We've had some really nice rides within the past week. She's such a good little girl.

I finally got her to trot, and we're now trotting for at least 5 minutes each ride. We trot a couple more minutes each ride. I'm not even going to think about cantering her yet. I want her to have a NICE trot, before moving to the canter. 

We have been exploring outside around the farm each ride, as well. She really seems to like going around and sniffing new things. It's funny, I did most of this same stuff with Bones (like going down a steep little hill between a tree and bushes, taking her by "scary" things, etc.) and she just takes everything I throw at her sooo much better than him. He thinks everything is going to jump out and attack him. Meh, Arabians. Lol =)

I think today I might lunge her in side reins so she has to actually work when lunging, not just go around in countless circles. Lol

Well, it's time to get ready to go to the store.. then the barn! Yay =)

Beginning a routine

It seems that Ollie and I have fallen into a routine. I get her out of the stall, put her in the wash rack, groom her, tack her up, lunge for 15 or so minutes, ride for 20-30 minutes, hose her off, let her stand there, and put her away. It's not much of a routine, but it's nice to have some consistency. 

Today we worked on some transitions on the lunge line. She has a great walk to trot and trot to canter transition. Downward transitions aren't AS great, but still pretty darn good. We did a little bit of walk to canter and canter to walk transitions today. She caught on quickly.

Under saddle we are working on her "whoa", which she is coming along beautifully with. I am at the point where I stiffen up my body and only have to check her with the reins slightly. Steering is all good. Backing is pretty good. Buuuut, I still can't get her to trot. Well, honestly.. I haven't even tried in the last week or two. She just puts on the brakes and won't even walk. I know it's that she doesn't understand what I'm asking. I'm probably stiffening my body or something, too. All in due time, I guess.

Bleh

If you read my other blog, From Bones to Beauty ,you already know that I moved my horses back to Magic Meadow Stables. If not, well, now you know! Lol

I've only ridden Ollie a couple of times since I moved her. Sunday I planned on riding, but she was so full of her self I decided to lunge her. She was all hyped up, so I just let her run and run and run. After about 15 minutes of pure cantering around like a buffoon, she started licking, chewing, and putting her head down. I told her to trot, let her cool down a bit at the trot, then brought her to a walk. I lunged her for 5-7 more minutes at the walk and trot, making sure she was listening to my cues, then let her stop. She was chewing the for the complete last 5 minutes. Lol 

Poor thing was drenched in sweat, even dripping from her eyes and legs! I took her into the wash bay and sprayed her down for a good 10 minutes, then put her on the hot walker. When I got Bones out of the field, Ollie started rearing and acting like a fool on the walker. I just made her stay on there, with it stopped, so she can learn some patience.

Yesterday she was behaving much better. So, I lunged her for 10 or so minutes, then got on. She always impresses me with how well she stands for mounting. I tend to get on a few times at the beginning and end of each ride to test her, but she consistently stands great! We just did a bunch of walking, turning, stopping, and backing. After our ride I gave her a nice bath and put her out on the hot walker again. This time she was a lot calmer and stood there fairly quiet.

Hopefully today we will get to ride again, and work on trotting.

Ollie and Bones are very attached to each other. I might leave one in a stall, or put them in different pastures or something. I don't know, I'll have to see.

Trails, bareback, and trotting

Wednesday Steve and I went on a pleasant trail ride. Ollie did fantastic! It was a short ride, maybe 20 minutes.. but I think it was a nice first trail ride. It was pretty windy and we were riding through a pine forest.. so there were many opportunities for her to spook but she did good! I did have draw reins on her for precautionary reasons. I had them so loose that she couldn't tell I had them on, and I didn't have to use them at all. If she would have spooked and tried to bolt, I would have been able to pull her head around a lot easier with the draw reins rather than normal reins alone.

Before the trail ride, I did some more trotting work with Ollie. She's still stopping in certain spots in the arena. It's probably something that I'm doing.. like I'm anticipating her stopping, so I move my seat or grip the reins or something. I'll be sure to be cautious that, that isn't the case. 

Last night I got on her bareback! I think she was a little unsure at first, but quickly relaxed. We worked on steering, and stopping. She can feel my seat deepen a lot easier bareback, to help with her "whoa". 

Since yesterday we only rode for maybe  7-10 minutes, and it was a very easy ride, I'll count that as an off day. Today I'm going to (try) to ride her and work on the trot. Saturday I think Steve and I are going to go on another trail ride.

I'm going to take a second look at a boarding place tomorrow. They have an indoor, outdoor, and a large round pen. There are also places to ride, but I don't think there are legit trails. The guy is buying the property on the 11th, and if I decide to move there I can move in on the 12th. But, the old owner had this place looking like shit.. and the new guy says he is going to fix it up. I want to make sure of what all he is going to do before I commit to moving there. I don't want to have to move my horses somewhere, and just have to move them in a month again. 

Here's an old Ollie pic for ya!

  Hehe, silly face girl!

A few nice rides and the dentist

Ollie saw the dentist on Saturday morning. He said that they were in pretty bad shape. Which is to be expected; her old owner told me that they have never been done. She did very well (no sedation) and only moved around a little bit. I used an Amish man that another boarder uses, and to be honest I was a little skeptical about using him. I don't know why, I just feel like someone who is UTD on technology has more know-how. Sorry if that's rude or whatever. I'm not sure I'll use him again, though. He was only there for like 5 minutes, probably 2-3 min. actually doing her teeth. When I had Bones' done by an actual Equine Dentist, she was doing his for a good 15 minutes, at least. I'm glad they got done either way. I'll have them checked again when Bones gets his done in November.

I've ridden her several times since then. She is getting a lot better at steering, stopping, and backing. She stands beautifully for mounting/dismounting. I even do a little 3-5 minute session of "accidental" bumping her in funny places when mounting and dismounting. She hasn't jumped, spooked, or anything. I rub on her ears while under saddle, put my feet/legs everywhere I can, etc. 

Today we got to a little bit of trotting work, maybe 10 minutes. At first she would trot almost all of the way around, then do a dead stop in two certain stops. I ended up having to grab my little crop to remind her that she needs to go until I say stop. She caught on pretty quickly, and we ended on a good note. All and all, I was happy with the ride.

Tomorrow, Steve wants me and Ollie to go on a trail ride with him and George. This time, hopefully Ollie will remember her cues! =P

Tired girl! Haha