Spring = Grumpy

Although we are still hovering around the -2C mark, they are predicting warmer weather as the week progresses. The Canada geese have started arriving in droves and I have seen robins at my bird feeders the last two weeks, so that means Spring is here. Yay!! :-)

With Spring, comes a change in routine at the stables. Recently, Gem has not been getting the same amount of turnout that he is used to. A week ago, LA brought in the herd from the pastures to allow the ground and grass to recover. The herd is now in the small field behind the barn. The gate leading to the field is right out the back door of the barn next to Gem's stall, so he can see and smell the herd when the door is open. The other horses that are not turned out with the herd (Gem included) are now taking turns with the paddock and round pen. This means that Gem is only getting a couple of hours of turnout each day. That, coupled with seeing the herd so close at hand, has made Gem a very grumpy boy. Can you spell B-R-A-T??

The last couple of times I have seen him, we have had some issues with him knocking me with his head and chewing the halter and pulling it out of my hands when I am trying to put it on him. He gets squirmy when I groom him. I have to remind him not to rush me when we are walking to the arena. He’s not only pushy, but his mouthiness has caused some problems. One of the ladies who takes care of the morning chores was sweeping in front of Gem’s stall. This woman loves Gem and they have a morning ritual. He started to mouth the back of her jacket….not an unusual thing for him to do to her apparently. But this time, when he didn’t get the attention he wanted, he bit her shoulder!! I was absolutely devastated when LA told me. I almost felt sick to my stomach. For the time being, Gem has to have the top part of his stall door closed. He has company in the barn when it comes to badly behaved horses, but I never thought he would be joining their ranks. :-(

It was extremely windy yesterday. After struggling with tacking up a jiggly horse, we stepped out into the sunshine, me first then Gem. As I started to walk Gem around me so I could turn and close the barn door, he spooked. I mean reared up a couple of times and backed away from me. Fortunately, I didn’t loose the reins and had the good sense to give him some length so that he didn’t pull me off balance. I suspect that it was LA’s daughter moving around near the old barn that caught him off guard. The swirling wind didn’t help. In any case, I talked softly to him and shortened the length of the reins to get closer to him and touch him. I walked him around the yard so he could see that there were no horse eating monsters about. His nostrils were big and he was snorting. I have never seen him do that. Once I thought he was calm enough, I opened the gate and led him down to the arena. I have to admit that I was quite pleased with myself with the way I was able to calm him. I am not a freaker-outer; you want me in your corner if there is an emergency. So, I was glad he responded to me even when I didn’t really know what I was doing.

Yesterday’s ride was a 2 on a scale of 10. He was hard to keep focused. He was full of beans for sure, but he just didn’t want to work! I had brought my dressage whip with me (everyone, including LA keeps telling me that it is my friend!), but I put it down 5 minutes after I got on him. In retrospect, that was probably a mistake. He did not respond to any of my cues the first or second time and I ended up kicking a lot, which I hate. If I had had the whip, he response time may have improved. He just has to see the whip and he has an attitude adjustment. We basically fought for over an hour. I know I caved on disciplining him on numerous occasions, but I was exhausted and I sensed that he recognized this weakness. He knows that through his physical strength and stubbornness, he can tire me out. It is times like these I do feel my age and wish that I had started riding 30 years ago!

So, Spring may be here but it also means that I will probably have to put up with Gem’s grumpiness for another month while the pastures dry out. Wish me luck. Sigh…..

What was I thinking….?

Advil Mixed with Marissa

Gem was very fresh and pushy last night. He was a bit of a handful, even when tacking up for lesson. I don't know why, but I have to say it didn't really bother me. Perhaps my relaxed approach to the evening was a result of the extra-strength Advil I had taken late afternoon to stave off a headache; it took the edge off. Gem really gave me the business when we walked around the arena and when we upped it to a jog - he was leaning on the bit, squirmy, tail swishing. LA gave me the dressage whip. When Gem saw the whip, he had a bit of an attitude change. We did an amazing posting trot. His head was well positioned and he stopped fighting the bit. We were moving and grooving. It was delightful. I love the bigness of his movement.

But it was short-lived. Once again, Gem didn't want to lope. He started tossing his head, bending or backing up. I did use the whip once on his butt-inski (not very hard because it still makes me nervous!) - he bucked a bit and then loped..... beautifully. I was relaxed and felt that my balance was pretty good. We went around the arena twice!! Yipee!

LA had poles and a cavelletti set up, so all of us were excited. It's a nice change from the usual lesson. We walked the course first:

• Over 4 poles
• Wind through 3 upright poles
• Walk into a "box" and do a 360 turn
  
• Over the cavelletti (set at the lowest setting)
• Walk in between two poles and then back out
• Do a side pass over a pole

Cool, eh? Gem was interested. He likes poles, so I was feeling pretty good about this. Doing parts of the course at a jog was a bit of a challenge. The course seemed a bit tight for his size, but we did our best. We managed to knock the poles out of position the first time in the 360 box and we walked over the cavelletti instead of jogging over it. When we came to the pole that we were supposed to step over and then do a side pass, Gem tossed his head around and started pawing at it, eventually rolling it up his other front leg and biting it. It was hilarious. We were killing ourselves laughing.

When my turn came up again, LA told me she wanted to see us jog over the cavelletti, not walk. Darn, I didn't think she had noticed. :-) We approached the cavelletti at a jog and Gem jumped over it....I mean JUMPED like he did the last time. I lost my stirrups and almost came out of the saddle. I didn't freak out and kept moving at a jog. The crowd was cheering at how big Gem's jump was. He was really getting into the spirit of things. We went through the course again at a jog, and this time I just relaxed and let it happen.....was this the Advil talking again?? He jumped it again and it was beautiful. I did not loose my stirrups and I actually felt OK when we landed.

Because his jump was so much bigger than the other horses, LA told me she was making the cavelletti higher for us. There was a brief moment of panic, but then I remembered what Marissa at Tucker the Wunderkind said the last time we jumped: "I do have to scold you though, because in my experience if a trainer suggests that we do something, it means we're completely capable of doing it (regardless of whether or not we think we're ready). Next time LA suggests that you try something outside your comfort zone, I think you need to shut your brain off and follow orders." OK, Marissa. Deep breath and off we went.

LA was yelling instructions at me as I completed the upright poles and headed towards the cavelletti. I guess in my excitement, I cued Gem into a LOPE. Yep, a lope. I didn't panic (WTH??). We jumped the cavelletti at a lope! Up and over. I couldn't believe it. My classmates were yelling and LA came over to us and gave me a high-five. I couldn't stop smiling.

When class was over, Gem and I helped LA bring the poles to the back of the arena; while still in the saddle, LA would hand me the end of the pole and Gem and I would drag it over to the pile. It was a good exercise. Geez, those poles are heavy!

What a great lesson. I have no idea why Gem was grumpy and pushy when we first started out, but it didn't bother me or set the tone for a tense lesson. Perhaps the confidence I gained at last lesson saw me through this one. Perhaps the Advil I took relaxed the tense muscles I get after a long day at work enough to let me ride like I should? Do they make an Advil equivalent for horses??? :-)

We came to the conclusion at Beers and Burgers that Gem could have a career as comedic relief for other classes....as a jumper....or as a logging horse. I have no real stiffness or whiplash today. I am still amazed at my accomplishments last night and am wondering if taking Advil should become part of my normal routine on Tuesday nights. Will Advil become my version of "Mother's little helper"....? If it means that all my lessons will be as awesome as last night, then it just might! :-)

What was I thinking....?