This week in lessons

This week in lessons we are going to be working on creating and keeping a nice and balanced stride with an even rhythm. For the more forward horses, this means lots of half halts so they don't get rushy, and for the pokey horses, this means pushing them forward and keeping them consistently forward without letting the rythym get quick or the head come up and getting rushy.

The most common problem is with riders allowing their horses to slow too much in the corners, and then sending them forward and on their forehand once out of the corners. You do want to use the corner to rebalance your horse, but remember that you don't just want to dump them on their front end, you want to send their haunches up underneath them with your outside leg to gather their energy and help them rebalance.

You also want to keep that inside rein soft and in off their neck so you don't block their shoulder and to help encourage a nice, fluid turn.

Remember the outside rein is the brakes and balance, with the inside rein helping keep them soft and controlling the amount of flexion.

Another trouble spot is the lengthening down the side or across the diagonal. If all you do is send them forward, they will usually end up on their front end before they get to the other end. To remedy this, it is helpful to do small half halts to keep circulating the energy back to the hind quarters.

For jumping we will be doing a course; yes an actually course. I realize I have been lazy with setting up much for jumps! The course will be set with moderate striding so that the forward horses will have to maintain a holding stride, and the shorter strided horses will be comfortable flowing down the lines.

There will be bending lines to practice using the eye and guiding rein to help the horse turn smoothly as the horse lands. Using the eye and LOOKING in the air will be key to this jumping course.

Karen

Our chubby house cat is in need of a bath; apparently she is too round to really clean herself, and the dandruff is getting icky.

Now how to get this done, I am not so sure, so I turned to Youtube and found THIS.

Brilliantly done.

And enough to make me rethink the entire idea of bathing the cat.

Makes me think

I got a very disturbing email from my mom last night; at 11:30 am yesterday, her house was robbed. Yes, in broad daylight, with people out and about. The across the street neighbour saw the truck driving slowly down the street and pull into her driveway, and carry out a TV, but as she didn't see an actual break in, police weren't immediately dispatched...but she was able to give the police a good description of the truck.

All that was damaged was the door jam, and all that was taken was some emergency cash and the big flat screen TV (they took the remote, but not the charger for the remote even though it was sitting IN the charger).

Now this would have freaked me out a LOT, but my mom is just grateful that they didn't take any of her jewelry, in particular the last set my dad gave her, as she knows how hard it was to even go out of the house by that point.

I think I am more pissed off than she is; I guess when you lose someone you love, it puts losing material objects in perspective.

(but if anyone sees a want ad for a TV remote charger let me know..)

Karen

Lessons this week

Back to teaching this week. Yes, I am glad the weather is nicer, but couldn't we have more moderate changes? It doesn't really need to be above freezing in January and I really hope we don't return to ice everywhere!

Rob had impeccable timing; leaving for a course in BC just as the weather started to turn, and returning as it warmed up. He did fix the septic, so that is good...it is again safe to pee!

As many horses and riders had last week more or less off, we will be taking it a little easy this week, but will be working on circles to get the horses bent through the ribs using an active inside leg, and an open and active inside rein.

This circle theme will continue for the jumping as well, with riders asking the horse to continue to bend and turn in the air with a following inside rein. This will help keep fresher horses from getting rushy.

We will also work a bit on rider leg strength, which means work in the two point, and up-up-down-down posting. Hey, it could be worse...I could make you ride without stirrups.

For boarders/lease riders, just a heads up, there will likely be a jump set along the track at "E" during the jumping portion of the lessons.

Karen

Shelley Clinic #2

I am planning to have Shelley back for an other clinic. The dates I have available are either Feb 25-26, or March 3-4. Please let me know if you are interested in attending, and if one weekend works better than the other.

This time I am going to schedule it so the clinic starts after Saturday lessons and goes until dinner time. Not only does this allow Saturday riders to still have their regular lessons, but also means that inside boarded horses can go later in the day and so go back into their stalls when done. On Sunday the clinic would go from 8:00 am -2:30 pm or so.

Rates will be the same as last time. I am going to come up with a 3rd rate for people who wish to do a semi-private on Saturday and then a private on the Sunday as I think this is a good format to maximize learning while saving a little money.

Let me know if you are interested!

Karen

Starting to warm up...

Well it is definitely getting warmer! Apparently not warm enough for our septic tank, which is having an issue though (alarm went off in the barn this morning while cleaning stalls...sending the dogs into a panic).

