Virtual Brush Box

Resuming the doom spiral.

Work: 1/2x heat therapy only Grade: n/a Our pattern is to groom before the afternoon session. On Tuesday, he was grazing next to the ring. It seemed silly to bring him into the barn just to turn around and come back. So I haltered & went directly to what passes for work. Mistake. Despite theContinue reading “Resuming the doom spiral.”

Happy Kid on a Happy Pony

Pony Club is requesting free advertising. Which I am happy to give…. I am a graduate B from Potomac PC in Maryland & Upper Valley PC in Vermont, plus, when I didn’t duck too fast, DC of Potomac. I still use things I learned in PC. Every rider should start in Pony Club, at leastContinue reading “Happy Kid on a Happy Pony”

Boredom & Temptation

It is hard not to want to push the envelope, particularly when we are doing SO little. I think that in the past, people have seen a big horse and assumed a tough horse. In truth, he’s a cupcake. I find that he gets nervous & upset if he thinks that the work is goingContinue reading “Boredom & Temptation”

Ground Exercise 2: Crossrail

Walk quietly, calmly, slowly over. I keep gnawing at the jumps because, in the velvet darkness of the blackest night, there is a faint, flickering hope that he may yet cart my sorry ass around Prelim &/or over a mini-prix. Work: Yesterday, 1x, short walk but with dog for distraction. Today, 2x, slightly longer walk/ground exercises.Continue reading “Ground Exercise 2: Crossrail”

Santa: please bring me a pony.

Ground Exercise 1

To turn 360o in a box. Gives him a chance to figure out on his own that the large brown lump trailing behind him is his hindquarters. He needs to learn how to maneuver in novel situations. For example, in the middle of an in-and-out after his pilot has an amateur moment. Work as yesterday:Continue reading “Ground Exercise 1”

Little & Often

AM Short in-hand walk, done after his heat therapy to maximize relaxation. Our route was halfway between the path to the water trough, which is a gimme, and the path up the hill, which caused his come-apart last fall. PM First day back to double sessions, so I groomed until his head came down &Continue reading “Little & Often”