Post by dalesnfellfan on May 13, 2016 11:55:03 GMT -1
2 weeks ago after having her saddle for 8 weeks Ideal decided them couldn't replace the tree in Emerald's saddle as they are no longer able to get that particular tree, so while I wait for the insurance claim my saddler has lent me a saddle which fits OK short term. So I had Sam out to ride her 3 times in a week knowing that my daughter Amanda was coming last Thursday and hoping Em would be going well enough for us to have some rides out.
After 1 ride in the paddock and 2 hacks with Connie and I where she was pretty excited and a bit tense, Amanda rode her on Saturday, only the 2nd time she's ridden her and we had a lovely ride around the village with several nice calm trots, on Sunday we took them to the better riding behind us which entails a short ride along the main road and over the railway bridge, she behaved really well and we had a lovely ride on old green lanes. On Monday we did a longer ride of around 7 miles and she was so calm we had a lovely canter.
I had a BHS clinic booked for Connie and I at Forest Edge competition centre on Tues and Emerald had improved so much each time she'd been ridden over the weekend we decided to take her as well, this is the really exciting bit.
We arrived in plenty of time and had intended to warm the ponies up in the outdoor arena to settle Em but as it was raining heavily we decided to go straight in to the very large indoor arena. Em has only been indoors once before and that was over 2 years ago and she was a little overwhelmed, wanting to stick to Connie like glue or just planting herself and not wanting to move. Jo the instructor asked what we wanted to achieve and for Em I said to just give her a good positive experience, she separated us and gave Amanda lots of useful tips to settle her while Connie and I worked on our canter transitions.
Before long Em had settled and was trotting calmly, she then followed Connie over a grid of around 10 trotting poles and then we proceeded to trot through the poles, pick up canter around the arena and back to trot for the poles again, we repeated this a number of times on each rein before cooling them down and finishing. Em absolutely loved this exercise and after the initial surprise at being asked to canter, she cantered immediately and calmly on the correct leg each time. After her uncertainty and a few tantrums at the beginning, I was absolutely over the moon at what Amanda and her achieved, I think Emerald was pleased with herself too as she was almost smiling.
Sam rode her again yesterday and we went through a long very inviting grass meadow where we had a lovely calm canter even though there was a herd of ponies in the next field charging about.
Over the last week Em has been to lots of different places, seen lots of new things and had a lot of large and noisy vehicles to cope with, she has taken it all in her stride, and this last 8 weeks she has had off while we waited for a saddle seems to have done her good, she seems to have grown up, well she is nearly 9, I can't quite believe that.
Sam is going to continue to ride her 2-3 times a week through the summer and Amanda is going to take her to camp in July which will be really good for her, I have also just booked 2 PR's in June and Sam is going to ride Em with Connie and I. When she is really established I am going to try riding her again, but I'm not going to hurry with this, I think when the time is right I will be able to enjoy her again, she is certainly enjoying going out and doing things. I'm feeling very proud of her at the moment.
After 1 ride in the paddock and 2 hacks with Connie and I where she was pretty excited and a bit tense, Amanda rode her on Saturday, only the 2nd time she's ridden her and we had a lovely ride around the village with several nice calm trots, on Sunday we took them to the better riding behind us which entails a short ride along the main road and over the railway bridge, she behaved really well and we had a lovely ride on old green lanes. On Monday we did a longer ride of around 7 miles and she was so calm we had a lovely canter.
I had a BHS clinic booked for Connie and I at Forest Edge competition centre on Tues and Emerald had improved so much each time she'd been ridden over the weekend we decided to take her as well, this is the really exciting bit.
We arrived in plenty of time and had intended to warm the ponies up in the outdoor arena to settle Em but as it was raining heavily we decided to go straight in to the very large indoor arena. Em has only been indoors once before and that was over 2 years ago and she was a little overwhelmed, wanting to stick to Connie like glue or just planting herself and not wanting to move. Jo the instructor asked what we wanted to achieve and for Em I said to just give her a good positive experience, she separated us and gave Amanda lots of useful tips to settle her while Connie and I worked on our canter transitions.
Before long Em had settled and was trotting calmly, she then followed Connie over a grid of around 10 trotting poles and then we proceeded to trot through the poles, pick up canter around the arena and back to trot for the poles again, we repeated this a number of times on each rein before cooling them down and finishing. Em absolutely loved this exercise and after the initial surprise at being asked to canter, she cantered immediately and calmly on the correct leg each time. After her uncertainty and a few tantrums at the beginning, I was absolutely over the moon at what Amanda and her achieved, I think Emerald was pleased with herself too as she was almost smiling.
Sam rode her again yesterday and we went through a long very inviting grass meadow where we had a lovely calm canter even though there was a herd of ponies in the next field charging about.
Over the last week Em has been to lots of different places, seen lots of new things and had a lot of large and noisy vehicles to cope with, she has taken it all in her stride, and this last 8 weeks she has had off while we waited for a saddle seems to have done her good, she seems to have grown up, well she is nearly 9, I can't quite believe that.
Sam is going to continue to ride her 2-3 times a week through the summer and Amanda is going to take her to camp in July which will be really good for her, I have also just booked 2 PR's in June and Sam is going to ride Em with Connie and I. When she is really established I am going to try riding her again, but I'm not going to hurry with this, I think when the time is right I will be able to enjoy her again, she is certainly enjoying going out and doing things. I'm feeling very proud of her at the moment.
It looks as if Musk needs a new one eek!
such lovely progress!