Gran Teddy Auto Log: #183 - My Granny wont float

Gran Teddy Auto Log: #183 - My Granny wont float: Yay, I have a new horse with her own issues. Thankfully it appears to be her only one but she just wont go in the horse float and when coaxe...

#183 - My Granny wont float

Yay, I have a new horse with her own issues. Thankfully it appears to be her only one but she just wont go in the horse float and when coaxed in she plays up.  She goes left and right and jumps around and being such a big girl I need to be particularly careful.

I am trying to get her in each day and when she will go in she backs out virtually straight away.  She pulled back with such force that even when anchoring with all my weight she still managed to take me skiing in the paddock on two occasions. I had to drop the lead twice too. I got her in about five or six times and she ate a mouthful while she was there about half the time but she quickly backed out again. I try being encouraging and talk sweetly and pat her while she is in but if she backs up I have to let her go until she gets passed the entrance as she may hit her head on the top of the float and that would just be more  trouble. She grazed the top of her head today on the top of the float flap but I stopped her on the ramp. Stopping her on the ramp is successful some of the time and I will just have to preserver.

It doesn't help that I have a shocking headache or that Teddy decided to run around neighing for 30 seconds while I was inside the float with her. Sending her searching for him (this was when she grazed the top).

Ideally I hope she will learn to self load but we are very far off that now. I will try again tomorrow and the day after that, so on and so forth. I may have to buy a rearing bit just to gain more control.  She certainly gives me a workout though and don't be fooled my the photo looking like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth... we that is actually unfair, she is great apart from the floating issue.

Gran Teddy Auto Log: #182 - A new blog name has been chosen!

Gran Teddy Auto Log: #182 - A new blog name has been chosen!: Yeap I have decided to call the revised version of this blog Gran Teddy Auto. It just has that special kind of ring to it. From now on I ...

#182 - A new blog name has been chosen!

Yeap I have decided to call the revised version of this blog Gran Teddy Auto. It just has that special kind of ring to it.

From now on I will be writing about my experiences with both horses. Most likely any writing on Teddy will focus on ground work, natural horsemanship (no particular teaching, just whatever I have adapted that works for me) and liberty work. With Granny I will be focusing on dressage, eventing  and trail riding.  But you never know I might mix it up a bit.

So for any new readers out there (perhaps you were drawn in by the new blog name!) these are my babies, photos taken today:

Granny 

Teddy

Here's to an awesome equine 2013!

Teddy Log: #181 - Looks like this is the Teddy and Gran Log n...

Teddy Log: #181 - Looks like this is the Teddy and Gran Log n...: It's been two weeks since I got my new horse Granny. Not a name I would have chosen but what are ya gonna do! I cant think of a good name...

#181 - Looks like this is the Teddy and Gran Log now

It's been two weeks since I got my new horse Granny. Not a name I would have chosen but what are ya gonna do! I cant think of a good name that sounds like it either and if I do change her name it would have to sound similar.  I must admit that Gran is kind of sticking with me now though, so keeping it looks inevitable.

She is a 14 year old Clydie X TB, 16.1hh. light bay with a baldy face and white patches around her body. She looks mostly Clydie to me, even has the feathering around her hooves and she is built like a tank.  She has great dressage scores from the past but has been out of work for nearly five years so we need to work to get both of our fitness up. It looks like she has her dressage aids firmly committed to memory she is doing so well. She has had one foal in the past but I have her as my new riding mount and Teddy has been doing ground work.

I originally hoped that seeing as she is such a sweet natured girl that some of that may rub off on Teddy but they are in separate paddocks now as the only time I put them together Teddy started being a bossy boots. I don't want her picking up his bad habits, so for now at least, they are talking to each other over the fence with a driveway between them. They seem happy enough with that.

I doubt I will find the time to write a blog for each horse but I still want to record our progress and my ups and downs of returning to riding, so this will now be the Teddy and Granny Log (I need to work out how to change it on Blogger - maybe something like GranTeddy).

Teddy has been doing a bit of ground work and is doing very well. He's a lefty like me so he is working on the squeeze game on the right side. He has actually turned a corner from his rude behaviour of the last month and I  think it might be that I have moved him down the line in the pecking order. I want Gran to be seen as my number one and I do everything with her first. On the one occasion when I didn't, I started Teddy on ground work and took him out of Gran's sight and she started to threat and pace up and down the fence line calling out to him. She is such a girl!  Teddy did the same the first time I took her out of his sight but now he couldn't care less.  And his ground work has been consistently good so I hope we progress a lot on that front. The real test is when I get the float modified to accommodate Gran and take her away from the farm. It will be interesting to see how they both behave.

I have been working Gran fairly regularly after initially coming off her on the first day. She spooked as I was getting on and I hadn't even put my foot in the other stirrup when she seems to simultaneously jump forward, up and to the right and I went backwards and to the left! I fell flat on my side and once again I felt pain in places I'd never experienced before! It took some help from Kim the next day to get me on the right path as I was kind of shaken up by the fall but I'm OK now. Gran is such a lovely horse to ride. Such smooth movement. We are coming along OK but she is still pulling up a little sore. I cant get a physio or masseur out here until next year due to the Christmas holiday (a two week wait) so I've started her on Bute just to be sure. I also find that she is so wide that I'm pulling up sore too!

Today was an unplanned rest day as I've had visitors all day and ended up having a BBQ which left no time to ride. It wont hurt her to have a break but I hope to still work her each day, even at just a walk, to get her fitness up.  Once we are on our way I think I will have to alternate days between Teddy and her. There are also a few clinics coming up mid January so I want to take Gran out to them as well.

So far so good. 

Teddy Log: #180 - Did the Parelli Wild Horse Catching Method ...

Teddy Log: #180 - Did the Parelli Wild Horse Catching Method ...: For a week Teddy was isolated in the laneway so he could not get to water and was fairly confined. This was to allow me to train him to be c...

#180 - Did the Parelli Wild Horse Catching Method Work?

For a week Teddy was isolated in the laneway so he could not get to water and was fairly confined. This was to allow me to train him to be caught. The idea is that the confinement is so he cant run too far away, the rubbing the halter and lead rope on him and massaging him with it etc. is to give him a good experience,  and the only taking him water twice a day and letting him drink after he has been caught is to tell him that I am the boss and he is dependent on me as the pack leader to provide him with what he needs.

So I have now done this for seven days straight and contrary to the Parelli literature saying that this method doesn't fail and that it works on wild horses within a week or two - it failed on Teddy.

Teddy didn't even improve. He is now actually more apprehensive than he was before. Of the two times a day he was offered water from me he refused them. He didn't drink at all on the first day and only drank once a day after that.  He refused to come for food - even his favourites, pears, licorice and peanut butter cups. He would flinch each day I would first put the halter and lead rope on his body to massage him with it, although he was shown it and allowed to smell it each time. And for reasons unknown to me he has now taken to rearing up when I pick his hoof up to oil it each day. He has never done this before in the time I've had him. This isn't a "I have a sore there" rear either, he does it with each hoof and pulls back his back legs with the back hooves over and over and over.  One day he carried on so bad he broke the hay twine the leap rope is tied to twice.

