Trotting was such a big demon for me. I am not even sure why now. Logically there are reasons, but when it came right down to it, I was not even nervous. Now two weeks before I was a little shaky when we got a fast walk. So what happened?
As I mentioned before, on the drive over, I all of a sudden remember that I have trotted a lot. I could feel the trot, the rhythm, and how my body feels at the trot. I knew this feeling, it was home. I also knew that I had control of this horse. R.'s horses are calm, reliable and well trained. In the arena ,on Drew, I really did not have anything to fear.
I think I did figure somethings out. Each new milestone is going to be overcome in a different way. My plan for progression is going to need to be adapted after each new milestone. And of course, "Keep moving forward," That is from Meet the Robinsons.
Yup, I think that keep moving forward pretty much sums it up. What is that next step to take to keep moving forward? I guess I can look at sending Kinsey off as the next step. Really there is nothing to overcome with that step. Once she is evaluated, I am sure there will be steps to take. Either to sell or get her riding.
I need to keep riding Drew, if Drew is sold that is going to be a problem. I need miles. I'll have to start all over with another horse. I wish I had the money to buy Drew, but he is out of my budget so that is basically out of the question. I have things I want to work on just because I feel I rode horribly, but I am rusty. It has been about 4 years since I was really riding so no matter the horse, I need to get myself coordinated again.
Another step is to step it up again with the weight loss and fitness goals. I really need to kick myself in the butt and get going again. I admit I have been slacking. Enough of that.
I thought I had it all figured out when I got on Bill. Visualization was the key. Well, it was the key for getting on Bill. I am seeing that each new milestone will be unique. I did not do as much actual visualization to trot as assessing the risk and remembering what it felt like, and realizing what the hold back was. I am sure that for what ever comes next, it will grow organically. I am going to page though Jane Savoie's book again. I know that there will be steps that will work better now than they would have before.
So I have some things to do. Get Kinsey over to R. (she is going on the 8th), keep riding Drew, and get busy on my fitness and weight loss goals. And Keep moving forward. . .
Showing posts with label Bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
I rode
It was a bad lead up to my ride today. First of all, I have hurt myself everyday. I mean drawing blood hurting myself. From slipping on black ice to a paper cut, I have actually seen my blood everyday for about 5 days. I am running out of skin. It made me a little nervous to ride.
Then my check engine light came on. I was not sure I wanted to drive my car with that on so I was going to borrow someone else's car, but first I had to take her to a class of her own. Fine, it was going to cut it close but oh well. I had to stop by and get cash from a ATM before I dropped her off. The ATM was broken. Now I don't have time. SO we drive back home, she takes off with her car and I am going to see what I can do with mine.
I have no time remember, but I forgot my helmet. I look high and low and can't find it anywhere. Now I am just getting more determined. I am GOING to ride even if I DOES kill me. Screw it, I can't find the helmet and I'll just have to write a check for the lesson.
I get in the car and it is pouring down rain. It's spring, I guess I should expect this right?
Check engine light goes off, that is one thing in my favor. I'm making pretty good time too.
All in all I end up being a few minute late, nothing big. I meet R. and we go out to see Bill. Worst news ever, Bill is SOLD. Damn, I like Bill. I get my first ride on him and it did go well.
I have to get used to the way he is trained but he walks around, with his ears back in typical Bill style. I get very comfortable on him, but my short legs don't fit the stirrups correctly. R is really good about just letting me walk around and the feel again.
At one point Bill rammed my leg into the pipe fence and I have to really get after him. We trot a few steps, and survive. I get really bummed because Bill really was the horse I was looking for. I just wish I knew that before and had had the money to pay for him. Damn it!
Anyway I was really thrilled. I have been so stiff in the saddle, afraid to move that I'd encourage more forward movement than I wanted. After a good 15 min. I was so comfortable on Bill. I was able to move around, use my legs, use my seat. I was more animated. It was good. I was able to practice exaggerated movements which helped loosen me up too.
Finally I decided to get off. First of all Bill is so wide my legs were getting sore being stretched that far. My wrist has healed even more and I could get off almost normally. I slid down the saddle and was so surprised that the ground came up so quickly, Bill is only 13.3.
Anyway I am not giving up on Kinsey yet. I took her for a walk yesterday. I had her out and went looking for my dog. So I just took Kin out on the road. She was very well behaved and looked at a few things but didn't spook. For the most part she walked along with a nice level head. That's my girl! So there is hope for her yet.
