Random photodump...

[glenatron]

A few more pictures from today and the last week or two that haven't made it here yet...


This was from a hack a couple of weeks ago. We trotted off ahead then came back- a useful exercise for both ponies and I hoped it might make a nice picture coming out of the dark woods.


I went and rode Cash again the other day, moving on to riding with a bit- I was reluctant to do my usual flip-over-the-head rein change in the halter as he's still very earshy. You can touch them now, but I would hate to be sat on him if a rope got snagged over one. He's been ridden before and he handled it like a pro, but we got into a spin a couple of times. I don't mind that. I'd be happiest for a horse to get anxious and find that it didn't matter and everyone stayed cool and they could get calm again.


Mooching along, later. We were in the evening so these pictures are a bit low light.


Explaining how I've been riding him to the girl who will be working with him more from now on. I'll be back to visit later in the week.


Small was very interested to read about the history of the Punchbowl from this informative National Trust notice.


Zorro knows how to make a splash!

When we got home we washed the ponies. Zorro wasn't quite dry when they went back out but he still looked quite smart.

On flat ground that would almost make a nice conformation shot. And Zorro would almost make a fresian.


Small is so white and fluffy ( even his tail ) and hugging him is like snuggling a little warm cloud. He's such an adorable pony!



So, that was a lot of pictures this weekend, but it has been really rather fantastic weather-wise and a great time to be out riding.

Comments

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

Much better weather than ours (there's a reason why an indoor is crucial in Western Oregon....)!

Looks good with Mr. Cash. And I like your attitude. Greenies can scare themselves pretty quickly, but it's easy enough to fade that reaction if you're calm about it yourself. Too many people either trigger the horse's anxiety or make it worse when the horse get anxious because they get into that anxiety loop. I think G does a good job with starting horses because he's so quiet and calm about it. But every horse on the place knows that he's Boss. When we were doing lessons more regularly, Mocha would cue transitions off of his voice. She'll still want to react if we're riding in the arena during a lesson--always keeps an ear flicked in his direction. Not so much now as it was when she was younger, but she's still aware of what he's doing.

[harnessphoto.livejournal.com]

You were right in thinking it would make for a nice photo. The reading signs photo made me laugh and I LOVE that water crossing. Lovely as always :)

[penella22.livejournal.com]

Lovely photos and what a handsome fries--I mean Cob!! Is that really all the snow you've got there?? None? It's still melting here. When I rode Sage today, it was bout 50 deg F but then going through the woods where the snow was melting the air temps dropped right down to freezing, and swirled around, and shot back up again. It was so strange to keep changing temperatures in waves as the air moved around and wafted from place to place.

Whee! for good weather! Small Pony is truly adorable.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Steve is like that- when we are at clinics Zorro pretty much stands to attention every time he walks past.

One thing you see a lot here is that people tend to tiptoe around green horses both on the ground and in the saddle. I try really hard to just be matter of fact about everything and just keep things clear and simple until they can get it. If they can stay calm then great, but if they get emotional from time to time that's fine too. It would have to come out at some point after all.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

I don't know what it was in weird old-fashioned money but it was about 16-20C yesterday. Proper summer weather, and the first flies only just hatching. Pretty sweet!

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Fantastic photos! I envy you your ford - that's one thing we don't have around here.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

This was the second time we forded this stream on that ride- the first time was a little further up and there was a family with small children on the bridge near the ford. In deference to the presence of the young Zorro and I went through as splashily as possible.

Zorro likes walking through water, Small likes putting his nose into it and blowing bubbles. He'll avoid puddles on the trail though, if he has the choice. I'm rather fond of waiting until Small is skirting a particularly large puddle and then trotting through the middle of it. This is because I am a bad person and Zorro only encourages me.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

The tiptoeing around the greenies part is something I just don't get. Be careful, yes. Let the horse have time to process the new stuff without excessive overfacing and flooding, yes. Don't start or pick the fight, but don't assume that the horse has to buck, either, but don't be surprised by bucking. And spend time desensitizing the horse to tack and odd stuff in the process as well.

Then again, Western saddle vs flat saddle for colt starting is also a factor as well. G will often have his greenies spend lots of time at the patience post saddled and tied, just getting used to standing with the saddle. Then they spend time wandering around the round pen with a saddle on and bitted up (which appalls other folks) to adjust to a little bit of pressure on the bit. Bitting up happens quite a bit here, and I do like the concept because it allows the horse to work a few things out about saddle and bit without the confusing weight of a rider. That's also why I like round pen work early--better than a lunge line because you don't have the line for the horse to lean on or get in your way.

I did a lot of round pen work with Mocha our first year and a half together. Some of it was conditioning, some of it was compliance, some of it was just plain working out more balance issues. It never hurts.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

This is pretty much exactly the way I learned to work when I was staying with Martin- bitting and saddling them up and then turning them loose to get used to the feel of it. I also think that given there are a set of things they are liable to be bothered by actually the bit and saddle both give them things to think about so they may not get so bothered about either one...

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

I can picture the small children watching, their mouths open in awe...

Charm too prefers to go around puddles if there's any choice, but if the road's flooded and there's no dry option, she's philosophical about wading through water.

[herecirm.livejournal.com]

Wow! Zorro is a Fresian stallion in that photo!

And I love that ford. Randomly. <3

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Zorro likes splashing. Also he likes to stop in the middle of the mankiest and muddiest puddle he can find and then drink some of it.

I think he may be part labrador.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a pretty cool ford. I have some neat pictures of you crossing it on that cob...

allezbleu here

[(Anonymous)]

wow! you can really see the freisian in zorro there - he is looking well xx

Re: allezbleu here

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

He really is. For some reason in that picture before I cropped it I look about 100 feet tall as well, Zorro looks like a little 12hh pony. I think it's just the wide angle lens making it a bit fish-eye, but maybe he shrank in the wash...