TCJpart44 Riding

GETTING OUT & ABOUT:
...when you might feel worried about getting on and getting out...don't think you're alone, we all suffer from the heebie-jeebies at some point, just take a deep breath, remember all the times you've ridden and had a great time, and take it one step at a time...tack up, go for a short ride, go further each time, until you're back to normal...enjoy xx

Starting to ride again after winter, especially if you've given your horse and yourself some time off, can be quite daunting.  In fact if you don't just do it, you can make all sorts of excuses not to.  But once you start, (that first time is always the hardest), you'll wonder what all the worry was about! 

Will he be fresh?,  forgotten how to stop?, forgotten what the countryside looks and sounds like...but actually, that's just you - your horse remembers everything.  Which is why it's the little things like: when a hedge has been pruned, a crop is at a different stage of growth, or the flowers are out...this wasn't there before, these are the things that will make him look again.

This time of year, most of the hedgerow and trees are at small budding stage, which means he can see everything when your out riding: into fields, across the land, into gardens - nothing is hidden, and I don't think that's a bad thing at all.  Expose them to everything you can, be safe about it, have someone walking or cycling with you the first few times, just so you feel safer, and he will feel that.  and if there's anything spooky, your companion can go first - it's surprising how many times John had 'led' them past something that without him there, I would have had to dismount to lead them past, also not a bad thing.  If I can make my boys feel happier and safer, I will.  When they really don't want to move, I won't make them.  I just sit still and give them time as long as it's safe to do so.  Eventually they'll make up their minds whether somethings worth getting into a froth about - and most often it's not, so tentatively we walk past.  Give your horse time.  No horse is perfect.

Even if you don't have to, practice stopping an getting off, find a place to get back on.  Because you never know when you might need to, and if you've already practiced it, there won't be any problem.  Repetition is key to relaxed horses.

If something goes wrong: don't be hasty or judgemental.  Stay calm and remember he's likely scared if he plants himself to the spot.  If your on your own, try to keep his shoulders moving, even if it's sideways as long as it's safe.  If he falls out through the left shoulder, lift the left rein for example.  If he's stopped, sit still and wait. But don't feel defeated if you have to get off, I never do, use it as practise to find somewhere you can get back on - and the ride is different but no less impressive, because you overcame the 'foe', just you and him.  You have to behave like a team, because most often it's just the 2 of you,  you have to work out a way to get by.

Tom having an after bridle head scratch, it's what the body protector is also for.

Fittening-up: (both your horse and you),  start by doing lots and lots and lots of walking.  Walk at different speeds, across lots of different terrains.  Uphill and down.  This will help build a core strength and fitness, and hill-work will give your horse an amazing arse too - never underestimate how important walking is.  Then I trot for very short bursts, and if I'm on the road, I do a slow up-hill trot for a very short distance, because I don't like trotting on the roads, I worry about the effect hitting the hard ground has on their legs and feet.  So, go slow.

After a few weeks I begin lengthy trotting, I only ever do this around a field I am familiar with, on calm days, never ever on the roads.  I can ask for a trot that lasts for 5 minutes or more, I vary the stride lengths, go up and downhill and round bends and corners too, slowing down and speeding up where necessary.  All these things ask your horse to listen to be relaxed and ultimately get fitter.

Go to the woods.  Bend and swerve around trees and stumps and other objects.  Walk instead of jump over felled logs for a change, walk around them, back-up next to them, it'll make your horse think.

Give your horse something to think about, take him places when stopping and thinking is all part of the experience.  You don't just want a horse that only goes forward and never stops, you want a horse that's always listening and is used to you asking him new tasks.  Stop, turn, go sideways, go back, change your mind, go forward, get off, lead him, get back on and repeat.  All these things mean your horse won't know what to expect and everything will be much more interesting for him and you.  One word of caution though, as this photo could demonstrate, always walk the path first, because there are tracks too narrow for even the best horse to back up from or turn.  I have walked this path, so we did get through, but bending over double to duck under trees and branches is also good practise, and gets you fit too.

Remember, everyone else's view on riding is different, some like a perfect test, or a clear round...me?  I like happy, healthy horses that get me back to the yard in one piece!

Happy hacking xx

TCJpart43 Yoga

EXTREME YOGA FOR HORSES:
You may do excersise like yoga, but have you ever thought your horse might benefit from some stretching too?

