Dewey After 3 Years

What's weird is, when you start doing stuff you're afraid of, you forget to be afraid. It's been 3 years now, of me riding Dewey. Two trips to the hospital, one broken finger. But those were two bad rides out of about 700 rides maybe? And both of the bad rides were because of youthfulness, and me not being careful enough. Now I'm going out almost every day, and we're in a good routine. I like the time out, he likes the time out. In fact, I think he'd like more days off actually. He's getting a little slow! But now we go out into the dam alone, today we took a new path we have never ridden alone, along the golf course. I haven't ridden it except once about 2 yrs ago. It is a LONG trail, and ugly! But it forced us to canter quite a bit, which is the scary thing for me since I don't practice it very much and not out on trail for long stretches. This path had lots of long stretches, so we did our cantering, and he was perfect, slow and ready to quit when I was. So in a way, it was a good path to take when I need to have him stretch his legs. We just won't do the whole loop, around the lake after, because it took almost 3 hours door to door. That's just too much time for me. An hr and a half ride is a good amount of time, but since we live so far from the dam, it always adds a half hr to the ride. Dewey is getting really great at doing what you ask, walking over scary stuff, being poked by scary stuff, totally enjoyed standing in the creek and having a snack and gulps of water. We went out without trail boots and I got off and walked him over steep or rocky ground, just to give his feet a break. We are definitely enjoying a partnership - growing our trust and confidence in each other. And learning to use my whole body, and using three different saddles - treeless, dressage and Aussie. He's a willing and loving creature. I've learned so much the last 3 years. Now that we're comfy out on the trail at the moment, I'll get him riding with buddies again, and I'm looking for a buddy horse for him. Also I'm looking for a harness again so I can get back to ground driving. He'll be a cart and trail horse. And I'm going to get the kids riding a little each month so they can gain riding skills in the arena and be able to go on trail with me. Dewey is almost mellow enough now for them to ride out on trail with me walking alongside. He loves going out with Becky, she runs in and out of brush and in and out of the creek and he feels good with her out there, and it's good for him too. I guess the point is, when I have a bad ride I feel like giving up, but since I keep going anyway, the practice seems to work. At least with a young horse. Getting out and riding is really the only way to grow your trust, your partnership, and your skills. And get comfortable and confident on the trails. Exposure to anything takes the fear out of it. I should use this in other aspects of life! Right now fresh bread is baking so I'm going to eat it. Hope everyone out there keeps riding. Oh also, you can ride a horse when they have hives. If anyone is wondering. He's still got some edema from it, but the water is coming out and riding seems to be fine.

