Wednesday 13th April More Plaiting

Given that I'll have to ride in Portuguese tack on Sunday at Windsor I thought I'd better give it a go today given I haven't ridden him in it since the last show almost a month ago. Well, yesterday I was complaining he was too boring, that certainly wasn't the case today. He was full of life and rather unruly, but terrible though it is to say I love him like that. He was so happy and enjoying it. We worked hard though, and contained the unruliness by the end!! 

Then Ali had a plaiting practice and I have to say that it was definitely the best yet, and really showed off his fabulous neck!

Tuesday 12th May Too good??????

My lovely Portuguese half chaps arrived today from Iberiana. It took me nearly an hour to put them on and I have blisters ( she did recommend the ones with velco but did I listen???).  However they do look very smart and are comfy.  They are a little big round the top (probably bad measuring on my behalf, but I think my saddler can take them in.

Xaile went extremely well today.  Almost too well... I don't really know how to decribe what I mean.  Edward has been doing a fantastic job of schooling him for me and his head carriage is much stiller and lower.  But he felt a little dull.  Not unwell or anything, just a little too good maybe.  Lacking fire in some way.  Very hard to describe.  Maybe a little on the fore hand?  I don't know.  Wish there was a video.  Tomorrow I'm going to ride him in his Portuguese tack and play bullfighting and lighten him up a little.  But he really was a good little boy. 

Also he felt more horse-like and pony-like- probably because he was using his back and not just doing the sewing maching thing.

Monday 11th May Physio

I went to a physiotherapist/osteopath today.  I have noticed in my lunge lessons that I find it much harder to twist left than right and this chap specialises in body alignment.  He was really impressed that my pelvis was tilted by 1 1/2inches.  He massaged my back and hips and then 'mobilised' the pelvis back into position.  He said that my hip on one side was very compressed and on the verge of getting arthritis.  I have had arthritis in my left big toe for a few years and it is remarkably painful.  He said that this was caused by the twisted way I've been walking.  He did acupuncture in it.  I have to say that I'm not a great believer in that sort of thing, but to my astonishment it's not hurt since.  When I stood up from it all I felt very strange- slightly drunk and as if one leg was longer than the other.  But apparently I'm now straight.  He also says that the treatment should be permanent.  I'm going back in July to get my shoulders sorted out.

I do however feel very sorry for all the horses I have ridden over the past 10 years (he thinks it was probably caused by a fall I had onto a cross country jump) and such uneven pressure must have been terribly uncomfortable.  Especially for poor little young Xaile.  Though his chiropractor said that he was in incredible condition, still I might have her check him again.

Went to the yard to ride, but it was so very windy and there was no one around that I decided to leave it.  I doubt we'd have got anything productive done anyway as he finds the wind terribly distracting.  We did however spend a quarter of an hour in the field together, with me scratching his neck and him with his head resting on my shoulder with his nose tucked under my hair.  It was rather special.

Sunday 10th May Jumping

Well the beastly little dogs (i love them really ...) knocked my hand rather hard this morning as I was getting them into the car to go to the yard so by the time I got there it was really sore, and as there was noone else on the yard I decided it probably wasn't an overly safe idea to ride!

So I lunged him over raised poles.  He really seems to enjoy this.  Variety and all that.  We started off with the poles a comfortable distance appart, maybe a little short.  And he found that so easy that after a few goes I pulled them appart a bit and made him stretch.  I love watching how he uses himself now doing this sort of thing.  He's so fluid.

I then put up a small jump.  Not really much higher than the raised poles, but it did have scary blocks on either side of it.   This meant that is required a HUGE leap to get over it.  So I sent him round a few times till it wasn't and issue and he was trotting over it like the raised poles.  So then it went up to the next side of the block, about 1 foot I think.  This of course was terrifying and lead to a couple more huge leaps.  But then he went back to trotting over it.  He seems to find trotting over them so easy that I just had to see what would happen if it went up to 2 foot.  Well it was no longer terrifying but definitely needed a jump.  I didn't want to over do it with the jumping as he's not done very much and was such a good boy so we left it at that and went back over the poles a little.  I wish there'd been someone to take photos as he looked great and was enjoying it so much.  

But I did take some pics before working him as I think he's finally begining to put on some weight. But I also think he's going upwards as well.  I tried to take simillar ones to ones I've done before.  It does have to be said he was a far from willing model.  He simply didn't see the point in being brought in from the field to do nothing.

Saturday 9th May On board again. YAY!!

Well, even though Edward and Ali have been doing an amazing job with Xaile over the past few days I have been miserable as I have missed riding him so much.  So this morning I decided to go and give it a go.  I found I couldn't hold his feet to pick them out or do the girth up properly but everything else was fine.

I gave him a good run on the lunge first and he was fully of bounce.  I found on the left rein I couldn't hold the whip in my left hand but it seemed quite easy to hold the whip and the lunge rein together in the right hand.

It was lovely to be back on him.  He has progressed very nicely with out me :-(.  Good I suppose but still....  His head carriage is much more stable and he's much keener to take the contact and his head is straighter.  

