Wizard Sessions 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, & 446: After You
This blog is entering its fifth year of existence, and one of the biggest things I’ve learned about keeping a blog current is that the busier I am, the less I blog. It’s unfortunate, because it usually means that I have more to say!
So I’ll try to catch up on what we’ve been doing for the last few weeks:
Firstly, after four months, the saddle is STILL NOT HERE. I ordered it in mid-October. After several calls and emails, the saddler got back to me and said that the saddle is complete and will be shipped within the week. It’s a good thing, because I’m running out of Downton Abbey episodes to watch at night (just reached Season Three- no spoilers, please)… I want to ride!
Secondly, the falling hairs are a welcome sight. Spring is just around the corner. Now we’re in for a season of blankets on, blankets off, and rain, rain, rain. But it will all be worth it when Wizard is grazing on lovely May grass and we’re riding in the park after work at night. We had a snowstorm and some days of unseasonably warm weather, making it an interesting month.
Saturday, 2/9/13
Sunday, 2/10/13
Tuesday, 2/12/13
Saturday, 2/16/13
Sunday, 2/17/13
Tuesday, 2/19/13
Thursday, 2/21/13
Monday, 2/25/13
These dates look about right, but they might be off by a day or two. Basically, I go to the barn about 4 days a week, and walk Wizard out in the Assunpink followed by long line work when there is decent weather and daylight. When the weather is poor, we work on the lines indoors. When I’m short on time, I walk him in the park without any long line work. His muscling is improving, and we work on different things in different sessions. We do transition work some days, spirals other days, and I’ve just started introducing a little work over a trot pole. With the lines sent through the higher rings on the surcingle, Wizard is less likely to curl behind the bit, which is very good. We’re able to work more with the lines connected to the bit, and do less work on the cavesson.
I asked the barn owner to increase Wizard’s feed just a little, since I want to see a bit more weight on him, plus he’s working a little more than he was this winter. On Tuesday, Wizard threw a shoe, despite wearing bell boots. It’s not a surprise, though, considering how wet the ground is from all the rain we got.
And now, we wait. New shoe tomorrow, and new saddle… oh… soon, I hope!
Wizard Session 438: Birthday Boy
Tuesday, 2/5/13
Today is Wizard’s 17th birthday. To celebrate, he had the day off from work on Monday, and got to graze in his favorite little field. Today, I took him out in the Assunpink for a 35-minute hand walk. It was chilly and snowing just a little bit, and Wizard had a spring in his step. There was a HUGE tractor thing on the road by the hunt club cleaning up trees from last week’s storm. On the way out, Wizard gawked at it through the trees, and had an ear on the crunching sounds for most of our walk. On the way back, we walked right past it on the road. He was on his toes, but was actually much better about it when it was closer to him. As we passed it, he kept himself at a flat-footed walk, even when it crunched down a huge branch.
When we returned to the barn, we did some long line work in the indoor arena. It was yet another fantastic session. I increased the walk-trot-walk transitions, and we also worked on our lengthenings like we did on Sunday. The thing that really impressed me was after the canter work, when his topline was swinging, relaxed, and soft. His trot was loose and rhythmic, and he was softly chewing the bit instead of champing on it. The sessions are short and sweet, but we get a lot done. It feels like we’ve made some really great progress. I can’t wait to start riding him again.
Wizard Sessions 436 & 437: Below the Sliding Doors
No training sessions lately, so no blogs have been posted. I’m going to the barn 4-5 days a week and hand walking Wizard, but other than that, he had a break from any long line work. And he has not been ridden since October (STILL waiting for our saddle). I can’t complain about the weather- we have had some pretty good cold snaps, but no major snowstorms. Wizard is doing quite well in his new blanketing system- I use a Rambo with a hood as the shell and use the Horseware liner system underneath. The liners are machine washable and come in a variety of weights.
Saturday, 2/2/13
In the morning, I took Wizard on a hand walk with Kris and Sunny. We did a little more hill work than usual, walking up and down the steeper trail on the big hill in the “bowling pin” field. We were out for about 40 minutes. When we returned to the barn, I tacked up Wizard and did some long line work. I started out by walking him with the lines attached to the cavesson rings. He was already nice and loose from the trail walk, so we then trotted on a loose line until his tempo was even. Gradually, I asked for some shortenings and lengthenings at the trot. He exceeded my expectations, and was able to get himself into quite a small trot and then really stretch out into a big trot. At the end of the short session, I clipped the lines to his bit and let him canter just a few rotations in each direction. For having so much time off from ring work, his canter actually looked quite nice. It was fairly balanced and he was not tipping nearly as much as he does on a regular longe line. The session was just the perfect amount of work- Wizard got just a little sweaty, but did not go around for too many rotations. I’m still mindful of whatever was going on with his right front foot this fall/winter.