Not sure if it is warm enough for lessons; we will have to see what tonight brings. They are forecasting a decent day, but with winds tonight and back down to -29. The sun is nice though. If you do come out to ride or lesson today...just remember that the washroom MAY be out of order. There are wet wipes by the radio though, and hand sanitizer by the drinking water.

Saturday looks ok, and during the day it tends to not feel so cold, so if you want to do a make up lesson on Saturday, let me know as I am ok with adding an extra lesson at 11:30 if I need to.

Karen

Tooth Time

I have booked an appointment to have the vet out to do teeth and sheaths on Friday February 10th at 10 am. February is their slow month, so you save $10 on floats. I will have a sign up sheet in the barn, or you can call/email me if you want your horse added to the list. It is a good idea to have your horse checked annually, although some do not need to be done that often.

Other vet work can be done at the same time, so let me know if there is anything else you would like done.

If anyone is free to help that day, help is much appreciated!

Karen

Still cold....

The 20 km/hour winds today are nice. Fortunately the horses are happy to make use of their shelters, and the sun is shining.

It is easy to say it is again too cold to teach today; it is too cold to ride an outside horse if you go outside and it hurts to breath...

They seem to keep pushing back just when this weather is going to break. It looks like it may be sucky out until Saturday now.

The horses are doing ok and are enjoying the extra hay, and not having to walk around on ice.

Charlie is suffering from petting withdrawal, but fortunately Rolo got stuck out there before the cold came, and is smart enough to just stay put.

I set some dog suitable jumps in the barn for Jetta and Ginger yesterday, and of course the cats decided that the jumps were the most suitable place to sit...so it isn't just for the horses that they do this. Fortunately dogs have no trouble jumping over or onto cats, so maybe the dogs will make the cats realize jumps are not safe.

Karen

Lessons cancelled

Apparently there is an "Extreme Wind Chill Warning" in effect: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/ab-63_metric_e.html

I am about to take the dogs out to give their horses their mid day hay; so far the horses seem fine with the cold, and look cute with their frosty outlines. Being brought in and warmed up, then stuck back out would not be the best for them though; they are better off left out and stuffed with hay.

It looks likely that lessons will be cancelled tomorrow as well, as the weather looks horrid then too. I will keep an eye on Thursday, and if Friday is ok, I will teach some make up lessons then.

Karen

Yep, it is winter

Good timing coming back from Hawaii Laureen ;)

I just came in from giving the horses their noon "cold weather" extra feeding. I think poor Brassy was hoping i was coming to bring her in, but the other horses seem happy enough out there. I think some of them are enjoying the snow and being able to gallop a bit, and take nice rolls in the fluffy whiteness. They seem to be able to see a bright side to the cr@ppy weather.

It didn't seem so bad this morning, but with the sun comes the wind it seems, and now that windchill is a real PITA. I just have to keep reminding myself that this is what is needed to kill the pine beetle...that is the bright side.

Not sure what will happen with lessons. Not sure people should be driving more than they have to out in the cold, but it is just a short walk for me, so I am ok teaching...although I think the -30 they have forecast for tomorrow is pushing it if you are riding an outside boarded horse.

Not sure what I am going to do about exercising Jetta this week; she hates the cold and will be running in her goofy way and then stop and be three legged lame because a foot got cold...she is way too heavy to carry! Both her and Ginger insisted on riding on the Mule with me to take out the manure...which did make the trip warmer, albeit a little crowded. Perhaps I will have to create a doggy jumping course in the barn..or even better, teach her how to vacuum....

Stay warm and stay safe on the roads!

Karen

Clinic Success

Despite the incoming cold weather, the clinic was able to proceed and I think all the participants came away with some useful new skills. Some of the horses weren't so keep on being asked to work that much harder, so there was some excitement with a few of the bays, but for the most part the horses seemed happy to have their rider's improve their skills.

I definitely saw improvement from the start to the finish of the clinic, and would like to have Shelley back in February if there is enough interest.

The most common tips I heard were:
- more frequent half halts to keep horses from getting quick, rushy, or heavy.
- Keep some give & take in the hands so the horse can't lean on the reins.
- Shorter reins.
- Wider hands to increase lateral pull on the bit, which helped the horses keep their neck soft and bent, and reduced leaning in on their shoulders.
- Sit up and send the horse forward.