When I go out to him without the halter and lead rope he's fine and on Thursday I was leaning on a gate and he rested his head on the side of my arm and stayed there quietly for a good five minutes before I moved as he was falling to sleep.

I can see no signs of injury or pain. The worst thing he has is a cracked front hoof but its just on the rim and the farrier will have it off next week.

So where to now? I know people will tell me I didn't try the Parelli method long enough but there are two reasons for this. One - he's worse after seven days, and Two - I had to take him out and he will go back in for the next week as our new horse is coming tomorrow and I want them in adjoining paddocks until they get familiar with each other and I've wormed my new horse.  So like it or not he will be getting the same deal next week. It does say in the literature to do something unusual like leave the gate open, so I consider this one of those things it's just he's gate has been open for full day and night (after tonight).

Maybe Granny Smith will bring Teddy back around. We will see.

Teddy Log: #180 - Tough love for Teddy... Again!

Teddy Log: #180 - Tough love for Teddy... Again!: This evening I put Teddy in the laneway where he will stay for a week, maybe two, depending on how he goes. I will bring him water twice a d...

#180 - Tough love for Teddy... Again!

This evening I put Teddy in the laneway where he will stay for a week, maybe two, depending on how he goes. I will bring him water twice a day (obviously more if it's hotter) and lead him to the area where he can drink it once he has accepted the halter and lead rope without being a la la.

He isn't being fed right now apart from the mercy cup he gets with his vitamins and there is plenty of feed in the laneway so he should give it a good mow.  I'll expand the area he can be in after the first week and he's achieved good progress.

You can do it Teddy!

Teddy Log: #179 - Teddy and my love/hate relationship with hi...

Teddy Log: #179 - Teddy and my love/hate relationship with hi...: I have decided to retire Teddy from dressage and trail riding, and concentrate on ground work with him. He just has too many issues that are...

#179 - Teddy and my love/hate relationship with him

I have decided to retire Teddy from dressage and trail riding, and concentrate on ground work with him. He just has too many issues that aren't improving and as soon as I think we are getting somewhere with something, for reasons unknown to me he reverts back to an old bad behaviour or he continues to resist in a behaviour I am trying to correct, which I find incredibly frustrating on both counts.

Lately I have had to contend with him deciding that as soon as he sees a halter or lead rope in my hand he runs away and it has taken me, at times, over an hour of constant too-ing and fro-ing to catch him. I try to do this in the way I first taught him, without a bribe etc and he was good to catch for a solid year but suddenly he wont accept this again. Even if I leave the halter and lead rope on the ground and walk away he will walk to me but he wont go within 50 metres of the halter and lead rope. He acts like its a snake in the grass. Once I have him he is fine but I am at a loss to understand why, in a blink, he can revert back to an unwanted behaviour. I ensure I am consistent and as patient as I can be, but I have my limits and I feel I have reached it now.

I have never been able to take him out trial riding and  this is something I'd love to do. I have friends that invite me to trail ride with them and I have to say no as I cant trust Teddy on a trail. He still isn't up to it after all of our ground work lessons, dressage lessons, day to day ground and saddle work at home that I do with him once or twice a week, after all the daily contact where I reinforce behaviours, after getting floated to Bolinda once a week or so, being socialising etc. All of this and I still cant say we have progressed all that far. After two and a half years of working on Teddy's behavioural issues where I feel that I have achieved some great improvements it ends up being me going out to see him one day to find that someone has wiped his mind's whiteboard clean and I have to start all over again from scratch.  This is not an exaggeration. I've made all the excuses for Teddy that  I can.

Here is an example - Today I went out to the paddock with some licorice for him and he initially stood as far back as he could from me and craned his neck to take the licorice. He was stretching that much that he just reached the licorice with his lips. He wouldn't let me touch him and he was acting like he was ready to run off and I didn't have anything with me, just licorice. Go figure!

All this is not a matter of riding or training ability on my part because even a very experienced rider would have trouble settling him on a trail ride and after all these years of dealing with all the horse people out there who think they are "experts" I can tell you I'm just as good, if not better, than most of them when it comes to dealing with a horse. When it comes to trail riding the best I can do is take him to the reserve across the road and ride him around when no-one else is there, but it is never relaxed enough to be enjoyable. I find myself gauging a ride by how well I got through Teddy's issues and a good ride is when I've dealt with fewer problems. I can honestly say that I've never had a problem free ride on Teddy and this isn't something I can "sell on". It would take a very special person for me to move Teddy on to.

So I'm at the stage now where I want to progress with my riding and the only thing that is holding me back on achieving this goal is dealing with Teddy's behaviour. It may be catching, hyperactivity, the constant head tossing, the stepping away from the mounting block, the unpredictable hunching in his back where I wonder if he is considering bucking (this is also fairly new). He has been thoroughly checked by vets and his health is good apart from the minor beginnings of arthritis in his front fetlock which is treated and he shows no signs of lameness and bolt around a paddock freely.

To put it simply - I just don't get it.

I will continue to work on these things with him but on the ground. Maybe, if we go along well, he can graduate to some free style work etc. but he is virtually retired now from riding until something incredible happens.   I am confident enough in my riding to want to progress and to feel happy and content in that progression. To do this I need a horse that can travel with me and Teddy isn't that horse. This may be a failing on my part but I really have tried. I've learned a lot from Teddy and from watching others whose horsemanship abilities I am confident in. I've come a long way since the day I got Teddy and I'm happy with that and for all the lessons I have learned along the way  thanks to Teddy.   

I will get another horse for riding (I've been looking for about 5 months now and I finally thing I have found the right horse) and Teddy can be a companion to that horse as long has there is harmony in the paddock for the most part.

I recently went through the Parelli  level one sessions with Teddy, which I haven't done in months, and he is still very confident with that, so I will work more on going through that ground work program. I just may find that Teddy has another calling and skill set. Only time will tell.

Wish me luck.

Teddy Log: #178 - Oh how I misjudged Teddy

Teddy Log: #178 - Oh how I misjudged Teddy: Wednesday morning at about 5.30 am I was in the front paddock ready to catch Teddy to take him to Bolinda before work. I do this so I can le...

#178 - Oh how I misjudged Teddy

Wednesday morning at about 5.30 am I was in the front paddock ready to catch Teddy to take him to Bolinda before work. I do this so I can leave straight from work to our riding lesson and then head home. If I didn't there would be no way I'd get the time to get riding instruction.