Sunday, 2/3/13
Before work, Wizard and I walked in the park with Christie and Brigid. We were out a little longer, maybe 45-50 minutes. There was a little bit of snow on the ground. Wizard has snow rim pads on his front feet, but nothing on his hind shoes, so they unfortunately balled up with snow. Fortunately, I carried a hoof pick and was able to keep him comfortable for the walk. We walked behind Brigid for the entire walk. This was excellent schooling for Wizard, who likes to be on the lead most of the time. He was pretty content being in the back. We walked up the hill, through a wooded path, down to the road, and back up through the back set of fields. After our walk, I did another session of long line schooling in the indoor arena. The session was similar to Saturday’s, but with a little more stretching and some more walk-trot transitions. I clipped the lines to the bit again for canter work, and asked for some stretchy trot work after the canter. He still fiddles with the bit, but I think his connection is getting smoother and smoother. I’m counting down the days til the saddle arrives, but in the meantime, we’re having fun.
Wizard Session 435: The 1st Mistake I Made
Monday, 1/7/13
Before work, I headed to the barn to enjoy the streak of unseasonably mild weather we’re having here in New Jersey. Wizard and I hiked for about 30 minutes on the trails, without the excitement we had on Sunday when we encountered the hunt club.
When we got back to the barn, we did a 20-minute longeing session including warmup. I worked him woth two lines again. I might never longe with one line again. The training benefit is huge, and it’s not as hard as I expected. I did, however, goof up and accidentally hook one line to the outside bit ring and one line to the inside cavesson ring instead of one or the other. Oddly, interestingly, Wizard was amazing with this odd setup. He accepted the contact of the outside rein (hooked to the bit) and was able to bend with cues from the cavesson on the inside line. Maybe I’ve stumbled onto something interesting. Or maybe I just goofed and he was feeling really honest. Either way, he was balanced, responsive, and happy. And SOUND. Very sound. He was going so nicely that I asked for just a few circles of canter, and I was rewarded with a really lovely canter in both directions. Hmmm. Maybe I need to start riding with goofily-attached reins, too.
Wizard Session 434: Until the Next Time
Sunday, 1/6/13
I’m milking every moment of this week’s streak of mild weather. Wizard and I took a hand walk in the Assunpink on Sunday morning. Wizard wore his fluorescent yellow saddle pad under a surcingle to increase our visibility. We were out for about 45 minutes. In order to work on Wizard’s strength and balance, I asked him to do some halts on the hills. He cheerfully obliged.
When we were rounding the turn to head up the big hill, I heard hounds. I could not tell if they were in the kennels at the hunt club or out on a hunt until we got closer. Wizard was VERY good as we walked past the members of the hunt and past the trees where the hounds were working on a scent. They were loud, and Wizard was concerned, but listened to me the whole time. Good boy!
When we got back to the barn, we worked in the outdoor arena on long lines. I tried warming him up with the long lines attached to the bit, but he immediately curled behind and would not get in front of the vertical. I hooked the lines to his longeing cavesson, and then he was able to settle and find a rhythm. Once he was warmed up and engaged, I was able to hook up the lines to his bit. He was even better than he was in our last session, and was eventually able to stretch out at the trot and do some relaxed trotting. I tend to back off whenever I think I’m overfacing him, but this was a perfect example of letting him figure something out. It took a few minutes, but he did get into the groove.
After our session, he enjoyed some grass in the spare paddock. Days like this make January not so bad.
Wizard Sessions 430, 431, 432, 433: Walking Distance
I got in touch with my regular vet last week and we had a good chat about what she saw in the x-rays (see previous training blog). She also talked with my farrier about a shoeing plan.
First of all, and this may or may not be related, but his Lyme Disease levels are much lower now than they were when we tested and treated him a year ago.