Upcoming lessons will incorporate these skills and build on them.

Karen

Winter is on its way!

By the looks of the weather, winter is set to hit on Sunday. The horses will all need to be bundled into their warm winter coats for the week, so please let me know if you can't make it out to change your own horse's blanket on Sunday!

I am willing to teach next week if you want to come out, but can also move some rider's/lessons to Friday or Saturday if the weather looks to be better by then. I do have two stalls for cooling out that can be used for lesson students that really want to lesson, and I will put together a lesson plan that is less demanding cardio wise on the horses.

Karen

Clinic times moved up on Sunday

Because of a possible storm Sunday night, the ride times have been moved up a bit on Sunday. I will have the new times posted in the barn, and will email/text anyone I don't see tonight regarding the new times.

Karen

Not sure what it is like in the city, but out here it is crazy windy. Fortunately the weather was warm enough yesterday to melt much of the ice in the pens, but the wind will ensure what ice is left is extra polished.

I miss snow!

With the nasty footing in some of the pens, and this odd weather, the horses are going a little nutty, so the lessons will be kept simple. We are going to continue to work to perfect the turn on the forehand, with the horses crossing under with their inside hind and riders sitting UP.

For jumping, we are going to have short courses and single jumps (maybe a bounce for the hotter horses) and work on making sure the horse is focused on the correct jump. It seems to be a fairly common issue particularly when coming to a jump on the diagonal if there is also a jump along the wall. Riders need to come to the diagonal jump from the track, and not turn to it as though they may be heading to the jump on the side.

Using the leg to turn rather than just reins, and LOOKING ahead to the jumps can also really help the horse know where it is going.

If you are participating in the clinic this weekend, please check the posted schedule. Be sure you are able to be ready ahead of your posted time. If the clinic is running behind I will make note of it on the white board during the day so you have a better idea of when you will be riding.

Please come talk to me if you are unsure of what to wear. Normal lesson attire should be suitable, and make sure your hair is neatly arranged. Tack should be clean, horses should have bridle paths, and saddle pads should also be clean.

If you have a video camera and want to be videoed, bring it out and I will try to have someone available to video you!

Karen

Clinic Schedule

I have the Dressage Clinic schedule put together more or less. If you want to know when you are riding check the board outside the arena, or send me an email.

The arena will be closed to outside riders during the clinic to give rider's full use of the arena.

Arena is closed from 9pm Friday to end of Clinic on Saturday (likely around 3:30), and on Sunday from 10:15-4:15. If you really want to get up early and ride before the clinic starts on Saturday, you can only if you agree to rake the arena afterwards ;) Spectators are welcome, but you must be quiet and non-spooky as there are some young/green horses coming.

Karen

New dog rules....

So jetta is doing pretty well as our new barn dog, but she does have some habits that require consideration.
1) She is a chow hound. Do not feed her. Do not leave food at doggy level. Plastic bags do not deter her. Fortunately she seems smart enough to not steal directly from horses.
2) She needs to be kept in the barn if unattended. You are welcome to take her for walks on her leash, but she isn't ready to be out on her own as she likes to visit neighbourhood dogs.
3) She likes cars and whatever they may contain. Please try to not run her over.
4) She likes the cats, and to entertain her cat friends I sometimes leave a leash on her in the barn. it is fun and is helping Charlie and Rolo loose weight.

Margie brought her giant Mastiff out to play on Sunday; Jetta was not at all deterred by new dog's giantness and proceeded to try to jump over him and body slam him...giant dog didn't even flinch. Giant dog played a game of tug of war with Ginger and let her not loose even though he could have easily have tossed her over his shoulder.

Any other hyper big dogs want to come and wear are new crazy dog out?

Karen

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year! Starting off a little cool, but the sun is shining!

I spent midnight sleeping so missed the cross over to 2012...I have never been much of a New Year's Eve person.

Jetta finally relaxed enough we could get some non-blurry photos of her, so here she is:

The last photo shows that she has more than just her colour in common with Charlie...she also drools! (small spit bubble in the corner of her mouth). She is turning out to be a very good dog. She is however a glutton who is constantly looking for food, so be careful with what you leave unattended in the barn! Fortunately she has not considered tasting the cats yet...she actually seems very offended when they hiss at her. The other thing to watch for is that she REALLY likes cars and will want to go home with you if you let her. Perhaps she is afraid of being abandoned again?

Karen