So I'm in the paddock and I walk up to Teddy and he runs away. I think to myself that this is odd as I rarely have trouble catching him these days. I wait to see if he'll calm down but he is just getting more worked up so I go and get some food. Nothing. He won't even touch it. He bucks and races from one end of the paddock to the other. I think to myself that I've only got so much time to get him before I'm late for work so I need to do something. I approach him again and when I'm inches from him he runs. I'm getting more and more frustrated. I hide the halter and try to lure him to the crush but it was a waste of time. I drop everything thinking i'll go up to him with nothing then lead him by the mane when I get him. I get within inches again and he buggers off. I decide I've spent too much time and had to get to work so I gave up, called him ever name I could think of and stormed back to my float. While I was unhooking it I was calling out to him that he was a bastard no good horse.

I ended up going to my lesson but riding the school horse named Dick. It was a good lesson and I spent a lot of time wishing Teddy was as good as the horse named Dick, so envious was I of his sweet obedient nature. I drove home planning to retire Teddy once and for all and to ride the horse named Dick until I get my new horse.

During the drive home Steve rings telling me I need to get home before dark to see something. When I pull up right out the back paddock I see it - a new born calf from our cow Mercedes.

It took a while but it finally dawned on me that Teddy was trying to tell me about the baby that morning. As I'm sure I've written before Teddy is a sucker for a new bub and always carries on when one is born. The first time I noticed it was when the neighbours cow birthed and Teddy ran to the house neighing, then back to the calf, then back to the house neighing, over and over until I finally came out to see what the commotion was about. Every calf born since gets the same reaction, then by the end of the day he settles.

Poor paternal Teddy copped an earful from me when he was only trying to tell me how happy he was to see the bub. I was just in too much of a rush to listen. Who's the cow now?!

Rest assured I've wholeheartedly apologies to him and I'm pretty sure he has forgiven me.

Meet Number 3, our new calf and the latest apple of Teddy's eye.

Teddy Log: #177 - Bareback riding

Teddy Log: #177 - Bareback riding: I grew up riding bareback. Not well, but nonetheless I hardly used a saddle back then. It seems right and it was definitely convenient. I ...

Teddy Log: #177 - Bareback riding

Teddy Log: #177 - Bareback riding: I grew up riding bareback. Not well, but nonetheless I hardly used a saddle back then. It seems right and it was definitely convenient. I ...

#177 - Bareback riding

I grew up riding bareback. Not well, but nonetheless I hardly used a saddle back then. It seems right and it was definitely convenient.

I thought I would try to ride Teddy bareback but wasn't sure if he'd had the experience before. So yesterday he followed me to the crush area, which has a section I can seal off into a small yard, and I closed the gate behind him and gave him a good brush. He loved it.

The crush area is not big enough to ride in but he can spin around in it if he likes so I thought it would be a good location to see how he feels about someone getting on him without a saddle. At least he wouldn't get far if he tried to nick off and that he wouldn't feel threatened as the enclosure wasn't too small that he couldn't move.

After loving me for brushing him, I bridled him up, got the steps out and put him along side them.  I began by just rubbing him on the back. And what a big back it is. The boy is chunky still.  Slowly I added more pressure to the rubs and I could tell he was tentative about it because he would accept it for a moment then step away. Each time he accepted the touching of his back I would take the pressure off of him and praise him. We did this for a while until I was able to drape myself across his back. This was the real test. He only accepted this for a second before stepping away, and I slid off each time he did, but I praised him for accepting it in the first place.

We did this little game for a while and he was very well behaved. I could see his confidence building. I could tell he didn't know what to make of it and I left it on a good note to build him up to it over time.

Definitely slow steps with this one.

Teddy Log: #176 - getting back into it nicely.

Teddy Log: #176 - getting back into it nicely.: Teddy tried it on in his very typical way when I mounted today. I'm determined that he will stand square and still when I mount and I take a...

#176 - getting back into it nicely.

Teddy tried it on in his very typical way when I mounted today. I'm determined that he will stand square and still when I mount and I take all the time it takes to gently encourage him into the right position. Sunday he did well but today I think he was like, "we only went riding two days ago, you've got to be kidding!" so today he would move just a little out to the side and when that didn't work he even tried a little nip but missed. It took a good 15 minutes to work through it all.

Once mounted we did some more exercises and did an excellent job. To improve and achieve centred riding I rode the last ten minutes with my feet out of the stirrups and the stirrups crossed over the front of the saddle. I actually found it better. Must be as I used to ride bareback as a kid (badly!) I did prefer it and it is good to feel the stability in myself. I do like the stock saddle too.

Teddy Log: #175 - Misson Accomplished!

Teddy Log: #175 - Misson Accomplished!: Teddy and I went for our first ride in ages today. He was a good boy. I was strict on him not moving while I mounted and he did great after ...

#175 - Misson Accomplished!

Teddy and I went for our first ride in ages today. He was a good boy. I was strict on him not moving while I mounted and he did great after a tiny amount of encouragement, then we just walked and trotted around the front paddock, going over exercises we are used to doing. The moment we got into trot he head tossed the worsed he has in ages but I was expecting it. Otherwise he did a great job.
Slowly but surely.

I'm stuffed now, I hope I have the energy to do the gardening I've been wanting to do. 

Teddy Log: #174 - Gearing up for a great summer

Teddy Log: #174 - Gearing up for a great summer: Teddy and I are both gearing up to make the most of the coming warm weather, regular riding and the return of "Teddy Log". We are both out...

#173 -Our farm ain't anything like FARMVILLE!

Now that Teddy and the four cows are sharing all the paddocks together I'm seeing a side of mongrel  in Teddy. Most of the time they all just go about their business being cows and a horse, grazing, pooing, mooing, neighing etc. But then Teddy must get bored and something takes hold of him and he goes, "Right! Those cows look like they need rounding up!" and off he goes at a gallop towards them and the poor cows get the life scared out of them and scatter.

Then it will be all back to normal and an hour or so later Teddy will go over to the hay roll and claim it for himself. If the cows go to the other hay roll he will go over and start pulling hay out of it and shake his head letting hay fly everywhere. He doesn't actually eat it but he makes a mess and the cows back off and will stop eating it. Then the next time I watch them they are all happily eating from the same place together without a care in the world. The other night I even saw Teddy and Gunny eating, side by side for ages, almost touching each other.

Then this morning I was watching them from the study and the cows were hanging around the left overs from an old hay roll. Teddy waltzed over and stood on top of the hay, took a wee on it and then waltzed away. I've never seen a horse do that! How bloody rude!  Was that a horse marking it's territory? It's more likely Teddy is just a mongrel.

Before I bought this property I used to play Farmville all the time. That game is just a big lie hehehe!

#174 - Gearing up for a great summer

Teddy and I are both gearing up to make the most of the coming warm weather, regular riding and the return of "Teddy Log".