Basically, she has seen way worse on many horses, and she is optimistic that corrective shoeing and work will help quite a bit. She saw some very minor arthritic changes in the right knee. In the right foot, she did not think there was coffin bone rotation, per se. She said there was a change in the angle, but she was looking more at the whole picture, including the broken-back angle of P2 and P1. I was glad to hear this, because my farrier agrees with this assessment. My vet saw some very minor sclerosis of the navicular bone. It sounded to me like whatever issue he has/had was affecting the whole foot and the angles. Shoeing, injury, etc. Wizard’s body compensated, and we are seeing the long-term results in the x-rays.
Since we were between shoeings, my farrier came out and put aluminum shoes on his fronts, set well back for heel support, and a size larger to support his whole foot (aluminum because the larger size would make regular steel shoes heavier). He put snow rim pads on him. And the day we put the new shoes on Wizard, I saw him land consistently flat on the footing for the first time. He always tends to be toe first. It wasn’t heel first, but I was pleased to see flat!
So the short-term training plan is to let him get used to the new shoes and gently work him until my saddle arrives. I’m trying not to do too much circling, but when we’re stuck indoors due to the weather, it’s tough to avoid it.
Wednesday, 12/26/12 We worked indoors in long lines, and upon suggestion, I tried a little flash noseband attachment thingy, as an experiment. Wizard is very chompy on the bit, and the suggestion to try the flash was not in order to crank his mouth shut, but instead to steady the bit. Some horses don’t like bit movement, and a flash can help to keep things steadier. Wizard was NOT amused. He stuck his nose out, and leapt around a little when he felt rein pressure. We kept the session short, mostly doing bending exercises at the walk and a little trot work.
I’ve been at the barn for a lot of grooming sessions and sometimes quick hand walks in the park, but these are the actual work sessions he has had recently:
Thursday, 12/27/12
Years ago, when Wizard was doing more of his spinning and occasional rearing routines on the longe, a friend suggested longeing him in two lines. It seemed too complicated for my clumsy self, so I never tried it. Now that we’ve done more long lining work, it seemed like something worth revisiting.
We worked indoors again (%&*$%&$ winter &%*^&*% rain), and it was mostly successful. The biggest issue I had was him sucking back off the bit and geting behind the driving aid (whip) from time to time. I’m going to try a longeing cavesson next time out. Other than that, the two-line method was pretty neat.
Friday, 12/28/12
Wizard was tacked up in a bridle, surcingle, and longeing cavesson for this session. We were indoors (again). I used two longe lines, with the clips attached to the rings on the cavesson instead of on the bit. It worked much better. He was feeling a little fresh from all the rain and not a lot of work, and threw some pretty wild kicks when the longe line got too tight around his hind end. At one point, it also got shimmed up under his tail for a minute, ending in another kicking spree until his tail loosened and he got back to normal. We also experimented with the outside line draped over his back. I like the two-line method quite a bit, because it is closer to riding, and I have more control of his shape. On a regular longe line, I have no outside “rein” so he can pop his shoulder whenever he wants.
Thursday, 1/3/13
OUTSIDE- finally! The rain cleared, and a strong wind blew for a few days, drying things up nicely. I was going to go for a walk in the Assunpink, but I forgot to renew my permit, so we stayed at the farm and worked in the outdoor arena. I swapped bits to a fat loose ring snaffle, trying to make it as mild as possible for our groundwork. Over the bridle, he wore his cavesson. We warmed up at the walk on long lines, with me walking behind and also working from his hip. Then, we did a little light trot work, all with the lines snapped to the cavesson. The cavesson is basically as mild as a halter, and Wizard started to play, breaking from a big trot circle to a loopy, bucky canter festival. I was able to slow him down, but the force of him against the lines was hard enough that I was running pretty quickly to keep up as he slowed down. Okay, I guess he can handle a bit now! So we went on to the bit. He did his curling routine again, backing off the bit. I asked for a few transitions, which helped a lot. After a little gentle work, he began to stretch into the bit at the trot. YESSSSS. My goal with the long line work is to patch up some of the holes in his training, especially getting him to accept contact and loosen his back more. Today, I saw him doing a little bit of that. Now if only that saddle would arrive…
Photographer Sarah Andrew: 2012- A Year in Photos
2011 in Photos
2010 in Photos
2009 in Photos
2008 in Photos
Happy New Year! Thank you so much for all of your support and for making 2012 such a memorable year.
– On my road trips in 2012, I tried to put a face on the “unwanted” horse population, over 3,500 of them, wherever these horses were, from local rescues and farms to the horses at the auction. Each week, I met these horses and interacted with them. The horses continually surprised and inspired me.
