Grooming Day

Went to the farm this afternoon for a grooming/cleaning day. I pulled Willow's massive mane for about 30minutes and gave her a great all over grooming. I also groomed Lilly and found a wound she got out in the pasture in her armpit area. I know...I am very technical :) The top of her leg is a bit swollen, but hopefully after some care, it will disappear!

I did however get a few short videos of Willow since I couldn't get my camera to work yesterday. Here are some tidbits..

New Video Camera!!

Yesterday was such a great day at the barn! It was a rainy mess when I got there, but the storm passed quickly. It had been raining over night, so Lilly was still wet from being out. We still have her out for about 22 hours a day, but since her attitude has changed so dramatically, I am going to see if she can come in at night.

While grooming I took some short videos. I just got a camcorder and am super excited to finally get to record my horses progress. The battery wasn't completely charged, so I will have to wait till tomorrow to get them actually working. Anywhoooo...





Lilly was perfect today. She was very balanced at the canter even though it was so sloppy and slippery. She amazed me how willing she was to collect and do what I had asked of her. We popped over a few low jumps. She didn't pull and completely listened to me! So we called it quits on a good note. Although it was all good notes!


After taking care of Lilly after the ride, I got Willow ready to lunge. First I had to tackle the burs.....

Today was the first day I introduced sidereins. Again, I couldn't ask her to be any better. She extended her trot and halted every time I cued her to. After a while of going in each direction, I added a pole on opposite ends of the circle. She just trotted over them like she had been doing it for years!

I took the sidereins off of Willow and wanted her trot over the cavaletti. I have had her walk over it a few weeks ago, but I still didn't know what she would do at the trot. I thought that she might refuse the first time, but to my surprise she popped her big self right over it! I cannot believe what a willing girl she is! I cannot wait till she is able to take me out in the country side and we can enjoy the scenery together!!

Mares Mares Mares

Lilly is totally back to normal. She has been lunging WTC without a fight before each ride recently. I haven't gotten to work with her for a week because I was away for work. Today I lunged her for only about 5 minutes each way to see what her attitude was like. She was very responsive and willing. So I decided to make it a short lunging session and get on. We just did flat work and worked on yielding to my leg. I need to work on the basics on the flat since the last few months have been so erratic! I also need to get my leg strength back!

I really think it was hormones. She started the spooking in May and stopped late August.

Has anyone tried Regu-Mate? Do you think this may help her during the Spring and Summer??

Also, I am looking to buy a video camera so I can post videos. Does anyone know of a good video camera that won't break the bank! Thanks!!!

Trying to pose with a 2 year old!

So I wanted to get some cute shots of Willow and I (even though I was dirty). Above is the best I got out of about 100 photos... I have many of me and Lilly (she stands really still)...

Here is a portrait of me and Lilly..

And here are a sampling of photos of me trying to get Willow in the same picture as I. She would not stay still, plus her head is so big, I couldn't get it in the picture..

The end...

Progress

Today I lunged Lilly before I rode, and she was near perfect! It really helps take the edge off of her! I can't believe it took me 4 years to finally get her to lunge! She is so smart and dominant, but I finally won the "lunging" battle. We still have a way to go. I haven't gotten her to canter on the lunge line, but she has improved so much in just this week! The spooking has definitely gone away for the most part this week, and I attribute it to the lunging. She still is looking at everything, but at least she is being somewhat sane.

Here are some pictures after I rode Lilly. She was super tired and ready to go relax!

That's me and Lilly posing for the camera!

After we were all done with untacking and grooming, we went to rest in the shade. I napped while she ate grass.

After I was done with Lilly, I rode Willow for a bit. I am still not doing much with her since she is 2 and a half. We just worked on walking over poles, steering, and walking over cavaletti (so she can learn to pick up her heavy feet!!!). She is definitely growing. Her butt is taller than her withers right now!

I am back!

So it has been mega long since my last post. I am Super Sorry! Things have been kind of hectic with Lilly. To make a long story short, she was spooking at everything and I totally lost my confidence after a few bad falls, and I didn't know if I would be able to keep her. I had her eyes checked by the vet as well as everything else. After a few weeks of little progress, my trainer rode her without me knowing, and re-programed her, which was one of the nicest things since she usually charges for it. Within the last week, I have taught Lilly to lunge. Although she already knew how to, she just would charge at me because she didn't want to. I am working on our relationship and letting her know I am the leader.

I am also working on lunging with Willow. She is a bit stubborn as well, but aren't most of us woman :)