Then my check engine light came on. I was not sure I wanted to drive my car with that on so I was going to borrow someone else's car, but first I had to take her to a class of her own. Fine, it was going to cut it close but oh well. I had to stop by and get cash from a ATM before I dropped her off. The ATM was broken. Now I don't have time. SO we drive back home, she takes off with her car and I am going to see what I can do with mine.
I have no time remember, but I forgot my helmet. I look high and low and can't find it anywhere. Now I am just getting more determined. I am GOING to ride even if I DOES kill me. Screw it, I can't find the helmet and I'll just have to write a check for the lesson.
I get in the car and it is pouring down rain. It's spring, I guess I should expect this right?
Check engine light goes off, that is one thing in my favor. I'm making pretty good time too.
All in all I end up being a few minute late, nothing big. I meet R. and we go out to see Bill. Worst news ever, Bill is SOLD. Damn, I like Bill. I get my first ride on him and it did go well.
I have to get used to the way he is trained but he walks around, with his ears back in typical Bill style. I get very comfortable on him, but my short legs don't fit the stirrups correctly. R is really good about just letting me walk around and the feel again.
At one point Bill rammed my leg into the pipe fence and I have to really get after him. We trot a few steps, and survive. I get really bummed because Bill really was the horse I was looking for. I just wish I knew that before and had had the money to pay for him. Damn it!
Anyway I was really thrilled. I have been so stiff in the saddle, afraid to move that I'd encourage more forward movement than I wanted. After a good 15 min. I was so comfortable on Bill. I was able to move around, use my legs, use my seat. I was more animated. It was good. I was able to practice exaggerated movements which helped loosen me up too.
Finally I decided to get off. First of all Bill is so wide my legs were getting sore being stretched that far. My wrist has healed even more and I could get off almost normally. I slid down the saddle and was so surprised that the ground came up so quickly, Bill is only 13.3.
Anyway I am not giving up on Kinsey yet. I took her for a walk yesterday. I had her out and went looking for my dog. So I just took Kin out on the road. She was very well behaved and looked at a few things but didn't spook. For the most part she walked along with a nice level head. That's my girl! So there is hope for her yet.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Visualization
I just wrote out a whole visualization for my ride next Thursday. The key to having a good visualization is to include lots of detail and emotion. I was going to share it but I thought it was a bit long and boring for a blog. I got a lot out of actually typing it out.
This technique has really worked well for me in the past, until I get to those parts that I didn't visualize really well. Normally I start out strong, but forget about the last part of the ride. That was where my down fall was with a few rides I had on Abby.
When I visualize I usually start out really strong and then get lost in the middle as a dog licks my face or the phone rings. So the process of actually writing my visualization helped me to take the ride from the moment I park under the big pine tree to getting in my car after the ride. See really long.
I can tell when the difficult parts of the ride are going to be for me. I get a little herd of butterflies in my stomach when I think about getting on or getting off. I know from experience that as I keep visualizing those awkward moment, they become less awkward.
So I'll just share one part with you for an example:
With a positive attitude, I lead Bill to the arena and under the black hanging tarp that keep dust from going into the barn. Behind me R closes the wooden arena door. Bill follows me obediently, and I take a deep relaxing breath. Letting it out slowly as R asks Bill to stand next to the gate, I am confident in my skills. Bill moves over until his side is touching the gate. I climb up the old dusty gate, I feel the grim under my hands. I move freely but deliberately. I feel confident because I have worked with Bill before and he has always been well behaved. I take a deep breath and let it out, just like I have done a hundred times before. I grab the soft leather reins and swing my leg over the saddle. The saddle is cold, but warms quickly from my body heat. I slip my feet in to the stirrups. Next I shift my weight around the get my position correct, check my reins again. I take another deep breath, Bill has not moved an inch and is just waiting for me to tell him what to do.
See I have a lot of detail in their, and even more that I will see in the picture in my head. Before I got out of bed this morning, I ran this scene through my head, I'll do it again as I am in the shower, and driving to work. Finally I will do it as I fall asleep tonight. By the time I ride Bill for real I will have done it probably at least 25 times in my head.
This technique has really worked well for me in the past, until I get to those parts that I didn't visualize really well. Normally I start out strong, but forget about the last part of the ride. That was where my down fall was with a few rides I had on Abby.
When I visualize I usually start out really strong and then get lost in the middle as a dog licks my face or the phone rings. So the process of actually writing my visualization helped me to take the ride from the moment I park under the big pine tree to getting in my car after the ride. See really long.