We only worked in walk and trot as there were rather a lot of other people in the school and I wasn't entirely certain that my steering in canter would be very good with my bad hand.  In canter he needs alot of guidance from the left hand not to drift through his shoulder on a left circle.

However being forced to stay in walk and trot was no bad thing as it meant I did lots of transitions, keeping them as smooth as possible.  

It was great to be back.  I can't wait to get on him again tomorrow.

Other good news is that I passed the second half of my lorry theory yesterday so am even nearer being a trucker!!! Also I put some advertising posters up for Freddie's afternoon of lessons next Thursday and was really excited to be rung by someone from the next village with an Andalusian stud.  I'll be great to have someone with Iberians so near to talk to.  Even better she has lessons with Marcia Wakeman once a fortnight and said that I can go and have lessons too which will be brilliant.

Tuesday 5th May FRUSTRATION!!

Well I went down to the yard to ride but I don't think it's going to be possible for a few days at least.  The first problem was that I couldn't zip my half chaps up- definitely a 2 person job, but I thought that wouldn't be a problem as someone at the yard could do them for me.  Then I had a rather painful drive to the yard.  Changing gears is very uncomfortable, but I've now found various angles that don't hurt.  Then I walked the dogs- very difficult, there are 5 of them and they get rather excited getting out of the car.  Then I realised that if I couldn't hold a dog lead in my bad hand I would be unlikely to be able to hold reins and even if I could hold the reins I wouldn't be able to do a good job and it's so important that he's ridden well at the moment.  So I went down to the yard and asked Edward if he'd have time to ride him this week for me and he very kindly said he would.  I'm a bit upset to have to have done this as I really wanted to have done the work myself- so much more satisfying, but probably a bit selfish on my behalf because he's going to well I think it's more important that his education continues.  But still annoyed about it.  Especially as Edward is a much better rider than me.  Ah well.  That'll teach me not to talk too much- and to remember to concentrate!!

The good news is that I passed my hazard perception test which means I'm one step closer to being able to drive my big lorry - YAY!!

Saturday 2nd May Ooooooops!!

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Well Saturday was interesting.  I had two lessons with Edward.  The first was on Xaile and the second a lunge lesson on Clover horse.

Xaile started very tense.  He had Friday off waiting for the farrier so had a whole load of pent up energy.  We walked on a loose rein for ages encouraging him to stretch and look for the contact.  Something he finds very alien and probably rather scary after his firm Portuguese upbringing.  When we were both happier with his walk I asked for a trot transition.  You may have noticed in earlier videos that he tends to leap into trot.  We decided to tackle that a bit today and after several attempts at the transitions we got through to him what we wanted.  

We then worked on his trot.  We started on the left rein which he finds infinitely more difficult.  He started by falling in dreadfully through his shoulders, to the extent that I couldn't get him near the track.  But with a firm inside leg and a constant wide and low contact I eventually got him soft and straight.  We then worked on the right rein which was a relief for both of us and he went beautifully.  

We then worked simillarly on a smooth transition to canter and then maintaining his straightness in canter. Again easier said than done.

We then had a breather an let him walk on a loose rein. I was really pleased that he was keen to stretch and take the contact.  Edward and I were chatting about transporters and what a shame it was he lost so much condition on the journey when Xaile clipped a hoof on the fence and scared himself and spooked.  I wasn't concentrating and lost my balance (not something I do normally) this frightened him even more and off I came.  I have rarely felt so stupid.  And it really frightened poor Xaile who practically leapt into Edward's arms.  I picked myself off and dusted the sand off and got back on very embarrased at myself.  I discovered my left hand was a bit sore, I'd hit it on the fence on the way down. 

Anyway we continued the lesson along the same lines, concentrating on keeping him soft and above all straight.  

He is such a pleasure to work with and everyday is better than the day before.  I do love him so.  

A friend was there and very kindly  videoed.  Sadly we ran out of memory after about the first 1/4 and she hadn't taken very much.  Also takes him about 1/2hr to warm up.  But hopefully you'll see some improvement.

Untacked him and tacked up Clover for the lunge torture.  Also got a couple of paracetemol as my hand was a bit sore.  Also found I couldn't get my glove back on.  But as Edward said- 'You don't need you hand for a lunge lesson'!!!!

I then realised that I hadn't put my stirrups back on after my last lunge lesson.  E wouldn't let me go and get one so I had to clamber onto 16.3 of Clover off the fence- far from elegant.  Edward had noticed that I was blocking Xaile in the left rein as I don't turn enough that way.  So he worked very hard on that- well he shouted lots and I tried very hard!  We also worked a lot on losening my hips and getting my legs back.  It was so hard- I can do it at walk but at trot it's like there's elastuc pulling them forwards.  We worked on one at a time but it was ver hard. Towards the end of the lesson he said 'roll your leg back' and I did- a moment of enlightenment!!! I finally may have worked out what was wrong.  It remains to be seen, but I may have made a break through.

This morning my hand was still very swollen so after much umming and ahhing I finally decided to get it checked out.  Turns out it's broken. ARGHHHHH! Just when everything is going so well.     I feel sooooooooo stupid as it was entirely my fault.  However it is well strapped and I think I'll be ok to ride in a couple of days.