We are both out of condition and practice, so we are working our way back into it. I want to be sensible about it so I don't set my health back in any way. Teddy also is a chunky bum so we don't want any injuries - for either of us!

The last two days has just been spent socialising more with each other. Teddy also got to meet Sweet Pea without the gate between them. They sussed each other out cautiously and the pig was making all sorts of noises leaving Teddy unsure of what to do. He quietly watch on with curiosity and a touch of trepidation. Sweet Pea did the same without the quiet. Then when Teddy thought he had worked her out he ever so gently touched her on the bum with his muzzle. Well the pig shit itself, let out a massive squeak and jumped out of reach. I swear Teddy barely touched her but I guess to a little piggy he is one mighty horse giant who could quite easily mistaken her for his next carrot! Teddy just lifted his head slightly and continued to wonder at her.

Sweeties actually quite bossy when the gate is between them, squealing for the next bite of the carrot. But judging by the sounds she was making when he was looking down at her and she staring back with her Mr.-Magoo-without-glasses squint, she quickly lost the bravado and her squeal became that sad "don't leave me!" plea.

Teddy seems quite taken in by her so it will be interesting to see how this friendship develops.

As for Teddy and I, we will be building up on our exercises and I will be putting into practise the routines I developed from Sally Swift's Centred Riding book while I was in hospital. I'm hoping this will enable me to judge if I'm ready to return to lessons.

I'm looking forward to it!

#172 - Teddy is being turned out

Due to my horrible health at the moment I will turn Teddy out until I get better. So he'll be running around with the cows until further notice.

Teddy Log: #171 - back in the saddle again & now I pay for it...

Teddy Log: #171 - back in the saddle again & now I pay for it...: I had a lesson on Teddy today and I think I socialized more then paid attention to Kim's instruction. But that is OK as both Teddy and I are...

#171 - back in the saddle again & now I pay for it

I had a lesson on Teddy today and I think I socialized more then paid attention to Kim's instruction. But that is OK as both Teddy and I are out of training so we need to work our way back into it. And it was good to catch up with Kim.

I took a couple of pain killers before I left and I only recall really feeling any serious pain at one stage in a trot. I think it was enough to make me squeal aloud, but other than that I think it was mainly soreness and stiffness I felt that I could control.

Before we went Teddy appeared to want to go but when it came down to doing the work, well I think he was having thoughts of bucking me off and running back into the float with his nose in the feedbag and pretend we weren't there.

He did well parking so he has remembered his lessons and I was pleased to see this. His anxiety was very prominent as he head tossed a lot so I hope that he will remember it's not so bad and he will get through this quicker this time than it has taken us to get where we were in the first place. All in all I think we did ok.

 It near killed me getting the float ramp shut and on the way home I had to take a few more pain killers and as the cold sets in this evening so has my stiffness. I guess it's worth the price  as my goals are still front and centre in my mind. We will get there.

Now its time to relax and probably have an early night.

Teddy Log: #170 - Laid up - Poor Teddy being bored in the pad...

Teddy Log: #170 - Laid up - Poor Teddy being bored in the pad...: Unfortunately my illness has impacted on my riding once again. This has meant that Teddy hasn't been out for the last few weeks and he hasn'...

#170 - Laid up - Poor Teddy being bored in the paddock

Unfortunately my illness has impacted on my riding once again. This has meant that Teddy hasn't been out for the last few weeks and he hasn't even been ridden at home. I feel bad for him and try and spend time with him when I can, but I would  rather be reinforcing his parking and dressage lessons instead. I'm sure he would too! The only constellation is that the weather has been terrible so a lot of this time I probably wouldn't have been able to ride anyway.

I am just not physically able to ride right now but I'm slowly getting better with less body pain, headaches, spinning etc. At one stage I was contemplating going to my lesson but the day before I removed my sock and a 2x5cm strip of skin came off with it! Deep enough to make me bleed! Bizarre stuff. I was joking to Steve that I'm going to be diagnosed with lepracy next!

It left me unable to wear shoes as it was place right in a spot my runners or boots rubbed on it. The pain was too annoying to concentrate and my body pain makes me walk like an old lady sometimes anyway so I didn't need that on top of it. I'm pleased to say that I wore shoes yesterday for the first time since it happen and all went well. I was even able to keep my skin!

I tried Teddy out on about 200 gms of Speedi-beet yesterday and he loved it. Must be very palatable as he came back to lick the bowl. As he's not really in any work I will be just supplementing his diet with the stuff that I have here. They claim that its good for their gut with a pro biotic and has high calcium levels with a low sugar level, among other things, but these are the things I was interested in with Teddy's arthritis. I know joints and high sugar don't mix so I feel its best to keep him in check, particularly as he's only in the early stages so I hope we can prevent further damage. He already gets a multivitamin supplement so he should do well on this.

I'll be follow suit with a change of diet for health reason soon too. As my diagnoses has my doctors baffled I might have to start another blog to keep me honest and focused on fixing myself.

Teddy Log: #169 - Teddy learned to park properly today!

Teddy Log: #169 - Teddy learned to park properly today!: I'm very happy that Teddy has learned today to finally park beside the mounting block properly and not move. I have tried many methods - f...

#169 - Teddy learned to park properly today!

I'm very happy that Teddy has learned today to finally park beside the mounting block properly and not move. I have tried many methods - from keeping his feet moving until he gets beside the block and releasing the pressure, to Parelli, to holding him in place (he's just steps sideways when you stand on the block) and so on. This method was what Kim showed me at my last lesson and it had my add-on of me lounging on top of his back before actually mounting and making sure he doesn't move and when I am mounted I don't let him move from the spot for about 30 seconds straight after so he doesn't think that someone on his back means he must move.

He did very well with me showing him what he needs to do and allowing me on his back without any fuss whatsoever. Once mounted we went off for a short walk and then I'd dismounted. Then I did it two more times and the second time he fidgeted about a little bit then settled fine. The third time was perfect. A big fan of ending on a high I left it there after a little ride.

this is a great leap from usual as when I'm on my own it could take about 10 minutes of constant trying before he will stand still.  I know this is just the start but I will have to add this into his routine until it comes naturally for him.

Way to go Teddy! I'm proud of you!

Teddy Log: #168 - TTT Trials Bulla - Team 4 Aces

Teddy Log: #168 - TTT Trials Bulla - Team 4 Aces

#168 - TTT Trials Bulla - Team 4 Aces

Teddy Log: #167 - The Smith Family Curse is affecting my ridi...

Teddy Log: #167 - The Smith Family Curse is affecting my ridi...: Yes, the Smith Family head tilting curse is putting me off my game. As you can see from this old family photo we are all afflicted with th...

#167 - The Smith Family Curse is affecting my riding!

Yes, the Smith Family head tilting curse is putting me off my game. As you can see from this old family photo we are all afflicted with the uncontrollable need to  tilt our heads to the side. I don't know where it comes from but it's something that I don't even know that I'm doing it. Now I find myself riding and my instructor has to tell me to stop tilting my head as it slightly alters my balance.

