Barokko is steadily improving, being worked 3-5 days a week. The weather hasn't been particularly cooperative lately, sometimes making it very difficult to ride, but we're getting enough work in to keep make progress. I'm so looking forward to spring!
This past weekend M took care of him. Sat she took him out on a short trail ride in the snow, and Sun she rode up to the indoor. She hasn't ridden him in the arena in AGES and she was amazed by the change in him :)
Last night I didn't have the energy to go up to the indoor, so I just rode in the outdoor for about 20 mins, mostly walk (the outdoor is half mud and half ice right now *sigh*). I did a lot of flexions and lateral movements with him, and he responded well, he's slowly regaining suppleness after having become quite stiff during his illness.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Going up Hills
We went for a trail ride with J on his bike. A one hour loop, mostly walk but with a long trot stretch in the middle of the ride (1.5-2 km). We trotted up 2 hills, which he handled really well, he didn't tire significantly. At one point J rode a bit ahead on his bike to get up short but steep a hill and Barokko broke into canter to follow him up. He's showing much more initiative when we ride, but is generally less looky, jumpy, and tense, great combination :)
Friday, February 13, 2009
We went to the indoor yesterday. It was the first time going up there alone, so I decided to lead him. I needn't have worried, tho, he was perfectly well-behaved. We met several challenging obstacles on the way (including a guy with a chain saw felling a tree right next to the path as we went by!), but he didn't hop, skip, or jump even once, he just walked calmly, flicking his ears curiously at all the goings on. He's become much more relaxed when we're out and about since he's been put back into work, I think he really needed the mental stimulation.
At the arena he did really well, I rode for about 30 mins total, with a lot of trotting. He felt strong, so I decided to try our a canter, and it was great :) Sharp transitions, correct leads, and a wonderfully big, energetic canter. I only cantered two circles, one on each lead, but it was so fun to feel how powerful he was in those first steps. I'm so impressed by how quickly he's improving!
At the arena he did really well, I rode for about 30 mins total, with a lot of trotting. He felt strong, so I decided to try our a canter, and it was great :) Sharp transitions, correct leads, and a wonderfully big, energetic canter. I only cantered two circles, one on each lead, but it was so fun to feel how powerful he was in those first steps. I'm so impressed by how quickly he's improving!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
In the dark and wind and snow...
Uphill both ways in my bare feet. Wait, wrong story ;)
Yesterday I didn't have a chance to ride Barokko before work, and by the time I got back it was dark. It was quite windy, with hard gusts every now and then making it hard to breathe if you were facing right into the wind. Oh, and it was actually snowing, too ;) But the ground in the arena wasn't frozen and we've just gotten 3 flood lights installed, so I decided to ride out there instead of trecking up to the indoor (with a 15 min walk each way we'd be getting cold anyway).
Barokko was such a good boy, he didn't jump even once, despite the very interesting conditions ;) We trotted quite a lot, this time I did some longer trot intervals than I've done the other rides, and while he tired he kept going, and didn't balk at my pressing him forward. When we didn't have wind-in-the-face issues he was very stable on the bit, I'm truly amazed at the change in him. Still stiff to bend, but I could feel a slight improvement since I began riding again. It'll come, but it'll just take some time.
This morning I woke up to a goodly layer of snow, and was ready to jump out of bed for an early morning ride, hoping to beat the thaw, but it was already too late :( So It's a day off for Barokko today, when the snow compacts like this I don't want to risk anything. Hopefully it'll either freeze or thaw completely soon. It's still snowing right now, so maybe my best bet is to hope for colder temps, so we can get some good snow rides!
Besides being terribly beautiful and impractical, snow is also great when you have an unblanketed horse - rolling in the snow cleans his woolies much better than I'm able to with grooming :D
Yesterday I didn't have a chance to ride Barokko before work, and by the time I got back it was dark. It was quite windy, with hard gusts every now and then making it hard to breathe if you were facing right into the wind. Oh, and it was actually snowing, too ;) But the ground in the arena wasn't frozen and we've just gotten 3 flood lights installed, so I decided to ride out there instead of trecking up to the indoor (with a 15 min walk each way we'd be getting cold anyway).