– I embarked on my second-annual fundraising project with my friend Gina Keesling from HoofPrints and together, we created Horses and Hope: Faces of Rescue, a 2013 calendar of our favorite rescue photos. Gina volunteered weeks of countless hours designing and producing these calendars. The final product was not a simple 12-month, 12-photo calendar, but was instead a masterpiece of inspirational quotes and over 100 photos. Although the photos could have easily created a gloomy tone, we worked hard to keep the theme positive and uplifting.
100% of the profit is donated to One Horse At A Time. OHAAT is an appropriate charity, since they are not a rescue that houses horses, but rather an organization that helps horses in need across the country. What I particularly like about OHAAT is their gelding grant program- how wonderful would it be for photos of our own rescue horses to help control the unwanted horse population? We raised over $40,000 with the proceeds from the 2012 calendar, and have already raised over $50,000 with the proceeds from the 2013 calendar!
– My work was published in several books and a variety of web/print publications, and featured as album art for bands. Through the TDN, my freelance work, and my volunteer work, I’ve met some tremendous friends and colleagues. HUGE thanks to the folks at HRTV, who took the time to interview me and promote the Horses and Hope calendar- you can view the interview here.
And now… on to the photos!
Sweet Lil Lolly and the rest of her broodmare band in Maryland were rehomed with the help of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue.
Walter, a horse found wandering the streets of New Jersey, settled in for some square meals and a roof over his head at Helping Hearts Equine Rescue in Perrineville, NJ.
No visit to Helping Hearts is complete without a photo of the best donkey ever, Jefferson Airplane:
Havre de Grace won the Eclipse for Horse of the Year, but the OTHER Horse of the Year was awarded to Neville Bardos, a Thoroughbred with an incredible story.
Star pranced and played at Horse Rescue United in Chesterfield, NJ:
The Retired Racehorse Training Project got off to an ambitious start with the Trainers’ Challenge, which took horses from the track to the Maryland Horse World Expo, then to the farms of their trainers, and then to the final showcase at the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo:
Meanwhile, I connected with yet another great rescue, the wonderful folks at Zoar Ridge Stables and Rescue in Newtown, CT. Belle was pretty as a picture during her photo shoot:
Also in Connecticut is Scarlet Rose Farm Equine Rescue, where Stiletto Slim, a Saddlebred, strutted his stuff:
In February, Georgia was on my mind. I took a ride with Lisa Post of Helping Hearts Equine Rescue, and we picked up the Quarter Horse Mare and did her intake photos (you’ll see more of her later).
Back at my barn, I enjoyed photographing Suzie Hehn’s weekly lessons, especially when the students jumped leftover Christmas trees:
My horse Wizard was content to catch snowflakes on his tongue:
Camelot Auction’s temporary closure did not prevent people from abandoning their horses on the property. After a licensing issue was settled, the auction was once again open for business (these horses also found homes).
Three weeks of good food gave Georgia some much-needed weight:
Here and there, I managed to get some time in the saddle:
In March, fan favorite Hansen won the Gotham at Aqueduct, much to the delight of an enthusiastic crowd:
Sweet dreams at Camelot:
Horses and humans alike celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at Handy Acres in Jackson, NJ:
44 days after intake, Georgia was proud to show off her healthy coat and weight gain:
In March, Festus and Eeyore, the famed “Aliens,” came into our lives:
Blue and White Brigid, a Morgan filly, shows off her Easter nest:
This spring, Jon and I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
In April, I officially became a horse owner once again, and Wizard was signed into my name. Here he is taking a spin around the pasture at our new barn:
Some faces just beg for the camera:
A tall, dark, and handsome mule at auction:
The official kitty greeting committee:
Smithwick and Mel Monti prepare for the Thoroughbred Jumper Classic at the Garden State Horse Show:
Linda McBurney and Less Is More get ready for the same jumper class:
Saddlebreds at Camelot:
Four’s a Charm, aka Ruslan, and Kacey Rovere at the $4,000 Thoroughbred Jumper Classic at the Garden State Horse Show:
Scout and Toppy spar in the fog in Cloudland, GA:
Rosebud poses for her adoring fans at Central Virginia Horse Rescue:
Some horses (and minis) know just what to do when a camera is pointed at them:
A super-cool blaze at Camelot:
A star is born. Ruby (third from the left) makes her film debut:
And speaking of stars, my training blog about Thewifedoesntknow began in June:
Wizard and Sunny graze at sunset:
Brigid poses in the Black-Eyed Susans:
Cathy and Miss Tuesday enjoy an evening in the Assunpink:
Week by week, Thewifedoesntknow blossoms into a promising hunter prospect:
Oh, Ruby, it must be exhausting being so cute:
Halter tag at Camelot:
Three bay mares:
Ruby is her usual enchanting self, this time with Sophia:
A friendly face at Camelot:
Paynter, another racing fan favorite this year, storms home to win the Haskell:
Kris and her BLM Mustang mare Sunny score ribbons at their first-ever dressage show:
“Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides.” -Junichiro Tanizaki
Paw, paw, splash, splash, bubbles, bubbles. Wizard loves his water crossings.
