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Worked Echo Again
Mar. 11th, 2005 04:30 pmWentBarn last night. Mom was out of town (doing gardening stuff), so I figured I would be going alone (and try to leave early to avoid the worst of the rush).
Java is an absolutely wonderful person. He called me at work and asked if he could GoBarn with me. This meant leaving work early for him but he wanted me to have company and be able to do the HOV thing. So, we met and off we went. Traffic was fairly light and we made good time. Peter was surprised to see me there so early (I had warned him I might be running late). He got Mr. Andrew ready to work while Java and I worked on Echo. She seemed to enjoy having 2 people brush her at the same time. Got her tacked up in my saddle (this may be the first time she ever wore my saddle, I think Xpioti used her own saddle on her when she worked with her and I know Peter uses his). Put on the boots I have for her (they seem small, must talk to Peter about whether or not I should get larger and if so, how much ... for some reason I though I had another set but have no idea where it is ... must get organized).
Anyway, got her all done up (including her tail, I do learn) and Peter was done with Andrew. Took Echo in and went walkies while waiting for Peter. Java told Peter where I was (I am not yet ready to take her from the get-go). Peter said she doesn't really need the line over her head since she doesn't pull (I suspect that since it was my nylon one was one reason). Off she went and was a little stiff. After a bit, he put the side reins on her and she got more up and balanced but was still crossing with her inside hind (and nodding slightly on the inside hind regardless of direction of travel). He had her canter on the line and she was just loping around to the left. To the right she got a little stupid and wiped out (there is very little as frightening to an owner of a horse than to see their horse collapse in a heap on the ground, lunge to stand up and NOT make it on the first try). Fortunately, she did get to her feet and seemed OK.
She apparently thought that Peter threw her down for ignoring him when he told her to slow down because she was all but saluting him. So, he turned her over to me after a little more work. I was tending to ask her to go too slow ... I need to develop my eye to see push vs. impulsion more. I also need to remember to turn off/down the radio so that I can hear what Peter is saying to her better and what he is saying to me.
One of the other horses came into the ring and Echo couldn't care less ... she wasn't even impressed when he had a BrainFart First Class and listened as I asked her to walk and stop. She was a little sweaty (in all the right places) and puffing a bit. So, it was walkies time again. Fortunately (for me) I was wearing my sneakers and it is MUCH easier to walk in them than in the boots. Java came and walked with us and commented that we were moving right along.
Peter said that she will soon be able to walk faster than she is currently trotting. Her overstride when she is just loafing along on the line is impressive ... the back of the print from her rear hoof is 2-3 inches in front of the front of the print of the front hoof.
We took her out and I (meanie that I am) insisted she was NOT going to get head-scritchies until her halter was on ... she finally believed me. Boy did she get scritchies then (and LOVED it). We did hide-and-seek for goodies in her hay, visited Jacob (donkey) and Alvin (older horse) in the other barn, said howdy to Cash.
Peter got after me for not pulling her mane (I really don't want to ... I like the long mane and don't see a reason to pull it. Banging the tail (cutting it off by a few inches at the bottom) makes sense so she doesn't step on it. Clipping some of the face whiskers (to avoid getting caught in tack) and the bridle path (same) makes sense. IF she ever shows, it can be french braided and should look OK.
Went out to dinner and talked (us? talk?), drove home ... slapped hand on forehead, drove back to pick up the car, did some shopping, went home, said howdy to the cats, showered and passed out.
Java is an absolutely wonderful person. He called me at work and asked if he could GoBarn with me. This meant leaving work early for him but he wanted me to have company and be able to do the HOV thing. So, we met and off we went. Traffic was fairly light and we made good time. Peter was surprised to see me there so early (I had warned him I might be running late). He got Mr. Andrew ready to work while Java and I worked on Echo. She seemed to enjoy having 2 people brush her at the same time. Got her tacked up in my saddle (this may be the first time she ever wore my saddle, I think Xpioti used her own saddle on her when she worked with her and I know Peter uses his). Put on the boots I have for her (they seem small, must talk to Peter about whether or not I should get larger and if so, how much ... for some reason I though I had another set but have no idea where it is ... must get organized).
Anyway, got her all done up (including her tail, I do learn) and Peter was done with Andrew. Took Echo in and went walkies while waiting for Peter. Java told Peter where I was (I am not yet ready to take her from the get-go). Peter said she doesn't really need the line over her head since she doesn't pull (I suspect that since it was my nylon one was one reason). Off she went and was a little stiff. After a bit, he put the side reins on her and she got more up and balanced but was still crossing with her inside hind (and nodding slightly on the inside hind regardless of direction of travel). He had her canter on the line and she was just loping around to the left. To the right she got a little stupid and wiped out (there is very little as frightening to an owner of a horse than to see their horse collapse in a heap on the ground, lunge to stand up and NOT make it on the first try). Fortunately, she did get to her feet and seemed OK.
She apparently thought that Peter threw her down for ignoring him when he told her to slow down because she was all but saluting him. So, he turned her over to me after a little more work. I was tending to ask her to go too slow ... I need to develop my eye to see push vs. impulsion more. I also need to remember to turn off/down the radio so that I can hear what Peter is saying to her better and what he is saying to me.
One of the other horses came into the ring and Echo couldn't care less ... she wasn't even impressed when he had a BrainFart First Class and listened as I asked her to walk and stop. She was a little sweaty (in all the right places) and puffing a bit. So, it was walkies time again. Fortunately (for me) I was wearing my sneakers and it is MUCH easier to walk in them than in the boots. Java came and walked with us and commented that we were moving right along.
Peter said that she will soon be able to walk faster than she is currently trotting. Her overstride when she is just loafing along on the line is impressive ... the back of the print from her rear hoof is 2-3 inches in front of the front of the print of the front hoof.
We took her out and I (meanie that I am) insisted she was NOT going to get head-scritchies until her halter was on ... she finally believed me. Boy did she get scritchies then (and LOVED it). We did hide-and-seek for goodies in her hay, visited Jacob (donkey) and Alvin (older horse) in the other barn, said howdy to Cash.
Peter got after me for not pulling her mane (I really don't want to ... I like the long mane and don't see a reason to pull it. Banging the tail (cutting it off by a few inches at the bottom) makes sense so she doesn't step on it. Clipping some of the face whiskers (to avoid getting caught in tack) and the bridle path (same) makes sense. IF she ever shows, it can be french braided and should look OK.
Went out to dinner and talked (us? talk?), drove home ... slapped hand on forehead, drove back to pick up the car, did some shopping, went home, said howdy to the cats, showered and passed out.