Barokko was such a good boy, he didn't jump even once, despite the very interesting conditions ;) We trotted quite a lot, this time I did some longer trot intervals than I've done the other rides, and while he tired he kept going, and didn't balk at my pressing him forward. When we didn't have wind-in-the-face issues he was very stable on the bit, I'm truly amazed at the change in him. Still stiff to bend, but I could feel a slight improvement since I began riding again. It'll come, but it'll just take some time.
This morning I woke up to a goodly layer of snow, and was ready to jump out of bed for an early morning ride, hoping to beat the thaw, but it was already too late :( So It's a day off for Barokko today, when the snow compacts like this I don't want to risk anything. Hopefully it'll either freeze or thaw completely soon. It's still snowing right now, so maybe my best bet is to hope for colder temps, so we can get some good snow rides!
Besides being terribly beautiful and impractical, snow is also great when you have an unblanketed horse - rolling in the snow cleans his woolies much better than I'm able to with grooming :D
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
He's a Brand New Horse!
It's really real, he's OK :D
It's like getting a new horse, he's completely changed. He's energetic and forward, he really truly feels like a happy horse!
I rode up to the indoor at HRK this morning. We trotted and trotted :) After a few rounds he'd tire, I'd give him a walk break, and then we trotted some more. Beatiful, flowing trot, I'm soooooo happy, I honestly never thought I'd feel him like this again! He's a bit stiff, especially to the left - the pneumonia was worst in the right lung, and I think he tensed up more in the muscles along the right side, making it hard to stretch them to bend left.
He was fairly stable on the bit, he worked well over the back more often than not. There were times he tensed up a bit, esp on the left rein, but he was generally relaxed.
I asked the vet about how I should proceed with him from here on out, she said to give him 4 more weeks of light work under saddle and on the longe, walk and trot FDO, bending work to get him loosened up and supple, but without any real pressure. Gradually add in short canter intervals. After the 4 weeks I can begin training him more normally, W-T-C, gradually begin jumping, hill work, etc.
Oh, and I think I better get out the dressage saddle again, we didn't really fit in with the crowd at HRK this morning :P They were all on their body clipped, sleek and fit dressage machines, in their dressage saddles with white pads and wraps - and Barokko in his winter woolies, impossible to get clean, long loose mane, no noseband, in a Wintec jumping saddle with a lambskin-covered breastcollar, blue and yellow pad, and me wearing both helmet and safety vest! ;)
It's like getting a new horse, he's completely changed. He's energetic and forward, he really truly feels like a happy horse!
I rode up to the indoor at HRK this morning. We trotted and trotted :) After a few rounds he'd tire, I'd give him a walk break, and then we trotted some more. Beatiful, flowing trot, I'm soooooo happy, I honestly never thought I'd feel him like this again! He's a bit stiff, especially to the left - the pneumonia was worst in the right lung, and I think he tensed up more in the muscles along the right side, making it hard to stretch them to bend left.
He was fairly stable on the bit, he worked well over the back more often than not. There were times he tensed up a bit, esp on the left rein, but he was generally relaxed.
I asked the vet about how I should proceed with him from here on out, she said to give him 4 more weeks of light work under saddle and on the longe, walk and trot FDO, bending work to get him loosened up and supple, but without any real pressure. Gradually add in short canter intervals. After the 4 weeks I can begin training him more normally, W-T-C, gradually begin jumping, hill work, etc.
Oh, and I think I better get out the dressage saddle again, we didn't really fit in with the crowd at HRK this morning :P They were all on their body clipped, sleek and fit dressage machines, in their dressage saddles with white pads and wraps - and Barokko in his winter woolies, impossible to get clean, long loose mane, no noseband, in a Wintec jumping saddle with a lambskin-covered breastcollar, blue and yellow pad, and me wearing both helmet and safety vest! ;)
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