It's very important your horse stays supple, especially as he gets older, even if the most lively he gets is chasing his friends around the paddock!!  To be able to bend and stretch easily are beneficial under saddle as well as at rest.  If you find yourself halfway down a narrow path and a fallen tree blocks your way, if your horse is bendy, he will be able to turn, twist, back up.

There are gentle on-the-ground exercises you can do with your horse, similar to pulling their legs once the girth is tightened.  My favourite is the carrot trick.  Offer your horse a carrot that asks him to bend to his outside knee, on both sides.  Then if you can, between his legs.  The carrot will be his reward, and if you are gentle and go a bit further every time over a course of a week, he should become supple in his neck, and this muscle will pull all the way to his back, and you can try some of these before you ride too and see how it makes a difference.

You can encourage him to bend his neck using treats.

They bend naturally just getting on with life.

Here I am asking Henry to bend his neck, using a carrot.

Asking him to move is also a handy thing to become good at, not only is it beneficial to have a large horse that moves in the direction you ask, but to be able to move a horses feet demonstrates good leadership, since that's how they behave in their groups at liberty, the horse that gets you to move, is the boss. 

Here, Henry demonstrates the 'ear scratch'

Tom is just flicking away a fly on his chest, but you can ask him to bend his neck by using a treat. Please only do these exercises if your horse is calm and well-behaved, and best done in an enclosed space like a small yard too. Always remember safety first - I was a Brownie.

To ask a lateral/sideways move I simply add pressure to my fingertips onto their shoulder and bum,  pushing slightly harder to ask for the shift in the direction I want them to go - I am pushing them where I want them, it's as simple as that.  Eventually your horse will get so good at it, you just have to gently lay your fingers on him and ask him to move and he will, and if he forgets, just increase the pressure slightly until he remembers.  This is very handy if you're trying to sweep around their feet. Work it both ways of course. 

Horses are naturally athletic, especially if they're Trakehners!

Here I am giving Henry a treat from the saddle.  I like both my boys to behave this way out on a ride. To be able to stop dead in the middle of an open space  - complete a task not related to getting home or going faster - it makes them think.  And you can see even with me on his back, Henry can bend his neck all the way to my knee - and both sides too - and so can Tom.  Again, only attempt this when your horse is relaxed and calm.  When they are preoccupied out on a ride, and I want them back with me, I ride multiple and varied transitions to get their attention: 10 strides of walk/sitting trot/trot than back again, and repeat or mix it up as needed.

For backwards:  I do the same thing as a sideways, but I stand in front of him.  I put my hand on his chest and ask to back back back, first I was pushing with my closed hand - obviously you're never going to be able to actually 'push' a 17hh Trakehner anywhere he doesn't want to go, but it works if your horse respects you, because all he wants to do is escape any pressure - that's what horses are like thankfully, that's how we can ask them to do things like move.  Again the more you do this the less you actually have to touch your horse.  I just flick my fingers at their chest and they back up. This is also handy when your out and about.  You never know when you'll need to ask your horse to go backwards or sideways, it might get you both out of a tricky situation.

Horses have to bend in their normal routine too:  to scratch behind their ear with their back leg, to itch themselves...here are a few great yoga-positions I bet even Madonna couldn't do!!

John bought them a yoga ball, assuming the boys would treat the item as deeply suspicious I was surprised when Henry went straight up to it bit it, and put his foot on it.  hmmmm, it lasted a week. The boys kicked it about their fields, Tom likes putting everything in his mouth, we suspect he bit it and it deflated!

Not a big fan of lunging, I get bored, so I can only imagine how boring it is for a horse to go round and round in endless circles, Henry clearly paying attention to something far-off above...having said that, bending a horse in ever decreasing circles for a very short time in a slow walk or trot could be a good way to stretch your horse.  If he drops his head low too, that can stretch the whole back and help keep him supple. 

My philosophy is don't do any one thing a lot, keep it varied, keep it interesting, keep your horse engaged and with you.

Once he starts to get bored, stop immediately, because he won't be receptive to any new task in that mood, and all you'll do is make him not want to be with you.  Use treats, use toys and props: yoga balls, jump blocks, cones, poles, logs, stumps...anything to back him through, ask him to manoeuvre around, walk over..all these things will help his mind and body stay supple.

Happy Horsing around!

TCJpart 42 Boosters and Teeth Check

THE ANNUAL VISIT:
...when the vet comes...