Easier said than done! I have to concentrate extremely hard to stop doing it and I need to be told that I'm doing it as I'm not conscious of it.

I will keep plugging along and see how I go!

The things you learn about yourself huh!

Teddy Log: #166 -I'm going to be a shit hot rider...

Teddy Log: #166 -I'm going to be a shit hot rider...: ... when I learn to ride Teddy properly. What a work out today was at ARC. Once I've mastered this my arms will be muscley, by back will be ...

#166 -I'm going to be a shit hot rider...

... when I learn to ride Teddy properly. What a work out today was at ARC. Once I've mastered this my arms will be muscley, by back will be as strong as a wall and I'll have the balance of a ballarina.

I can only hope to get those things quick smart as its seeming a long way off right now. Teddy was a nuff nuff on the ground then let me on without a problem and worked beautifully until the head tossing started. It was still a good lesson I just wish I didn't have to concentrate so hard on not pitching forward all the time. When he gets passed it he's great though. I think we both worked up a sweat today. And we got caught in a hail storm on the way home. Thankfully it wasn't while I was riding.

I've officially joined another ARC so I can have twice the fun, so now I'm with Kyneton and Aurum. 

Teddy Log: #165 - The best lesson EVER!

Teddy Log: #165 - The best lesson EVER!: Teddy and I had a great lesson yesterday. He spent the day in the yard next to Princess while I was at work and I think he's in love. Appare...

#165 - The best lesson EVER!

Teddy and I had a great lesson yesterday. He spent the day in the yard next to Princess while I was at work and I think he's in love. Apparently they interact over the fence all day. He was so happy and content and I think the drugs are doing him wonders as we are riding so much better.  A lot of things have had to fall into place of course but he was consistent, this help me and my balance and visa versa, and there was very little head tossing. I rode with a big smile on my face.

Teddy is becoming a great horse, but I still think he needs a friend... in time Teddy... in time.

Teddy Log: #164 - Fell and Teddy was the perfect gentleman

Teddy Log: #164 - Fell and Teddy was the perfect gentleman: Yesterday I fell right in Teddy's path and as I hit the ground I was thinking to myself, "What body part is going to get broken, cut up or s...

#164 - Fell and Teddy was the perfect gentleman

Yesterday I fell right in Teddy's path and as I hit the ground I was thinking to myself, "What body part is going to get broken, cut up or smashed in as Teddy lands on me?"

But no! Teddy came to a halt with me on the ground in front of him and when I rolled over and looked up he was just looking calmly down at me. All beautiful horsey face! What a perfect gentleman! He was standing within centimetres of me and I just reached out and patted him on the chest as I composed myself.

I did get a frustrated sadness going but I have to say I was very proud of him because he could have easily stomped all over me or buggered off.

I think he cares aawwwhhh!

Teddy Log: #163 - Teddy Cam

Teddy Log: #163 - Teddy Cam: Teddy should have been born a cat - a fraidy cat! I took him out for a trail ride around the reserve, which is located across the road (if...

#163 - Teddy Cam

Teddy should have been born a cat - a fraidy cat!

I took him out for a trail ride around the reserve, which is located across the road (if this counts as a trail ride). As this was the first time we have done this he was very alert to the things around him. Particularly at the start when he was refusing to go forward so I had to work him through it. Strangely, we went past some roos and he couldn't have cared less about them but non-living, stationary objects he found spooky. Because of this I decided to get the phone out and record a bit of Teddy Cam.

 A couple of kids were walking down the road on the other side of the fence and this was his second biggest issue, but we got past all the each things he thought were monsters and he got better as time went on. It was a nice ride.

Trying to capture video footage isn't as easy as I hoped it, but here is a snippet of it.

Teddy Log: #162 - short ride and getting jabbed

Teddy Log: #162 - short ride and getting jabbed: It's my health, not Teddy's, that's been holding us back for the last week; that and endless commitments. Now I'm feeling a bit better, ye...

#162 - short ride and getting jabbed

It's my health, not Teddy's, that's been holding us back for the last week; that and endless commitments.

Now I'm feeling a bit better, yesterday I saddled Teddy up and just took him for a walk around to see how he'd pull up after the poking, prodding and the needles. He did fine.

Today i gave him his second shot, but it was the first time I've jabbed him with a needle and he wasn't impressed! I thought I was going to cop a bite but he backed up with the needle sticking in his neck. I waited for him to come to me before finishing the job.  Two more shots to go so I hope I get better at this!

This whole experience of finding out if Teddy has a problem has cost me a small fortune! It would be ok if it wasn't for the fact that the physio, who I saw first, told me exactly the same thing as the vet and if I didn't see the vet I could have saved myself $300. The vet just said, "Good physio". But you have to see the vet to get the medication... ahh cant win.

But  on a positive note -Teddy is the winner! He'll be back in stride in no time. I hope to have a lesson this week and I'll try and take him on a few trail rides around the local area just to get him a bit fitter.

Teddy Log: #161 - Vet check and physio

Teddy Log: #161 - Vet check and physio: Teddy has had a big week with a vet check and a physio appointment! The good news is there is absolutely nothing wrong with his back. There ...

#161 - Vet check and physio

Teddy has had a big week with a vet check and a physio appointment! The good news is there is absolutely nothing wrong with his back. There is no wastage, it is strong, and he is in good order. His GP saddle has also been checked for fit and it's perfectly fine. His stock saddle was already fitted. It was picked up that he could do with some stretching as he is a bit stiff in the neck, so I will be doing stretching of his front legs before and after a ride.

An issue that was discovered is that he has arthritis in his fetlocks. The extent is still to be determined and he will be receiving a course of pentozan once a week for the next four weeks and it will be decided after that how much he has improved and how much more medication he may need. I was told by the physio, Kate Sagar, that his fetlocks are like he has run in a hundred races! He was a working stockhorse and polo horse so that pretty much explains it.

Other than that he is in great health and  is fit to ride! I'm very happy!

I think Teddy might need a little lie down now.

#161 - Back in the saddle

I took Teddy out for a lesson today. He did really well. He showed no soreness, he was tracking well, his hoof fall was correct and he was collected. Also his ears were forward the whole time showing now unhappiness about the ride. We worked on my balance, which hasn't been helped by my dizziness that may be a kind of vestibular migraine (still trying to work this one out), but I was ok on this ride so I could concentrate on working on this. If anything was wrong it was Teddy being a lazy bones and as this is new for him I really had to keep him going.

All in all, I'm happy to keep going with him, so negativity - get out of my life!

Teddy Log: #160 - Teddy is doing well

Teddy Log: #160 - Teddy is doing well: After the drama of a couple of weeks ago I have been treating Teddy's back bumps with Iodine and they are doing really well, almost clear. I...

