We went to a 4-H event last night and during the course of conversation I learned that Curly was not as well behaved at that last lesson as I had originally thought. I guess while I was chatting away with other parents on the sidelines, he was attempting to seriously buck E. off a couple of times! Luckily her coach was right there to tell her to yank him into a tight circle, regaining control before he could follow through with his threat.
We definitely need to start working that boy! He's forgotten his manners....and no wonder she said she was nervous on his back.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Nervous Nellies....
As we attempted to brush the mud off of Curly yesterday afternoon, he was a bundle of nerves. He was surprised when E. led him past the gate to the pasture and towards the front of the barn; it has been months since he has been in that area. Q, on the other hand, calmly stood there munching on any grass he could reach.
E.'s ride went better than I had anticipated. I was afraid that he would attempt to bolt, but for the most part he attended to her signals. His training has definitely back-slid, however. He was tossing his head and generally acting like the horse he had been during the mid-summer. The only stomach-clenching moment was when he decided that the dirt in the arena looked like a wonderful rolling spot and he started to buckle all his legs and go down, with E. on his back! She kicked him back up and forward before he got there but it did frighten her a bit.
E. spent most of the hour walking him; she didn't want to push his feet too much. He appeared to be in no pain and moved smoothly the whole hour. After the ride she said that when she asked for his trot, he moved into it immediately and it was way too fast. I reminded her that perhaps she had just gotten used to the plodding motions of old Q! She agreed, saying that Curly's energy made her a little nervous during the lesson. (Hmmmm, sounds like something I said when I tried riding him!).
But she was extremely happy to have ridden her horse....and can't wait to go out again!
E.'s ride went better than I had anticipated. I was afraid that he would attempt to bolt, but for the most part he attended to her signals. His training has definitely back-slid, however. He was tossing his head and generally acting like the horse he had been during the mid-summer. The only stomach-clenching moment was when he decided that the dirt in the arena looked like a wonderful rolling spot and he started to buckle all his legs and go down, with E. on his back! She kicked him back up and forward before he got there but it did frighten her a bit.
E. spent most of the hour walking him; she didn't want to push his feet too much. He appeared to be in no pain and moved smoothly the whole hour. After the ride she said that when she asked for his trot, he moved into it immediately and it was way too fast. I reminded her that perhaps she had just gotten used to the plodding motions of old Q! She agreed, saying that Curly's energy made her a little nervous during the lesson. (Hmmmm, sounds like something I said when I tried riding him!).
But she was extremely happy to have ridden her horse....and can't wait to go out again!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Canceled due to weather...
I had hoped to be writing about E.'s first ride on Curly in 10 weeks but the lesson tonight had to be canceled. It is 4:18 p.m. and the temperature is already down to 28. Too cold to be riding outside and too icy to be pulling a loaded horse trailer around.
When we went to clean stalls yesterday, we joyfully watched as Curly cantered around an open field. It was so nice to see him moving again.
The girls are both in school holiday programs tomorrow night, so no riding at the 4-H ride night either. Hopefully the temps will be above 35 by Wednesday and we can go have fun then...
When we went to clean stalls yesterday, we joyfully watched as Curly cantered around an open field. It was so nice to see him moving again.
The girls are both in school holiday programs tomorrow night, so no riding at the 4-H ride night either. Hopefully the temps will be above 35 by Wednesday and we can go have fun then...
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