Training with the Lightning: Day 64-67

DAY 64-67: Can’t believe it has only been two months! Reviewing this text sure illuminates things and allows us to track progress. Through it all our riding (seat, balance, feel, cues, correction and timing) have gotten better. As Brody improves so do we the humans. Nice how that works out.

            Day 64 found us at the arena at the Fairgrounds. The footing had been heavily watered by the time we got there (there was an Open Schooling Show set for the weekend) so it was like running on the beach. It took more effort!  Warm up exercises, groundwork (including Changing Sides and Plastic Bag) and work under saddle occurred.

The work with the plastic bag on a stick happened twice. The first time Brody seemed to calm down and relax fairly quickly. He is more sensitive on his right side (go figure) with this exercise. We had some wins and improvements so we moved on to other things. His Sending at various points around the arena went well. Leading Beside was less energetic than usual as I could tell the additional effort created by the wet footing was wearing him out. Work under saddle was kept to the basic Fundamental exercises along with some basic circles at he trot and lope. Plastic bag session #2 happened as we were getting ready to pack up and leave. Brody indicated he was afraid of the bag as it was being put back in the tack room. So…we went through the process again (advance, retreat, smell, tap the air, smell and rub). This time the Thoroughbred in him came out. He took longer to relax this time! Crazy, right? Still, I could hear Clinton and Shana in my head saying “stay with him” and I did until we got signs of relaxing then the Bag O’ Doom got put away.

            Day 65 found us at the always fun Cedar Springs Livery & Stables in Placerville having fun with our friend and Brumbie member Gale and her mare Janie. Gale got a new saddle hat she had custom fit to Janie and her. The round pen was also recently tuned up and we all did some work in it to get our day started. Everyone one did well! Gale and Janie have been able to get in consistent round pen time and it really shows in the mare’s respect, confidence and responsiveness. We worked in the outdoor arena afterwards doing our usual warm-up and groundwork but added the use of the low jumps ( 8 inches to 1.5 feet) into the mix. Brody indicated that while he seemed to like the mental challenge of the low jumps it was nit his passion (grin). Gale and Janie worked on refining their timing in the Sending exercise on the ground and over jumps as well. Argent and Laurie have played with these obstacles before and took to them like professionals! Under saddle we did the same (I avoided the 1.5 foot jump thank-you-very-much) and we all had some wins! Then we moved over into “trail obstacle pasture” which as all sorts of obstacles and challenges. We rode quite a bit in this area and really had a blast. I even took Gale’s new saddle for a test drive on Janie. This was the first time I rode this mare (I had done a bit of ground work with her already). Saddle was very comfortable. While it was too small for my big butt it fit Gale really well. Janie was also very comfortable even with my additional weight. We played around for a bit as she is a fun horse to ride. I tried to lope but the snugness of the saddle (and that is being PC) made it very hard for me to moves my hips with Janie’s rhythm. Still it was a blast. Lots of wins and improvements during the five hours we were there. Freaky horsey-time-warp effect happens every time we get together. Before you know it your two hours at the barn becomes five! It’s crazy…be we love it

.

Day 66 found us changing venues from the Fairgrounds to Pioneer Park last minute. Seems there was a schooling show happening that we missed the memo on so we turned around and headed over the hill to Somerset. Our friend and novice rider Alice joined us and even braved the rain (we got rained on several times). We did our warm-ups and ground work and Alice tried her hand at the exercises. She has a prosthetic on her right arm so we tweaked some the exercises to fit her needs. Brody gave it his very best shot and once Alice got secure in her body language and position things went very smoothly. We set up cones to work on cloverleaf and serpentine pattern just to add something new to the mix. Surprisingly there were many disk (Frisbee) golf players out and the neighboring ranch had some new cows who were watching us, the golfers and mooing loudly. Brody was fascinated and wanted to go check them out. Keeping him focused on what we were doing was tougher than it has been since we brought him home. Lots of direction changes and gait changes occurred during the under saddle part. After ensuring that his brain was in the game and using the reins in a new way (as Alice needed to) which was a combination of indirect and neck reining I let Alice get on. Brody really did well with the novice rider’s seat and rein challenges and tried his best for her. They did Follow the Fence, Follow the Leader as well as the patterns. We modified the One-Rein Stop and Brody eventually adapted. After Alice was done I got on and did some conditioning work with Brody. Note to self: a wet leather saddle is hard to lope and post in. One sticks more to wet leather that dry, conditioned leather. Lesson learned. Brody’s willingness to try really gets me every time. I am a blessed person.

DAY 67: We had one of THOSE training days, where the conversation went something like this….

BRODY: Hey Mike, you know I am half Thoroughbred (on my Mom's side), right?
MIKE: Yes, in fact I do Brody. Why do you bring it up?
BRODY: Because I feel like tonight is a good time to let that part of me out! Yow know, moody, hot, over-reactive...
MIKE: Oh boy. So "new stuff" is going to be a pain in the @SS, right?
BRODY: Yep, pretty much.
MIKE: Thank you for bring this to my attention!
MORAL OF THE STORY: The solution was three-fold - a longer than usual ride, concentrated training and a very wet saddle pad. We learned to side pass along the fence, perform a C-Pattern, began to care less about the Bag O' Doom (plastic bag on a stick) and realized that being near Argent means "trot in circles around him and rest on the far side of the arena." It was one of those kinds of nights. We worked longer that the humans had originally planned but we ended with some real wins. As Brody’s health and overall fitness improve we see his willingness to perform improve…and at times his sassiness too. We take this as a good sign in regards to how he is feeling and with the tools in the toolbox we can head off most issues before they become full blown problem. By the end of the night Brody was much happier hanging out at the far end of the arena than having to be too close to Argent and was relaxed and willing. Everybody has great days and off days. It all comes down to how we choose to deal with it.