#160 - Teddy is doing well

After the drama of a couple of weeks ago I have been treating Teddy's back bumps with Iodine and they are doing really well, almost clear. I have had another person look at him and yes he is weak in the back but, as has been said by many people, this will improve when he gets into regular work. I have decided to stick to lessons in the place I am most comfortable and supported so I will continue to do my lessons with Kim. I am not dismissing other options but I have seen results in Teddy and I do know my own horse. I think this is part of the problem, people think they know him better than I do. His head tossing is a nervous condition without a doubt, its got nothing to do with his back. In short, though I had hurt feelings, I'm over it and will do this for the reasons I started doing it in the first place - To be with horses, which I love, to learn and above all have fun! I'll be back in the saddle this week working on strengthening both of us.

Teddy and I are going to show them all!

Teddy Log: #159 - This is what the bumps look like - Any idea...

Teddy Log: #159 - This is what the bumps look like - Any idea...: I've been cleaning Teddy's bumps every day (except last night when I was a uni) and there is very little change. Improving slightly. They do...

#159 - This is what the bumps look like - Any ideas?

I've been cleaning Teddy's bumps every day (except last night when I was a uni) and there is very little change. Improving slightly. They don't bleed or anything and only one is large, about the width of a pencil. When I pressed down on that one today he did go a little weak in the back and then he stuck his head up from his feed and just looked straight ahead with his teeth together and dribbling the water he had just drunk. He probably stood like that for a good 30 to 40 seconds. I had to go over and have a scratch and chat with him before he went back to eating. Maybe he heard something in the distance that I didn't and he was listening out for it, who knows.

Here are some photos of the bumps. You can click on them to enlarge them.  Let me know if you know what they are. There are 5 on his back,  all around where his saddle seat sits.

Teddy Log: #158 - poked and prodded

Teddy Log: #158 - poked and prodded: Yesterday I gave Teddy a good look over, he was poked and prodded with pressure all down and around his back and he didn't flinch at all. H...

#158 - poked and prodded

Yesterday I gave Teddy a good look over, he was poked and prodded with pressure all down and around his back and he didn't flinch at all. He's also walking fine. He does however appear to have three small bumps on one side of his back that would be under where the saddle is. I pressed on them and he looked around but that was it. They aren't open sores or anything. They may well be from dirt as he hasn't been washed in ages, or they may be insect bites or something else and this may be getting aggravated when the saddle goes on. Particularly when he's sweating. He also spooked yesterday and turned on his heels and ran without a problem and that evening I was up the top of the hill (small hill incline) taking apples to the cows when Teddy decided he wanted to see what was going on. He could have walked around to the flat to get to me but he just trotted up the hill. He didn't seem to be in pain at all. That doesn't necessarily mean he isn't in pain but the degree probably isn't as bad as first thought.

I did the same pressing thing again today but with a lot more pressure and still no reaction. I cleared and treated where the bumps are just in case its that and I'll continue to do so until they go away.

I wish we had taking his tack off on Saturday after the ride to see where the soreness was coming from. When I was watching him playing with the horse in the next corral I was thinking that he wasn't showing any soreness at all and wouldn't he still present after an hour long lesson where he was in pain with every fall of the trot? In the past my regular instructor has said to me in that he has a weak back and that would be improved with work. Yesterday the rally instructor said he was working fine when I followed the instructions she gave and that when I looked between his ears he carried himself well and lowered his head well. I'd have thought they would have said something if they thought something was wrong, after all they are watching the horse the whole time.It was put to me on Saturday like it was a major problem, maybe the woman telling me was unintentionally over stressing the point.

I'm also confused about this "muscle wastage". I have looked at photos of him when I bought him and he looks exactly the same. Seriously exactly the same. I've looked a pic online and at horses in my area that are thoroughbred types (Teddy is a stock horse but they are derived from TB and he looks like a TB to me) and their backs look like his too. Maybe I don't know what I'm looking for, but to me he looks absolutely the same as he always has!

I think its important to note that I tend to over think things so this is why I stress out. But in my defense I just want to be sure that Teddy is as happy and healthy as he can be. Anyway if Teddy doesn't improve, and I'll only be able to determine that with someone else watching me ride, they I will call a vet to check him.

Teddy Log: #157 - Disappointed and Confused

Teddy Log: #157 - Disappointed and Confused: Today I went across the road to take part in my first rally with the riders club. I've been a member since I moved here but I've never actua...

#157 - Disappointed and Confused

Today I went across the road to take part in my first rally with the riders club. I've been a member since I moved here but I've never actually participated in these rallies, I've just observed or taken photos as I didn't have a float and Steve was worried that something would happen to me if I walked Teddy down our road to the reserve in the weekend traffic.

So I had a joint lesson with an instructor I had never been with before. Teddy was in a new environment so he was hyper and I wasn't quite sure if my bruising had healed, so I was a bit nervous. It took me a good half hour to calm down Teddy with ground work as he was quiet flighty and even rears up a few times but we got through it. Then when I mounted he had a few half-hearted attempts at bucking me off! Half-hearted but for real, so that was a surprise to me. We walked through that then the lesson began.

I was quite confused by the instructor asking me not to do things that my regular instructor tells me to do. With this instructor it was all about the head and knees. I wasn't allowed to move my head at all, even when turning, which is different to what I normally get told, and I wasn't to use my body weight at a slight tilt to tell Teddy the direction I wanted to go, I had to do it with the opposite knee.  I had already formed a habit with my regular instructor so I was spending most of my time correcting these things to the new way. It took some time and I was still a bit sore, particularly after a while, but I could really see a positive difference in the way Teddy carried himself; particularly his head. It was a very good lesson. The instructor was thorough and attentive.

When I got off Teddy all the other riders had been talking and one was waiting around to tell me how sore Teddy was. I knew he had a bit of soreness but they went to the extent of telling me I shouldn't be riding him at all. She even implied that they thought he must have a very old back injury and I should consider selling him or putting him out to pasture! This shocked me as I didn't think it was that bad. I heard this and all the other stuff being said about his back and his behaviour issues being a result of his back and I felt really deflated and sad.

I was watching Teddy socialising with one of the other horses in the corral opposite him and he was calm and peaceful. But the bucking is a clear indication that he has some soreness. To what extent I really don't know. When riding with my regular instructor I'm told that he works his way through it. Today I was told by onlookers that he flinched each time I rose to the trot. I haven't ridden since the last time I was with my regular instructor, approximately three weeks ago when I had received the injury. Today Teddy cantered fine and when I implemented the instructors no-moving-head rule I was stunned at how well he carried himself; so while I stood there watching Teddy play I was mulling all this over in my mind.  

