Hello Everyone!
I've had a fairly light couple of weeks. K and I had our first communication challenge last week so we've had a few days off to relax and regroup. It has also been raining again here in Kentucky which has further hampered our training.
K came out to see me tonight and I'm sure she had plans for us to actually work. Lucky for me we ended up having an easy night because K had forgotten my bridle, which she had taken home to clean. I confess, I was thinking that I was going to get another day off. K however thought of something for us to do. The next thing I knew, I was wearing my halter with the lead attached to both sides and K was sliding onto my back without any saddle!
This felt a little funny because I have never had weight in direct contact with my spine. It didn't hurt at all however and we had a nice, leisurely walk around my pasture. After our walk K pampered me with a lovely curry and brushing. I even got to snack on a couple of sugar cubes and cookies!
All in all, not bad for the one sunny day of the week.
Cheers!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
And the crowd went wild!
Hi Everyone!
I am having a fabulous Tuesday! I had a great training session with K and Aunt B!
Today I worked on moving from walk to trot with just the direction of K's leg. K has very short legs, so I have to "listen" well. I'm learning to relax at the trot and stretch my neck and my back as I go. After we worked on lots of trotting and transitions I learned a little more about dressage. I worked on bending through my corners, and something K calls leg yield. Basically, she asked me to walk sideways and forwards at the same time. I did it, but I don't "get" it just yet. Can someone clue me in?
My favorite part of the lesson was jumping! Aunt B had K trot me through a line of ground poles, then she put the last one into a little cross rail and K gave me a big squeeze over the top of the cross rail and I had to canter away. My final effort for the night was to actually jump a small vertical and canter away. Everyone cheered! I was so excited and so happy! This jumping stuff is really pretty fun. I hope I get to do more.
We finished up with some strange stretching. I think I'm supposed to relax my head and jaw. Hopefully K or Aunt B will explain it to me. In the meantime, I got some extra grooming, a good dinner and lots of pets and snuggles.
I hope your Tuesday has been just as wonderful! Happy jumping!
-Polo
I am having a fabulous Tuesday! I had a great training session with K and Aunt B!
Today I worked on moving from walk to trot with just the direction of K's leg. K has very short legs, so I have to "listen" well. I'm learning to relax at the trot and stretch my neck and my back as I go. After we worked on lots of trotting and transitions I learned a little more about dressage. I worked on bending through my corners, and something K calls leg yield. Basically, she asked me to walk sideways and forwards at the same time. I did it, but I don't "get" it just yet. Can someone clue me in?
My favorite part of the lesson was jumping! Aunt B had K trot me through a line of ground poles, then she put the last one into a little cross rail and K gave me a big squeeze over the top of the cross rail and I had to canter away. My final effort for the night was to actually jump a small vertical and canter away. Everyone cheered! I was so excited and so happy! This jumping stuff is really pretty fun. I hope I get to do more.
We finished up with some strange stretching. I think I'm supposed to relax my head and jaw. Hopefully K or Aunt B will explain it to me. In the meantime, I got some extra grooming, a good dinner and lots of pets and snuggles.
I hope your Tuesday has been just as wonderful! Happy jumping!
-Polo
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Twinkle Toes?
Hello Everyone!
It's a beautiful day in the bluegrass. A new round bale of hay came for Sarah and me so we are all set with forage for another few weeks.
I had another workout with K. We worked on my trot and then she asked me to canter. I cantered once in each direction and then came back to a trot then walk. I haven't cantered in a long time! K says I have a nice canter. I hope so, because I want to do my best.
Then, I got to do the jump-thing again! You know, this jumping takes a lot of concentration. I have to move forward and pick up my feet. That's really hard! K and Aunt B set up the same exercise as yesterday, where I trotted into a line over a pole on the ground and out over a small "X" or cross-rail. I admit, I took down the cross rail a few times. But K said she was proud of me because I kept going forward. I suspect she and Aunt B will come up with some exercises to help me.
Maybe dancing lessons?
-Polo
It's a beautiful day in the bluegrass. A new round bale of hay came for Sarah and me so we are all set with forage for another few weeks.
I had another workout with K. We worked on my trot and then she asked me to canter. I cantered once in each direction and then came back to a trot then walk. I haven't cantered in a long time! K says I have a nice canter. I hope so, because I want to do my best.
Then, I got to do the jump-thing again! You know, this jumping takes a lot of concentration. I have to move forward and pick up my feet. That's really hard! K and Aunt B set up the same exercise as yesterday, where I trotted into a line over a pole on the ground and out over a small "X" or cross-rail. I admit, I took down the cross rail a few times. But K said she was proud of me because I kept going forward. I suspect she and Aunt B will come up with some exercises to help me.
Maybe dancing lessons?
-Polo
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Catching Up
Hello!
I haven't had much excitement to share. The past several weeks have been light for me as K has been working with Sweepit in preparation for horse trials. I am very pleased to report that they had an excellent showing at the Georgetown Mini Trial, finishing in fourth place.
I went back to work today after a week off due to rain. I trotted a lot! I think K must be introducing distance conditioning. Anyway, aside from the trotting, K and R set up something called a dressage arena within one of the paddocks. I had to learn to trot inside an enclosed area and bend my body around corners. Let me tell you, those corners seemed tight!
Then, after my introduction to dressage, I got to trot through a line of those jump things! Aunt B set the first pole on the ground and made the second one a very small x. I admit, the first time through was a little strange, but I got it! The trick is to pick up my feet! I know I can do this!
Until tomorrow, happy jumping!
-Polo
I haven't had much excitement to share. The past several weeks have been light for me as K has been working with Sweepit in preparation for horse trials. I am very pleased to report that they had an excellent showing at the Georgetown Mini Trial, finishing in fourth place.
I went back to work today after a week off due to rain. I trotted a lot! I think K must be introducing distance conditioning. Anyway, aside from the trotting, K and R set up something called a dressage arena within one of the paddocks. I had to learn to trot inside an enclosed area and bend my body around corners. Let me tell you, those corners seemed tight!
Then, after my introduction to dressage, I got to trot through a line of those jump things! Aunt B set the first pole on the ground and made the second one a very small x. I admit, the first time through was a little strange, but I got it! The trick is to pick up my feet! I know I can do this!
Until tomorrow, happy jumping!
-Polo
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