I did some horsey shit.

No, really, I did!!

No photos so this is going to be really boring but Linda ran her very first clinic and I attended. It was awesome.

We ran through some basic exercises, like "stop your feet, give me your head" (or one rein stop), which is where you hold the reins on the buckle, then lift one hand straight up and take the rein with the other hand by sliding halfway down, and bringing your hand to your hip. Then, waiting until the horses are stops moving her feet and gives you the rein, then just drop the rein.

We also yielded hindquarters, played with side passing, rein back, that kinda thing. Then, in the afternoon, she set up a working equitation course and we played around with all the different phases and then out it all together. There was slalem poles, small jumps, poles making an L shape to rein back through (around the corner), poles to six pass over, a very small clover leaf barrels pattern, and a big giant tarp to trot over.

Oh man, I had so much fun.

My husband had Evie all day but she won't take a bottle so the poor bloke had to drive her to me every 3 hours for a feed, but he said it wasn't too much if a pain in the arse. So I was able to concentrate and enjoy the day.

Allie was a gem. Linda has done all the basic exersices with her before, a couple of years ago when I had Allie in training with her. So it was a bit of a refresher course for her, and I got a lot out of it because if that. The only thing was Als would get a bit frazzled if I asked for too much at once. So the rein back was one step at a time, as was the side pass. She was great with the one rein stop, we did it from walk, trot and even canter!

I didn't manage to ride again until today, a whole week later. But she was good (even though I today in the dark). She remembered it all and I can't wait to get on again.

Pony Visit

We went to visit Allie today. She desperately needs her feet done (Nat is doing them on Thursday). Her dark winter coat is starting to come through. She has been scratching again so her tail is scrubbed out. :(

She needs a wash, and some work and some loving. But she looks awesome weight wise and her nostril smelled fine and only had a few crusties.

I caught her, brought her out and brushed her. Picked her feet, brushed out her mane and tail. I let her have a pick of green clover and then we popped her away.

It was amazing. I'm so happy.

Sunny Sundays

I took the opportunity today to ride with Natalie. We did the same as last time - quick school then headed up to the back. This time we walked around the racetrack with a small trot near the end, then headed over to the dam for a play.

Natalie rode the two of them through the dam. I took some video. First up is Gracie - note how cranky she is about the water splashing her in the face on her second go around.



Be warned, I swear at Gracie in the beginning of this video. She was rubbing her head on me.


Allie rolled in the mud AGAIN with me! I thought I had her, we were walking forward but nuh. She has finally discovered the joy of rolling in the mud and I couldn't stop her. And I spent an hour and a half cleaning my saddle before the ride too. Witch.

It was an awesome ride. The weather was stunning and warm, the ponies were happy (if a touch spooky) and we had fun.

Can't ask for more than that on a Sunday.

Concentrating on her tootsies.

She's looking FIIIINE

These are video stills, obviously.

Zoomy pony

It's Time

Do you all remember by little Chakra? My beautiful little staffy that had cancer and was put to sleep almost three years ago? Gosh I miss that dog still, like crazy.

My heart has healed enough now that I think I am ready for a new puppy to enter my life. For the longest time I didn't want another dog - I just wanted her. Plus Andrew had excuse after excuse for me (we have too many cats, we will get a dog when we buy a house, we are now having a baby blah blah blah) but he has finally agreed that he can not keep stalling me.

So I have contacted a rescue to help me find a staffy or staffy cross puppy to be our family dog. Two possibilities at this stage - cute Xena or handsome little Joey. The adoption lady is speaking with the carers over the next few days regarding the cat situation, then hopefully we may set up a meet and greet.

I want a puppy because a) I can't deal with the heartbreak of the shorter years I would have with an older dog like I did with Chakra (whom I rescued at 8 years old and died at 13 I think?) and b) the cats will be able to lord it over a young dog easier than an older one I think. :P

I am really excited to welcome a new dog into my life. Wish me luck!

Coming Home

Cross post from Facebook. Totally sums it up for me.

Check Up - Good News!

I am SO EXCITED.

Went for her 10 day checkup this morning. She has picked up a runny nose and a cough which they scoped her for - it's just a cold, so more paste for that poor horse.

The stitches came out. She looks good! I'll have to get a shot of the scar so I can show you guys.

The radiographs look good - her sinus is nice and clear. The tooth behind, however, looks a little messy. We don't know if that tooth will stay or not. Only time will tell.