I've ridden with one other instructor before but I wasn't too impressed so I thought that I should give this new instructor a go. I don't think it is fair to just dismiss my current instructor because we all have our own methods that are adapted over time so it may well be that this is just another version of how to ride dressage. I'm also more interested in eventing than dressage anyway.  This new instructor is more expensive and give you less time in the saddle but I've decided that I'll go to both instructors on alternate weeks for a while to compare.

However I am confused on whether or not to do lessons with Teddy. Neither instructor has told me his soreness is so bad that he shouldn't be ridden but I'd hate myself if I hurt him. Which reminds me - a strict diet for me is in order! Maybe I should look at retiring him and getting another horse but I'm definately not selling him and I cant afford a new horse now anyway. I don't want to stop riding either, particularly as I just got the float! I've been lead to beleive that back problems take years to resolve. I've come so far but it would be impractical to return to a school horse.

What to do?... I don't know.

#156 - Teddy self loads! And riding through the pain!

 

Teddy and I went for our first ride since the accident and it was painful for me; and Teddy was a bit stiff too. 

Teddy's is probably from the work he had been doing and then not doing. His mild bruising around the poll and cheek seems to have cleared up. 

I've discovered that I also injured my coccyx bone and when I was going into trot, sitting for the first few steps, I was getting pain I didn't know was there. I've also got pain from my groin where there is a deep muscle bruise that is hardening. I had to stop and walk at times mainly because of the coccyx bone. Also due to the injury being on the right side of the groin I was much better working to the left. 

We will preserver  and hopefully we will slowly get through this while still working on our riding.

On  a very positive note today Teddy self loaded onto the float on the way up and back so I was excited and surprised about that. Just waltzed right in. Way to go Teddy!

Teddy Log: #155 - Health Check done!

Teddy Log: #155 - Health Check done!: It's been a sore couple of days. I've had Teddy checked and he has minor bruising on his poll and the top of his jaw, otherwise he is doing ...

#155 - Health Check done!

It's been a sore couple of days. I've had Teddy checked and he has minor bruising on his poll and the top of his jaw, otherwise he is doing fine.

The swelling on my knee went down after the first day to reveal a half golf ball size bump and bruise beside the kneecap, and that has reduced to about half again this morning. The bruising to my groin is still black and blue and you can see three distinct lines for each time he reared up and lifted me off the ground! 

It's painful when I initially sit so I hope that will be bearable for tomorrow's eventing clinic or I'm going to be in pain with every bounce! But on the positive side it could well teach me to be much more gently with my sitting when rising to the trot!

Although I'd like to feel the wind in my hair and ride away I will have to be sensible about this and see how I'm doing tomorrow.  Everybody keep your fingers crossed for me!

Go Teddy!

Teddy Log: #154 - The Great, the OK and the Down Right Painfu...

Teddy Log: #154 - The Great, the OK and the Down Right Painfu...: The Great: This morning when I went out to catch Teddy to take him to the eventing clinic he was lying down in his paddock. I walked over t...

#154 - The Great, the OK and the Down Right Painful!

The Great:
This morning when I went out to catch Teddy to take him to the eventing clinic he was lying down in his paddock. I walked over to him and he let me lie down right beside him! I haven't been so happy about something in ages. It's the ultimate sign of trust as horses are flighty prey animals and to be lying down is when they are at their most vulnerable.  For Teddy to allow me to not only approach him but lay down beside him and be totally at ease demonstrates to me that he has complete trust in me that I wont harm him and that he wants to share his time and space with me. It was bloody fantastic!

The OK:
At the clinic he was great unloading and the calmest I've seen him among other horses. There were three other horses in the arena today and we all worked well together.  Teddy was still a bit too fast for the others but it was manageable. I felt I was maintaining my rhythm well and during the flat work his head tossing had eased during the trotting. Then when I was asking him to canter on a regular basis he started to stress out and really toss his head. It was at the end of the session so I was getting tired trying to work with him and keep my balance. Although, overall the session was a good one, I ended it feeling fairly frustrated. 

The Down Right Painful:
After the session I took Teddy back to the float to get his gear off so he could rest for the hour long break. I have now discovered I was about to learn one of the most fundamental but important lessons of my horsey life.

I tied Teddy to the outside of the float with his lead rope onto a double strand of hay twine and undid the throat strap of the bridle, all as I would normally do. Next I took the halter and put the head strap around his poll and fastened it. I was about to take the bridle off when I thought I was a bit too close to the float so instead of moving Teddy out of the way or walking around him to get to his other side I foolishly decided to step over the lead rope. This was a VERY VERY bad idea and one of the things you are taught not to do when you first start riding horses. As I was about to do it a voice inside me said not to but I ignored it! I put my foot over the lead rope and just as I was straddling it Teddy started to back up. I tried to stop him by grabbing hold of the lead rope quickly with one hand but this just spooked Teddy and he reared up! The lead rope was between my legs and he reared that high that he took me completely off the ground to about the height of the float wheel.

In a perfect world the hay twine the lead rope was tied to is supposed to break but it didn't. Teddy reared again and the lead rope lifted me off the ground again. The pain was so intense it was like being hit in the nose and my eyes started watering and all I could think of was what a fool-hearted idiot I was and how was I going to stop this? Teddy reared again and this time the pain and shock made me scream out. The hay twine still didn't break but the halter did! I fell to the side as Teddy got himself loose and I landed on my feet sideways, straight into the side of the float.

Teddy had managed to rip through a few millimetres of tightly webbed nylon strapping and four metal eye-hole ringlets on the halter to get himself free. In the process he also stepped on the reins and snapped the bridle. The pressure on his poll must have been terrible.

A number of people came running while I was hunched over with my groin singing in pain. If the rope had been an inch to the left I would have been torn in two! Thankfully it wasn't. I was trying to catch Teddy but was still hunched over and he just stood at the side of the float looking on like a sad pony. Kim and a number of other people help put the halter back on Teddy (there was still one ringlet left to use) and took off his saddle etc.

When those trying to help were asking me if I was ok I was in so much pain from my groin that I could hardly speak. Then when that pain started to ease I discovered my knee was starting to swell up and ache. As was my hip and elbow. I decided it wouldn't be wise to straddle a horse and get back in the saddle so I called it quits for the day. After watching another person have a lesson and collecting myself,  I headed off home. In the car my knee was bothering me more than anything and my old elbow injury started to get sore again. I guess I must have hit it on the float as well.  In the picture below you can see that there should be a kneecap there, but its so swollen you cant see it anymore. Also I am badly bruised in other places that I'm not photographing.