Free Forward Motion

Can I just talk about Dewey progress for a minute. Okay, so about a month ago I was riding with Lisa and going up a big hill and we started cantering, and Dewey gave a huge buck in celebration and I landed on his neck. Not the ideal position for riding, especially at 49. So I stopped riding with friends for awhile, and focused on getting my seat stronger and legs stronger, and just improve my skills in general. Kaitlin helped me by telling me to practice sitting a working trot, and doing up up down posting to get my legs in the right place. Then I figured out that I was holding him back because I was afraid of him going forward. He's so tall and young and strong. But once I realized what she said - release him to have free forward motion, it's been amazing. In the arena, I sit this strong faster trot, and open my body in the front, using all my "Core" as they say, the stomach, and I guess the hip and front of the thigh. I also started looking up and where I'm going, instead of down and worried about what Dewey was going to step on and scare himself. This greatly helped our forward motion! (I did need to do that for awhile, keep track of stuff under his feet, but I can move on and do that less, since he's gotten pretty good.) So the past three days I've gone out on trail alone and slowly started testing myself and my work. I started with the one bamboo trail we always take, and just relaxed. Then I took the loop around the lake which has lots of open space, which is intimidating, but which I started trotting - sitting and posting, sitting and posting, to get Dewey used to moving forward, outside, and listening. Having the dressage saddle during my arena practice helped me figure out my leg position, so now I can feel when my leg isn't under me, where it should be. So yesterday I did the lake loop for the second time after a long break, and then we did a different bamboo home where it's quiet and beautiful and we wade through water at the end. And then we hike up this big mountain and we're home. Each day has been about 2 hr rides. Then today, Dewey was definitely more dragging going out - I don't know if it's hard on him on the hills, he feels broken going down hill, but I think it's strengthening him in his weak areas - he isn't lame afterwards. Today I took a different way there, up a gradual hill in the estates, got off and handwalked him through Bella Vista stables (a new experience), where he could see lots of other horses, then down the gradual hill where he bucked that one day. We went into the dam, through the bamboo backwards, which was new for us lately, and then through the other newish bamboo, waded through water and then headed back out. We cantered little bits where I felt safe, and what I'm doing now is making sure I'm looking up, heels down, and asking for forward (not up!). It helped that he was tired after 3 days of riding. So we cantered exactly where he bucked last time and no problem at all. So curse lifted there. Then walked riding him back thru Bella Vista and then home with no problems. He only hesitated once on bamboo trail when a stick poked his foot, and he took a few steps back. But instead of getting off, I waited and then urged him forward again and he was fine. It's really me having to get him out enough for him to have no excess energy, and then I can focus on my riding and his listening, and the stronger I am, the more he relaxes. He needed me to guide him. It's easier when I don't have to worry about danger/youth, and instead can focus on just regular riding. It is really nice to build this relationship and know him, day to day, and challenge ourselves. Last night I tried on his new/used harness, and he wasn't thrilled with the bridle with blinders, but we'll take our time to introduce it. We are doing pretty well right now. We'll get back to riding with people maybe once a week, and we'll even get back to cantering with them. But for now, our little baby steps seem to be working and building confidence in us both. His training is more fun when we have these successes. Tomorrow he gets the morning off cause I have to work (plus today, 3rd day straight on trail, even I was a little bored/tired), but I might fool with him in the harness out front tomorrow afternoon. He should also give the kids a riding lesson. I like seeing the amount of exercise he needs to be a good boy - it's exercise and exposure - he is getting it all, and it shows. I hope I get him to where I can actually drive him with a cart and he's safe!! But first we'll keep doing what we're doing. He likes all the attention. Plus his feet are getting nice and strong! One month with no trail boots at all. He gets little purple bruises sometimes, but he stays sound, so I figure he's doing allright. Still looking for a buddy horse for him but it has to be free, or almost free. Want the kids to ride before they go off to college. Maybe I'll get to go off to college too. Okay that's all more soon. Riveting details of our training. And then I came home and some eggs I thought were infertile and almost threw away but had a broody hen so I stuck them under her and I hear chirping today and there's one yellow chick and 3 more scratching to get out of their eggs. Nature is so powerful. It just speaks to me, all the life and the fluffiness and strength of it all. Also, I lost a bunch of weight and I weigh 160 which I think is good! It would be nice to lose 5 more pounds, and be able to eat ice cream sometimes. You have to exercise so much! The Dewey training does translate into the Real World...all the things I'm learning - like, in my regular day as I'm walking around all crushed by life and daily work, just remembering to open up - freeing the front of your body - free forward motion. Unlock yourself, and walk right in. It's tall and glorious out there, in front. It's ridiculous and fun.

Strong, Safe, Peaceful, Happy

Today I rode Dewey out with my Aussie saddle, and did the loop around the lake. It rained yesterday and I walked the trail with the kids while a girl rode Dewey and we all got our feet wet and drove the golf cart up the mountain (treacherous fun) with Nathan driving and we piled out and hiked and went through creeks and walked through wet sandy mud, and rain clears out the sky and gives fresh churned sand new hope. When we get back nice and safe and sound, you'd think time with the horse would satisfy my need to ride, but then I wake up wanting to go out the next day. So today all the work I'm doing in the arena pays off, because I'm trotting Dewey out on the trail and trying to turn off my brain so I can just focus on free forward motion, allowing him to move forward comfortably, with his head not up but comfortable, and my legs under me, and feel my whole body open in the front, supporting me. It's like before I rode shut down in the front, and now I'm allowing. Riding gives you a place to figure out your body, and a skill to practice, and at the same time I don't have to walk and I get to see pretty scenery. So I can't wait to go out tomorrow and see what trouble Dew and I can get into. Before when I would canter I would be worried about speed and control, and since I've been working on trot, it's helped me to have a stronger seat/leg, so when we fall into the canter out there again eventually, it should be easy and comfortable and safe. That's my goal. Strong, safe, peaceful, and happy. It's fun to ride without other people because then I can go the pace I want and focus on what I need to focus on without worrying about other people's needs. Plus I'm quiet, and don't have anything to say! What I miss about riding with other people is that it's nice to listen sometimes, and Dewey likes the company. But he's the same horse whether we go with buddies or not, and I've found for me he's more reliable when we just go ourselves and he's not playing around being an annoying little brother (and bucking) (ouch). His new used horse harness is getting here tomorrow, so that'll be fun to clean up and try on him and get him drive trained. He does like to be fussed with. He's a good horse, you just have to ride 5 days a week! I get grumpy, too, when I have to work and don't get to ride.