Tom and Henry have just had their annual appointment by the vet to give them their booster injections and check their teeth. I always feel anxiety when the vet comes, I get that squirrely feeling in my tummy,  just in case something happens...they get scared during the process and clock me or the vet with the heavy gag they have to wear, or Henry has a reaction to the sedative again and get colicky, fidgety and sweaty. Or Tom takes exception to a stranger in his stable.  Like most horse keepers...if there's something to worry about, we will.

I don't ride after the vet has been, I worry their mouths may be uncomfortable or the sedative hasn't cleared their system.  I take extra care with them.

The boys were brilliant, they always are.  When the vet arrived the horses were out in the field munching the grass.  I shook the treat pot and called them, they came cantering in.  It always amuses me when they behave in a normal way (normal for Tom & Henry), and if the visitor has never met Tom & Henry before, they can't hide their surprise at how my boys behave...perfection, they want to please, they want to do the right thing. 

They  make me very proud, and every visitor is always happy to go the extra mile if needed because Tom & Henry are relaxed and happy, they have impeccable manners and only fidget out of fear.  They stand still for prodding and injections, they don't barge or push. they don't make anyone nervous. 

Henry with the gag on.

Henry has to have a Shetland-pony sized dose of sedative because of a previous negative reaction to the injection.  They have sedative because a single vet scared them both in their second year with me, but I will ween them off gradually, needless to say I have banned this vet from ever coming near my boys again.  I vet the vets.  They are good boys, but with the gag on it can be dangerous if they get frightened and panic, those things weigh a tonne.

Coming round from the dose you have to be careful they don't trap their windpipe falling asleep with their heads over the stable door. Their heads are very heavy and horses can and do feint if their windpipe is restricted. It's never happened here, but the vet tells me it's not good. So we take a horse each me and John and lift their heads onto our shoulders so their necks are clear of the door, listening to them snore and being so close to those big creatures is quite humbling. Half awake we open the doors. You have to make sure they don't try to eat until they are fully awake in case they choke, but the whole thing only takes about an hour.

Passports all signed and stamped boosters and dentistry done for another year. Phew!!!

We always say to the vet, we hope we don't see you for another year!!

Boys went back out after waking up, like nothing had ever happened.

TCJp41 Special Edition

STAR QUALITY:
Tom & Henry have personalities to be proud of, they amaze everyone they meet and are so great to be around xxxx

Posing for the camera is something you wouldn't expect horses to do.  Mine do.  Especially Tom, when he sees that lens he strikes a pose.  I have lots of part-face shots of them too where they up very come close to the camera.

Here are some of my favourites: gorgeous pictures taken by both of us, some funny, some stunning and some that simply sum-up that horse in a way that's difficult in words alone.



 

Taking photos of Tom & Henry isn't just fun, but it's an excellent way to remember every amazing stage in having them here. 

They are the most amazing creatures I have ever met.

TCJp40 New Friends

NEW FRIENDS:
how to make friends and influence people...

Today I rode with Jenny, but instead of Tom & Henry's pin-up pony Amber, Jenny came on Bertie.  We had never met him before, and what a treat he is.  Just gorgeous, and you know how I always say I'm and arse-girl....well Bertie has a gorgeous dappley one!!

Henry needs no introduction.

Jenny and Bertie.

That first meeting, and instantly friends.  Henry had never been so calm on a ride the whole time I've had him.  We think between the two, there may be a great horse to ride, Henry might get a little less manic and Bertie might get a bit more... Henry's disappointment at not seeing Amber quickly forgotten.

Tom called out to Henry and Bertie as they went past.

TCJp39 Special Edition

FUNNY FACES!
...try to take photos of your horse, you never know what you might see xx

Tom & Henry are very funny.

'Itchy Lip face'. And I must mention Tom's amazing neck too!

Here is a small selection, I will endeavour to add to over time, of captured moments.

'Don't mess up my hair'' face.

Hmmmmm, thinking face. This picture looks like Henry is trying to do some difficult maths in his head!  He has a far-away look.

...so very sleepy...
Whilst the boys try to maintain a certain amount of decorum befitting their noble Trakehnership, sometimes when they think we're not looking...they do some  very funny things.

Spaghetti grass eating face!


They pull the funniest faces.

This is why you should always have your camera or a camera-phone ready, because you never know what they're going to do next!

Was it something I said?

Comedy hour at the yard.


Anyone who spends a lot of time with their horses will notice and likely film and photo as we do.

Take a camera to the yard as much as you can, capture great moments.  Once you've seen your horse pull an amusing expression like the one Tom is demonstrating above, you can't take them seriously ever again.

laugh....I laughed my bloomin' head off!!