoria,
ReplyDeleteNow that's a plan I can get behind wholeheartedly. I am partial to the Moose Tracks ice cream at the dairy. Maybe for exercise you could bring Stella and we can walk her around the parking lot. I think it's probably a good thing Billie isn't close, I have a hunch the three of us could get into a lot of trouble together!
I used to ride a lot of different horses. nothing like that to keep you constantly on your toes. since I've been here a couple of years, I've gotten soooooo spoiled riding Jose. It's almost like I think, and he responds. It's so wonderful to have a relationship like that with a horse... but then you find it harder to ride other horses that you don't know so well, or who aren't as light, who don't respond as well and (the older you get) who make you uncomfortable or even scare you. Not to mention, having to work hard on a horse is exhausting!
ReplyDelete- The Equestrian Vagabond
Jose is a great horse! You're right though sometimes it's hard to ride a bunch of different horses when you're used to the one you've ridden so much. Dusty is so comfortable and so willing to do whatever I ask that when I got on Blue I wasn't expecting his laziness. I hadn't ridden him in a few months but I should have remembered his little idiosyncrasies. From previous experience I know he will be better as soon as he gets consistent work again.
DeleteI really like this post! I too wrestle time and aging and the need to exercise three horses with quality. Organizing time is tough and I like to give the horses the best of me which ultimately means that everything else I do each day gets me at a less energetic level.
ReplyDeleteI wish every horse blogger I read would have the insight you had in your assessment of Blue's fitness level. So many people look at an out of shape horse and decide to ride hard the first day back to "get the horse in shape" as if that happens over night. You looked at Blue and decided to walk for 20 minutes first. How kind and smart. You are a great horse person because of your ability to take it slow. Blue and Dusty and the others are lucky horses!
juliette,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind comment. I don't know how lucky Blue and Dusty think they are at the moment. They saw me this morning and took off for the back pastures. Little do they realize I have a Kubota and can find them with tack in tow.
I still can't get over those beautiful green pastures you have there. They are so lovely. My horses would never act natural again if they could be there even once. Oh, Desert please be gone.
ReplyDeleteSage,
ReplyDeleteThey are green for now or until the snow hits at least. I'm sure your horses would trade the green for warmer winter weather right?