She had the wavemouth floated down a little too.

Christine said after she comes off the antibiotics (10 day course) she can have 7-10 days rest and then she can start doing some light work. I am so happy!!

There is still a tiny part of me that is too scared to think everything will be ok, like I will curse her if I think she will be fine. I can't make it go away. I guess it will go away with time.

So happy!!!

Hacking Out

Just a quick little video of Allie and I hacking out the back. We agist on a cattle farm/cutting trainers and the view is just stunning.

Making a special guest appearance are the poor Cavallo boots which are taking a beating, going through muddly puddles and dams..

Bits and Pieces.

I have just spent my Sunday morning doing horse chores. I cleaned both my and Natalie's saddles and bridles, trimmed both the horses and cleaned the float out.

I was going to ride but I never get time to do any of that stuff so I decided to give Allie a day off. I wondered - when do you guys clean your tack? How often do you clean it?

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Yesterday Nat and I took the girls back up to Mulgoa for another trail ride. It was awesome. We had the girls charging up hills and having extended trotting sessions, with about 3 big gallops in there too. I finally was able to get Allie to understand what galloping actually is - I honestly think she just didn't realise she could make her legs go that quick!

Both the girls were super sound on the rocky, hilly, sandy terrain. When I say rocky, I mean quite rocky! No boots, just a bit of extra wall (they were both due for a trim). Love it when my barefoot ponies kick arse like that.

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On my lunch break Thursday I drove to the saddlery and bought this book:

I took Allie to the indoor that night and we played around with a few of the warm up exercises. She particularly enjoyed this one:

The book says to do this one for 10 solid minutes in sitting trot! I did it for 5 minutes half sitting half rising. I concentrated on precise shapes and flexion. It was super fun.

The book is pretty good - just a bunch of different exercises for different things (warming up, looseness, lateral work etc etc). I'm excited to incorporate our favorite exercises into our regular schooling routine. I really want to get my head around shoulder-in. Any tips?

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Funny story - Natalie took Gracie on a road ride around our home suburb with her friend on another pony. Apparently there was a little girl with her father watching the horses go past. Nat said "want to have a pat?" and the little girl said to her dad "I want to pat the dirty horse!" while pointing at Gracie. I loled when Nat told me - Gracie is quite a grub - she always rolls and ends up with mud chunks on her forehead.

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My trimming is picking up - I have picked up so many clients recently that I am trimming most of the day every Saturday and almost every Sunday too. I can't wait for daylight savings so I can trim after work to free up my weekends a bit. I am loving it though. I am getting quicker and quicker every trim. I can easily trim 5 horses one after the other without a break. I have my website up and running, have a new logo and am waiting for my cards to be printed. I am booked in to start my diploma of podiotherapy next year -I start my first block in February. This really is turning into a career for me. I can't wait until I can do it more then just part time. :)

A recent trim.

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Oh - best of all - it is spring next week. :)

Test - Pics and Video!

Wild beast-pony.

Like I said, Allie went really well today. I didn't want much of a warm up and I htink I sat on her for a total of about 7 minutes today!

To be honest I have schooled her properly only once in the last 3 weeks. She is a superstar! Quiet on the float, quiet while we were there, loaded and unloaded well. Great undersaddle! No complants from me.

During the test there were a few head tossing moments, a few moments were she was slightly behind my leg, but overall she did what I told her to do at the best of her ability. Seriously, can you ask for anything more than that?

The ground was really wet and the arena had a few bad muddy spots which stuffed up our canter-trot transition to the right between the centreline and B (at 3.33 in the video) where she almost walked to keep her balance. Also, walk-trot transition (at 2.33 in the video) is not great.

BUT check out the beautiful trot-canter transition at 3.13!! Could not have asked for more!

Very very happy. Have some warm up pics:

Saddled!

Ooooooooohhhh....... aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh.......

 
My pretty new saddle is here! I am now the proud owner of the KN Ouverture Victoria (which I can never remember how to spell and I need to Google it every time.....). It's second hand but it doesn't have any major scratches or faults and I am super happy with it. I had a quick ride in it after the saddler left from dropping it off and it was so nice to ride my horse properly again. She is all healed up now and ready to go! Her scar is a very very thin line, you wouldn't see it if I didn't point it out to you. That is all I had to say really!

Ears pricked, ready for a ride?

I'm chuffed but I'm not sure Allie is too pleased about the end of her holiday...