Thewifedoesntknow continues to progress under the careful guidance of Carole Davison:
Oh, and I got to RIDE HER!!!
In the lake with Wizard:
Thewifedoesntknow gets a massage:
A handsome face at Camelot:
Back at the barn after his victory in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, To Honor and Serve gets the star treatment from Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and his groom.
Thewifedoesntknow schools at her first horse show:
Rachel and Lily ace the crocodile complex during a judged trail ride at the Horse Park of New Jersey:
Sunny makes friends with one of the trail ride obstacles:
Remember Georgia from this February? Here she is in August!
Silver Gem at Horse Rescue United:
Bev Goff and her Camelot grad, Mimi, are all smiles at their first horse show:
Christie and Brigid enjoy a Centered Riding clinic with Kathy Culler at Stone Tavern Equestrian Center:
One white ear, one chestnut ear:
Point of Entry and John Velazquez win the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. at Belmont Park.
Tristan struts his stuff during his Horses and Hope calendar shoot:
Sunny dances and prances for her calendar session:
And Wizard zooms around like a nut after his bath:
I just love a great blaze:
Lots of spots:
My little helpers:
Hong Kong Express at Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement:
What’s black and white and cute all over?
10YO Thoroughbred, Tough and Good.
“Fall For Horses” All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show at the Horse Park of New Jersey, hosted by Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement:
Monmouth Park stands strong in the wake of Hurricane Sandy
Another Camelot supermodel:
Bill and Mary, now in the care of Central VA Horse Rescue:
Thewifedoesntknow, week 23: she gets better and better every time I see her.
She also was very good at her first show:
Simon, the Helping Hearts reindeer:
Joey P, a millionaire Santa:
Sunset at Camelot:
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way… Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open… jog cart! Jessica (driven by a giggly me in this photo) is available for adoption at Horse Rescue United.
Hailey the beautiful Belgian is also looking for a home:
My volunteer work started as a way to carry on the legacy of Alibar, my beloved first horse. It has shaped my philosophy as a student of the horse and a photographer. A “horse in need” can take many forms, from a horse standing in a feedlot, to a free pony on Craigslist, to an abandoned pet, to a critical case at a rescue. Next time you are feeling frustrated, I challenge you to take some time and give back to your community. Photographers: craft your own style. BE DIFFERENT. You may think that you only have a little skill and time to donate, but as you continue to give, you may find that you are able to give more and more. The horses will thank you.
In memory of Amy Tryon
In memory of Dynaformer
In memory of Mini Cooper
In memory of Lefty
In memory of Sweetie
In memory of Love of Money
In memory of Icarus
In memory of Bronson
In memory of Maram
In memory of Sightseeing
In memory of Johnny McCarthy
In memory of Steve
In memory of Cooper
In memory of Leela
In memory of Join in the Dance
In memory of Romeo
In memory of Cocoa
In memory of Graham
In memory of Abercrombie
In memory of Rio
In memory of Missy
Last but certainly not least, in loving memory of Slade vom Marinik. Forever handsome, forever game, forever alert, forever my mom’s devoted dog. And in my dad’s words, a knucklehead.
Wizard Session 429 and Veterinary Update: Shuffle Your Feet
Wednesday, 12/12/12
I tacked up Wizard in his surcingle and long lines, and we did a little walking work in the indoor arena. It was a little too muddy to work outdoors. He was feeling pretty silly, since his grassy paddock is too damp for a lot of horseplay. He danced around during our trot work, and was less interested in bending and responding to the aids than he was last time we worked. After he was warmed up, I put him on the longe line for a few rotations at the trot in each direction. As soon as he started his trot to the left, I could tell that he was off in the same right front that has been giving him issues. It was still pretty subtle, but more lameness than I had seen in a while.