This accident was purely my fault. Not my horse, not the equipment, not anyone else there. It was TOTALLY MY FAULT! I knew I shouldn't step over the lead rope, that it was too close and that I should just go around. My mind even reminded me just as I was about to do it but I still ignored it. This could have been a lot worse and I'm grateful that it's not. It could have been a lot worse for Teddy too but he seems to be fine. If any horse people read this learn from my mistakes! Seriously! I'm having trouble sitting right now so it's just stupid not to take this and note the following lessons:

• ALWAYS use one strand of hay twine and don't loop it as it WONT BREAK!
• NEVER walk across a lead rope, even if it looks safe!
• WALK AROUND your horse and don't be impatient or lazy!
• LISTEN to your gut instincts, they aren't wrong!
• Do what your TEACHER TELLS YOU! They have good reasons for saying not to do certain things and can save you a lot of pain. They are at the place they are because they didn't do stupid things that could prevent them from ever getting in the saddle again.

So I will relax for the next few days as I know there is still a whole heap of bruising yet to surface, and on Wednesday I will be back at the eventing clinic.

... or maybe I should consider learning how to use a horse drawn wagon...

Teddy Log: #153 - 1st half of Eventing clinic at Aurum

Teddy Log: #153 - 1st half of Eventing clinic at Aurum: I've decided I have too much to write about with these eventing clinics I've been attending so I'd better break it up into two posts rat...

#153 - 1st half of Eventing clinic at Aurum

I've decided I have too much to write about with these eventing clinics I've been attending so I'd better break it up into two posts rather than one.

So far I have attended two clinics on Teddy and they have both been great. The first clinic the weather was perfect and the second it was dismal!

I have to admit that I was nervous on the first day as I'd never attended anything like this before, nor have I ridden Teddy in a group and Teddy is a nervous boy anyway. As you can tell from the photo above, at home Teddy is pretty relaxed, but any kind of stresser and he shows it.

Day 1 - The conditions were perfect and when we arrived I put the relaxation parallel techniques into practise and after a few minutes Teddy was relatively fine. My first session was with one other girl who was a more experienced rider than me and we did flat work for about an hour and a half. I felt my balance was terrible on the day and was quite tired trying to deal with Teddy's head tossing. It took Teddy a while to stop focusing on the other horses but I could tell he was trying. At the end of it all, I have to admit, he is a very responsive horse and he wants to please me. I learned a lot about keeping his attention on the inside of the circle as there was a stallion grazing on the other side of the arena which was very distracting for him. I think the nerves got the better of me on this day as I wasn't performing anywhere near what I was capable of, and I was a bit concerned about what the others were thinking of my riding (a bad trait I wish I didn't have but I do, particularly with this horse stuff.)

After we had finished I tied Teddy with three other horses and left him there to relax and rest for about an hour and a half, and this did wonders for him. He was a much more relaxed horse in the second half, which was the cross country circuit.

Aurum has its own cross country field so I watched the intermediate group go through there session and this gave me an opportunity to take photos and think to myself - "They seriously don't expect me to do this! What have I gotten myself into?"

They did expect me to do this! But thankfully I was eased into it and it was fine, nothing to dramatic to start with and as Kim was well aware of Teddy's stress levels she obviously made an on the spot assessment that I wasn't to canter as he may well not be ready for it. Or I for that matter! I'm grateful for that as Teddy is an ex-polocrosse horse so when he goes - HE REALLY GOES!

I started off just trotting over logs on the ground which was easy enough but I didn't have the confidence to go any higher at the time. Then we went over to a mound that had a retaining wall on the other side. We walked up the side and had to walk/trot the horse down the other side of the retaining wall. This was quite a challenge for Teddy and he firstly refused to do it. With gentle and persistent encouragement he eventually went down the retaining wall. Then we went up and down about another five times to make it stick.

Next was the water course. First we just had to walk in and surprisingly Teddy didn't have an issue with this like most of the other horses did. He must be a water horse after all! As none of the horses could see the bottom of the muddy water they were very cautious of it but Teddy just went straight in. At the wall at the other end we had to jump out of it and he was happy to do that too. When we had finished this it was about 3.45pm and Teddy finally let out a big relaxed sigh. We finished the lesson at 4.00pm!

Day 2 - What a terrible weather day! It was really windy, to the extent that I could hardly hear what Kim was saying. It was cold and raining and at one stage it hailed. But the show must go on. For the record you can keep riding in the wind. It's not my thing as I find it annoying but it does make for a better rider. Unfortunately Teddy is of the same view as he was even upset at home and didn't want to get into the float. When we got to Aurum it took about half an hour of relaxation exercises before I could even tack up and then he still wasn't quite right. The trees were being blown around so much that Teddy thought they were all new monsters that he'd never seen before - the very same trees from the last clinic. Then in the arena I had to work with him for about 10 minutes before I could even mount.

I was with two other people this time and one was on a bucking little pony and the other on a slow old timer - both nice horses, though the pony was a pushy little bugger! As Teddy is so forward and it was so windy he was way out in front of them, but I was much more relaxed this time around and had my balance and rhythm a lot more than the previous clinic. In the flat work session we cantered a little and I initially gave Teddy the wrong aid and must have confused him by doing so as he just started trotting faster and it felt like it took ages for him to get into canter. I was all off balance and bumpy! Poor Teddy! Usually the slightest of touches and he responds. Luckily I realized what I had done and from then on it was ok.  During his rest period the intermediate group concentrated on jumping so I watched and took more photos. I may be the designated photographer for these clinics!

Then it was time for me and the other girls to go out to the cross country course. I was a lot more relaxed and happier this time around and it really showed. We did the logs, one on the ground and the other off. This time I was confident enough to give off the ground jumps a go. Then we did a small tyre jump that was half dug into the ground and had obstacles on either side. Next we did a log on the top of a small hill. By the time we trotted up the hill and crossed the log Teddy decided to walk down the other side EVERY TIME, bar one! Then we trotted over a ditch that had a small jump on the other side. He was good at this and it was the first time I could say I really felt a jump motion in the saddle. Next was the retaining wall again and then off trotting through the water jump and out the other side. This was serious leaping out the other side and we did a great job of that - if I do say so myself! The  wall on the water jump is a few feet high so we got some serious height - well for me that is! I now understand the thrill of the jump!

Each new obstacle was practiced a few times and then we did the circuit! I was really quite please with myself and Teddy when we had completed the circuit. I would never have thought I'd be doing anything like this a year ago. Also, as I had done a day of eventing clinic before and the other girls hadn't, I took the lead a lot and I think that was good for my confidence and Teddy's. Most importantly I held my position very well and that was very important to me (though that's a whole other story).

Next clinic is Sunday and I will try and get a person to take photos of me and Teddy.

I cant wait!

Teddy Log: #152 - Photos of the girls jumping at the 2nd Even...

Teddy Log: #152 - Photos of the girls jumping at the 2nd Even...: If you click on the pictures you get a full size version of them (as with the previous pictures as well). I will be writing a blog on the f...

#152 - Photos of the girls jumping at the 2nd Eventing Clinic at Aurum

If you click on the pictures you get a full size version of them (as with the previous pictures as well). I will be writing a blog on the full clinic when I have done the final day.  Until then Enjoy!