Wednesday, June 13, 2012

definitions

My previous definition of a good ride on Shyloh: not falling off, no bolting, and no excess scooting.

After many many "good" rides on Shy by both Beth and myself, I need to change the definition. Her scoots are at a bare minimum and she does not appear to want to get either of us off her back.

The new definition good ride on Shy: listening to the rider, bending, not over reacting, and not being arena/barn door sour.

Ugh! Shy has become so sour to the doors that lead her to her stall. After about ten to fifteen minutes of good riding, Shy has it in her mind that she is done and wants to go back to her stall. Most likely to do this:
snooooze
Yesterdays ride consisted of a constant fight after the "allotted" ten minutes of ride time. It was a fight to keep her moving forward or even moving at all. She would stop and look at the door. I could see the whites of her eyes from looking in that direction. I would urge her forward and she performed the most beautiful, unasked for side passes. Just because she wanted to keep her eyes on the arena doors. 

Today, Beth rode Shy outside. Again, after the first ten minutes, Shy was trying with all her might to stop at the spot of the outdoor riding area that was nearest the barn door. 

Equally frustrating to the ride time limit and being door sour, Shy throws in other ways to keep us on our toes.

Yesterday when I was riding, Shy thought being hard on the left rein and leaning into the bit was the way to go. She was tired from her hard day of grazing. So tired that she was falling asleep when Beth was explaining some new concepts to me. We did serpentines and figure eights to practice bending. Shy did do pretty good at these, but she just had it in her mind that she did not feel like working. But the trots. . .she did not want to do any for me. But I kept at it, with her being hard on the reins and every thing, until I got just a few good steps at the trot. Whew.
Today, when Beth rode, Shy switched it up and was amazing on the left rein and hard on the right rein. Since Beth has not worked her in a while, Shy was under the impression that a trot now consists of a few steps then stop. Oops. . .my fault! Beth fixed it and trotted her around for a long time. 

Shy is constantly challenging us and changing up what she does. Beth likes the challenge. So we have to always be thinking and changing what we do in her training. Today it was small serpentines to get her to bend. Tomorrow? Who knows what Shy will fancy. . .The only thing I am sure of is that my definition of a good ride will eternally be updated to fit our needs.
Shy likes strawberries!

13 comments:

  1. It sounds like your definition is based on an ever-moving 'yardstick' used to measure a good ride.

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  2. Frustrating, I know. But you're making great progress with her!

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  3. How boring would it be if she was always the same? Well, at times, maybe that would be nice ;-)

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    1. That's what Beth said. She likes the challenge and she is not a boring ride, for sure!

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  4. It's funny how our definitions change as our horses get better. CP used to be "Don't get bucked off at the start" and is now "Jump beginner novice gracefully".

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    1. I think if they didn't change, we would not be progressing!

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  5. Camryn here:
    Good job Shy, your getting your people trained just right for sure. "Keep em guessin" and still get your fav treat. Great motto, your quickly becoming my hero!

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  6. Sounds like you're still making progress though!

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  7. Hey, I'm new to the blog. Just found you! Your girl sounds just like one of mine! But sometimes it makes it more fun...always switching things up and keeping us on our toes! I think it makes us better riders too :) Anyways, glad to have found your blog - excited to keep reading!
    ~ Ashley @ www.theprocessoflearning.com

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    1. Thanks for reading! I am going to check out your blog!

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  8. That picture at the bottom is SO cute!

    For the door sour problem there is a trick I heard of that supposedly works great, but I've never personally tried it. When you're done working Shy dismount as far away from the door (change up the location each time) as possible and then stand there until she relaxes before leading her out of the arena. Since you have Beth there you can talk to her while you're waiting. :D Good luck!!

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