I can tell when the difficult parts of the ride are going to be for me. I get a little herd of butterflies in my stomach when I think about getting on or getting off. I know from experience that as I keep visualizing those awkward moment, they become less awkward.
So I'll just share one part with you for an example:
With a positive attitude, I lead Bill to the arena and under the black hanging tarp that keep dust from going into the barn. Behind me R closes the wooden arena door. Bill follows me obediently, and I take a deep relaxing breath. Letting it out slowly as R asks Bill to stand next to the gate, I am confident in my skills. Bill moves over until his side is touching the gate. I climb up the old dusty gate, I feel the grim under my hands. I move freely but deliberately. I feel confident because I have worked with Bill before and he has always been well behaved. I take a deep breath and let it out, just like I have done a hundred times before. I grab the soft leather reins and swing my leg over the saddle. The saddle is cold, but warms quickly from my body heat. I slip my feet in to the stirrups. Next I shift my weight around the get my position correct, check my reins again. I take another deep breath, Bill has not moved an inch and is just waiting for me to tell him what to do.
See I have a lot of detail in their, and even more that I will see in the picture in my head. Before I got out of bed this morning, I ran this scene through my head, I'll do it again as I am in the shower, and driving to work. Finally I will do it as I fall asleep tonight. By the time I ride Bill for real I will have done it probably at least 25 times in my head.
* * * * * *
Mean while back at the ranch. . . .
Abby and Kinsey are the best of buds. Every time I look out there are with each other. My batteries died yesterday, but charged our night. I will have to take some pictures of them together. They are instant friends!
For the first time Kinsey came running up to me yesterday. I think she is feeding off the other horses that all flock to me when I came into the field. So she just joined in. My heart melted as I saw her trotting towards me with her ears pricked and a happy look on her face. I easily caught her and took her out to be groomed and then did a little in hand work . We did target training, and some other in hand work. Then we took a short walk. She did wonderful.
Abby and Kinsey are the best of buds. Every time I look out there are with each other. My batteries died yesterday, but charged our night. I will have to take some pictures of them together. They are instant friends!
For the first time Kinsey came running up to me yesterday. I think she is feeding off the other horses that all flock to me when I came into the field. So she just joined in. My heart melted as I saw her trotting towards me with her ears pricked and a happy look on her face. I easily caught her and took her out to be groomed and then did a little in hand work . We did target training, and some other in hand work. Then we took a short walk. She did wonderful.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Driving Lesson # 3 and getting ready for Kinsey
My driving lesson was a week ago, but it was a good one. I harnessed Bill up. It went really well. Then we did some ground driving exercises. Getting to know Bill is so much fun. He is sort of a grumpy old man.
I was able to do all the harnessing myself. I really was worried about that as my wrist is still sore sometimes and I really have a hard time twisting it back to put the bit in. Bill was a good boy though and took the bit really well. I remembered where all the rest of the straps went too!
Bill apparently prefers to be worked in his halter, but was fine in the bridle. Apparently Bill was one of those unfortunate souls who was just putting into a harsher and harsher bit while he continued to be difficult. Luckily for him R. has him back in a snaffle again and going very well. We actually practiced pulling some stuff too. I know that I will need another person to do with with Ike and I just need to find a nice teen aged girl to come over and help me out.
After the lesson R was showing me some of the stuff he has been working on with Bill. R. put Bill in the middle of the arena, told him to stay. Then R. climbed up on a railing and called Bill over. Bill came up to the rail and cozied up to the rail, close enough that if you wanted to you could climb on board you could. It was really quite impressive. I would have loved to have Hope do that when I was a kid.
Kinsey will be coming home soon. I have been getting ready for her. I am enclosing an area so she will be separate from the rest of the herd for awhile. Let them get to know each other over the fence. I got another load of hay, happiness is knowing you have enough hay. Oh and I bought lottery tickets last night to be able to afford to care for her and send her to training. lol I'll let you know how that works out for us.
It will be really nice having Kinsey at home. I just have to call the guy that is going to haul her for me and get that all taken care of too. Soon!!
I was able to do all the harnessing myself. I really was worried about that as my wrist is still sore sometimes and I really have a hard time twisting it back to put the bit in. Bill was a good boy though and took the bit really well. I remembered where all the rest of the straps went too!
Bill apparently prefers to be worked in his halter, but was fine in the bridle. Apparently Bill was one of those unfortunate souls who was just putting into a harsher and harsher bit while he continued to be difficult. Luckily for him R. has him back in a snaffle again and going very well. We actually practiced pulling some stuff too. I know that I will need another person to do with with Ike and I just need to find a nice teen aged girl to come over and help me out.
