A few pictures from the last few days

[glenatron]

Just a few random pictures from the last few days that I am putting together as though they add up to a post:



Iris looking pretty on a sunny morning before a very long, very boring, schooling ride in which we had a lot of conversations about going where she is asked to while out on the trail, rather than deciding that she is definitely going to take the shortest route home. I think it was probably a success, but time will tell.


Riding up through the misty woods. The other day we had a heavy fog that gradually lifted until it went through a beautiful luminous phase as the sun started to break through. At that point I realised my camera battery was flat, so I ended up waiting a while before going out for a ride and the mist was only hanging on narrowly.


Grey ears and a misted field.


We did our first full circuit of the Devil's Punchbowl, which was a reasonable distance and with lots of hill work. Iris comported herself with absolute excellence. The only time she got at all flustered was when there was a big crane thing picking up whole trees and swinging them around and to be fair that was a touch discombobulating. It was a very pleasant ride.

Also the mist was hanging a little on the lower ground and obscuring the hills in the distance so that the world grew and instead of low downland ten miles away they became grand mountains on the far side of a broad plain. A very pleasing effect.


We have been using the school a lot too, as it is still sufficiently dry ( until today it had barely rained in weeks ) and Iris is starting to do some really nice work. I think I'm getting better too, but I feel like my riding has not been up to scratch lately so I'm working very hard at making sure I'm really going with her whenever we work and not getting all caught up and carrying tension that I then convey straight to her.


With some fence work and more cantering since the dressage test a few weeks ago, we're starting to get some reasonable brakes too. She is an absolute joy to work with.

(Last two pictures by herecirm, as you probably guessed.)

Comments

[re-vised.livejournal.com]

That first photo is unbelievably gorgeous! It should be framed or sold as a print.. Gorgeous.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Thank you :) she has that pretty expression on her face because she knows I'm making breakfast for her.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

Agree with the first pic. Her expression is priceless.

And hey. Next to last picture. Shoulders. But I think you know that. They remind me of this pic: http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-61-photo-denmarks-daydream-saddlebred.

That's gotta hurt your neck and shoulders. Remember the marionette string.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Slouching along. It's because I've been thinking about my lower body more than my upper body. I know nothing happens in isolation, but I find it hard to be conscious of more than one area of position at once when I am working to change it- the best I can manage is a kind of rapid cycle. Suffice to say after seeing those picture the next day I worked on exaggerating my neck position.

One thing I like about that picture is that Iris and I appear to have exactly the same facial expression.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous photos of a grey horse on a misty day - love Iris's breath steaming in the first one!

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

It was such a photogenic morning. I think it kind of greyed over before we got anywhere, though, as happens at this time of year. Nice to have had some brightness of a morning, though.

[penella22.livejournal.com]

That is a very pretty expression she has, and she is quite lovely in her red halter. So pleased to hear you guys had a good ride--congrats on goingall the way around the punch bowl!

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

She is turning into such a great trail horse, confident and inquisitive. Still a little silly about wanting to run home, but that will come with time. A few years ago I used to find I had to get off to go through gates on the way home because my horse would get too hurried so I couldn't get the gate open safely. Now, although that is still true, I use it as an opportunity to get her back with me, so rather than worrying I can't do the job, I just persist until we can. Turns out that is pretty handy.