Was it the wedge in his shoe? Did he slip in his paddock? I made a call to the vet, and scheduled an appointment for Friday afternoon.
Veterinary Report: Friday, 12/14/12
The vet first went over Wizard’s legs, and then watched him trot at liberty in the indoor arena. Naturally, as always, Wizard was much less lame for the vet than he was on Wednesday. The lameness was pretty subtle- too subtle to try another series of diagnostic nerve blocks.
For a long time, I’ve wanted to have x-rays done of Wizard’s feet, and of his right knee. Here are the results…
Right front hoof
Left front hoof
With Wizard’s low heels, the vet was expecting to see a negative palmar angle, and instead found the opposite with the rotated coffin bones, indicating an old founder.
I asked about the cause, and the vet said it could range from old shoeing issues to a result of Lyme Disease, which has been known to founder a horse. I am glad to have an answer, and a team of vets and a farrier who is ready to work on making Wizard as comfortable as possible.
As far as the knee, the vet said that it actually looks pretty good for an almost-17-year-old Thoroughbred who raced on the track and also barrel raced. The creakiness, in this case, was not a sign of anything worse lurking beneath.
Right knee
So now, the plan is to take pictures and chronicle the changes in Wizard’s feet. We will do more x-rays in about 6 months to see what progress we made. The other good news in all this is that I might have finally found the cause of any/all of his under-saddle/soundness issues. Fingers crossed.
A Visit to Project Sage Horse Rescue
Part 6 in my Horses and Hope series, an uplifting look at how the equine community helps local horses in need. Click here: http://thetdnblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/horses-and-hope-visit-to-project-sage.html
Wizard Sessions 425, 426, 427, 428: Two Feet Off the Ground
Friday, 11/30/12
In the past, I’ve done some long line work with Wizard, but it was always nuts-and-bolts type work. Basically, it was me trying to figure out how to do it and how to keep myself from getting spun around or any of the other many awkward things that can happen when attached to a 1,000-pound creature by two pieces of cotton webbing.
But on Friday, I actually got a taste of the work part of long line work. We have come along for enough with our basics to start actually doing some schooling. We worked with three dressage cones, and did a little weaving pattern around them. We also walked over two ground poles and were able to do it in a straight line (!). This stuff is fun!
So we don’t exactly look like this, but it sure is good training for both of us…
Saturday, 12/1/12
Before our session, the farrier did Wizard’s feet. Interestingly, Wizard is sounder on his right front, but his heel looks lower and underrun. The farrier decided to try a wedge pad. I was leery of putting a wedge on him, but if it is not working out, my farrier is a phone call away and can come out and make changes. So far, he’s moving out nicely on it.
We did a repeat session from Friday’s long line work, plus a little added trotting in hand. That’s not much of a workout for Wizard, but great exercise for me- whew! He actually seems to enjoy it. I need to get my hands on some longe lines to go a little longer with it- my long lines are fairly short and I have to run around like a nut during the trot work. He chews a lot on the bit just like he does under saddle, but he looks relaxed- I think the chewing is some processing/nerves as he is learning something new. We’re getting the hang of a little bending, and just the verrrry beginning of a shoulder in when we really have ourselves together.
Sunday, 12/2/12
Kris and Sunny went out for a walk with me and Wizard in the park. We were out for about an hour, walking through some fields and down to the lake. It felt great to get out and do some walking. With all the hunting, we’ve been sticking to the roads and to the Horse Park when we go out, but since Sunday is bow hunters only, we felt safer going out. We did not see any hunters at all, unlike last week.
After our walk, I did some long line work with Wizard in the outdoor arena. The ring is slowly drying out, and we have more room to work. After warming up at a walk, we did a little trot work on the long lines, working on the outside rein and trying to get a bit of a bend. Wizard seemed pretty happy in his work. After our long line session, I longed him for a few rotations in each direction in side reins. Between the walk in the woods and the long lining session, we were out for a while, but it was very low impact work.
Monday, 12/3/12
Before work, I enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather (60s) and did a long lining session with Wizard in the outdoor arena. It rained the night before, so the arena was a little sloppier than it was on Sunday, so we kept our session to a walk with just a little trot work. We walked up and down the long side of the arena, turning a keyhole shape at each end and reversing direction. We zigzagged between the dressage cones and walked over the ground poles. At the end of our session, I put him on the longe line with no side reins and let him to a very loose trot, just for about 4 rotations in each direction.
Rock and Racehorses: The Blog 