After the lesson R was showing me some of the stuff he has been working on with Bill. R. put Bill in the middle of the arena, told him to stay. Then R. climbed up on a railing and called Bill over. Bill came up to the rail and cozied up to the rail, close enough that if you wanted to you could climb on board you could. It was really quite impressive. I would have loved to have Hope do that when I was a kid.
- - - - - -
Kinsey will be coming home soon. I have been getting ready for her. I am enclosing an area so she will be separate from the rest of the herd for awhile. Let them get to know each other over the fence. I got another load of hay, happiness is knowing you have enough hay. Oh and I bought lottery tickets last night to be able to afford to care for her and send her to training. lol I'll let you know how that works out for us.It will be really nice having Kinsey at home. I just have to call the guy that is going to haul her for me and get that all taken care of too. Soon!!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Diving lesson #2
I have not talked that much about fear lately and what I am doing to over come it. I have been frustrated by recent developments and even entertained thoughts of not riding. I am not going to let these little set backs stop me though. I will ride again. When? Well that depends on a few factors.
One of these factors is a new fear that has cropped up due to the recent . In Jane Savoie's book, It's Not Just About the Ribbons, she talks about reasonable fear. I mean we are climbing abroad a 1,000 lb animal. We have realistic fears and unrealistic fears. For most of us, fearing that we can not hold on to the reins is not realistic. Most of us have no difficulty grabbing the reins and holding on. With my wrist this has moved from an unrealistic fear to a realistic one. I can not make a full tight fist with my right hand. If the horse really wants to pull the rein out of my hand, I can't keep a tight enough grip.
My fear that a horse could pull the reins out of my hands came true during this past driving lesson. Bill got a little fresh and the reins kept slipping through my right hand. I had to reach over with my left hand and hold them. As I could only really hold with the left hand, Bill stated turning left. It may not sound difficult but grabbing the right rein with the left hand and pulling the horse around is a little more difficult that it sounds. I should add here that Bill was in a rope halter so I didn't have the added benefit of a bit on my side. R. showed me a different way to hold the reins so I had more control.
( will insert picture here)
After I was able to hold the reins in a manner that gave me more control R. complemented me on my hands. I have had trainers tell me in the past that I have good hands, and also a good seat, so isn't it ironic that I am still fearful of riding? After explaining the whole sordid tale of my decline from fearless rider to fearful one, R. told me he had a confidence building horse that is used with riders that have issues. If I took riding lessons with him I would ride that horse. Score! I have a horse to ride.
When I start out the lesson this week. I was just happy that I had found a driving instructor to help me learn to drive safely. Thoughts were spinning around that I might just drive from now on. Now I have possibilities again. I have a horse to get my confidence back on. I am getting my little guy ready to drive. All in all things are starting to look up again!
One of these factors is a new fear that has cropped up due to the recent . In Jane Savoie's book, It's Not Just About the Ribbons, she talks about reasonable fear. I mean we are climbing abroad a 1,000 lb animal. We have realistic fears and unrealistic fears. For most of us, fearing that we can not hold on to the reins is not realistic. Most of us have no difficulty grabbing the reins and holding on. With my wrist this has moved from an unrealistic fear to a realistic one. I can not make a full tight fist with my right hand. If the horse really wants to pull the rein out of my hand, I can't keep a tight enough grip.
My fear that a horse could pull the reins out of my hands came true during this past driving lesson. Bill got a little fresh and the reins kept slipping through my right hand. I had to reach over with my left hand and hold them. As I could only really hold with the left hand, Bill stated turning left. It may not sound difficult but grabbing the right rein with the left hand and pulling the horse around is a little more difficult that it sounds. I should add here that Bill was in a rope halter so I didn't have the added benefit of a bit on my side. R. showed me a different way to hold the reins so I had more control.
( will insert picture here)
After I was able to hold the reins in a manner that gave me more control R. complemented me on my hands. I have had trainers tell me in the past that I have good hands, and also a good seat, so isn't it ironic that I am still fearful of riding? After explaining the whole sordid tale of my decline from fearless rider to fearful one, R. told me he had a confidence building horse that is used with riders that have issues. If I took riding lessons with him I would ride that horse. Score! I have a horse to ride.
When I start out the lesson this week. I was just happy that I had found a driving instructor to help me learn to drive safely. Thoughts were spinning around that I might just drive from now on. Now I have possibilities again. I have a horse to get my confidence back on. I am getting my little guy ready to drive. All in all things are starting to look up again!
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