Bits and Bobs
Sep. 1st, 2006 10:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dancinghorseMy hay came early. I was not prepared for it to show up this morning. Now must go to feed store and give them money instead of giving money to delivery guy. Oops.
Meanwhile, interlude for hot, dusty job of pulling tarps over the pile before afternoon thunder and/or ex-Hurricane John arrives.
The dogs are the world's worst watchdogs. Evar. They sleep through everything but a cat getting up to go to the litterbox (alert! point!), the washing machine changing cycles (alert! bark!), a doorbell on the tv (alert! wig out!)... Hay truck? Zzzzzzzz....
Editor to whom I sent blurb is Out of Office. Gee, writers don't get vacations. Or long weekends. Or holidays. (The author sent me a nice thank-you note. Proving my point.)
Lessons yesterday. Pook was copping a 'tude thanks to Pandora being in standing heat. (Gold is not. They've been in synch so far. Hmmmm...) In warmup he got the longeline wrapped around his jaw, which had unfortunate results for a bit, but he's smart; he stopped, we sorted him out (must get new longeline), Teacher finished longeing him in all three gaits. He was a little ear-droopy at the end so she said no riding. His neck is about halfway transformed, so we're being careful.
And, since I had a lot of extra lesson time left, I grabbed Camilla, threw saddle on her, did some in-hand work (she insisted; Teacher had some useful suggestions), then had a short ride. Again, very useful suggestions. My hands have been too strong--as usual. A very soft, light touch, just touching the corners of her mouth, keeping bit alive as SRS Guy says, is the way to go. Excellent results there. Also reminded to not crank the turns--set up slowly and let her take her time.
She feels wonderfully solid and safe in spite of being as green as new grass. Her back is extremely strong and she's discovering her balance. No trot under saddle yet, but soon. She's finally ready to work. It's been a slow process, with a lot of teach her a thing then turn her out for weeks or months to process it--latent learning is important for horses, and for Lipps even more so.
Camilla is a happy horse. Finally! I'm riding her!
I finally posted some ads for Oreo. We'll see if anything comes of them. I'm always leery of publicly advertising the babies, but the world does need to know he exists. He's growing up big and beautiful--conformation just about perfect, and he has the nicest mind. Very smart and calm, and he just naturally cooperates. He has a really sweet temper; his idea of a tantrum is to flip his nose and look Annoyed. He and Tia are very similar that way--and they're the best of friends. They make a pretty pair; he's not much smaller than she is (and wow, does he have bone), and they're not far off the same color. Though she does, at 16 months, have more hair. A Lot more hair. She has a thick, straight, shiny mane down to her shoulder, and a forelock halfway down her nose. Best hair on the place. (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lynnesite, imagine her future Pooklets--considering what he does with mares who have long manes, e.g. Ember --> Twix)
I should add that I adore Tia. Oreo I love to bits but I can't keep him and what would I do with a(nother) crossbred gelding? Her, I get to keep. She's my girl. She's so much like her mom, who is one of My Lipizzans even though she lives outside of Tacoma. Tia is going to grow up just like mom.
Meanwhile, interlude for hot, dusty job of pulling tarps over the pile before afternoon thunder and/or ex-Hurricane John arrives.
The dogs are the world's worst watchdogs. Evar. They sleep through everything but a cat getting up to go to the litterbox (alert! point!), the washing machine changing cycles (alert! bark!), a doorbell on the tv (alert! wig out!)... Hay truck? Zzzzzzzz....
Editor to whom I sent blurb is Out of Office. Gee, writers don't get vacations. Or long weekends. Or holidays. (The author sent me a nice thank-you note. Proving my point.)
Lessons yesterday. Pook was copping a 'tude thanks to Pandora being in standing heat. (Gold is not. They've been in synch so far. Hmmmm...) In warmup he got the longeline wrapped around his jaw, which had unfortunate results for a bit, but he's smart; he stopped, we sorted him out (must get new longeline), Teacher finished longeing him in all three gaits. He was a little ear-droopy at the end so she said no riding. His neck is about halfway transformed, so we're being careful.
And, since I had a lot of extra lesson time left, I grabbed Camilla, threw saddle on her, did some in-hand work (she insisted; Teacher had some useful suggestions), then had a short ride. Again, very useful suggestions. My hands have been too strong--as usual. A very soft, light touch, just touching the corners of her mouth, keeping bit alive as SRS Guy says, is the way to go. Excellent results there. Also reminded to not crank the turns--set up slowly and let her take her time.
She feels wonderfully solid and safe in spite of being as green as new grass. Her back is extremely strong and she's discovering her balance. No trot under saddle yet, but soon. She's finally ready to work. It's been a slow process, with a lot of teach her a thing then turn her out for weeks or months to process it--latent learning is important for horses, and for Lipps even more so.
Camilla is a happy horse. Finally! I'm riding her!
I finally posted some ads for Oreo. We'll see if anything comes of them. I'm always leery of publicly advertising the babies, but the world does need to know he exists. He's growing up big and beautiful--conformation just about perfect, and he has the nicest mind. Very smart and calm, and he just naturally cooperates. He has a really sweet temper; his idea of a tantrum is to flip his nose and look Annoyed. He and Tia are very similar that way--and they're the best of friends. They make a pretty pair; he's not much smaller than she is (and wow, does he have bone), and they're not far off the same color. Though she does, at 16 months, have more hair. A Lot more hair. She has a thick, straight, shiny mane down to her shoulder, and a forelock halfway down her nose. Best hair on the place. (
lynnesite, imagine her future Pooklets--considering what he does with mares who have long manes, e.g. Ember --> Twix)I should add that I adore Tia. Oreo I love to bits but I can't keep him and what would I do with a(nother) crossbred gelding? Her, I get to keep. She's my girl. She's so much like her mom, who is one of My Lipizzans even though she lives outside of Tacoma. Tia is going to grow up just like mom.
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no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 06:17 pm (UTC)And I hear you on the need to sell but the trepidition for advertising.... I somehow think, however, that Oreo will find a lovely home!
I didn't become "a writer" because I like weekends and stuff. Does this make me a bad person? ;) (Actually, I still end up writing on weekends and stuff. But anywho....;).
JJ has SUCH a lovely mane and tail. Sadly, she keeps rubbing them. *sigh*
no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 06:26 pm (UTC)Don't get a lunge line, get a lunge rope. I have no idea _where_ you would get them, but it's the one item in my tack collection that I Could Not Do Without - soft rope, nice on hands - much less chance of ropeburn - they fall more nicely, they're less likely to get entangled, and I no longer have to worry about the dreaded twist - the rope will take a fair amount of twisting before it even shows up.
<end of commercial> ;-)
no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 06:49 pm (UTC)That is the EXPENSIVE way.
www.canadiantack.com also should have them, and they are reliable, good shits and ship to the states. Lynne may also have a line on them, J.
But I WILL say that the feel and contact is quite different than with a traditional longe line, so it is worth trying one first,to see if you like.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 07:24 pm (UTC)As for feel - I don't find it that different. Come to think of it, I do - much better, so it didn't occur to me that others might feel differently.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 07:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 07:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 10:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 08:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 09:30 pm (UTC)have found perfect horse (not your friend's, sad to say- he's spectacular and I'd be in far too much debt for far too long)- Andy x appendex mare (which technically, I think, makes her an azteca, but am not sure if they allow appendix QHs or just QHs) with great training and a great price - and mom is being a stupid head and saying 'wait, it's too hot to ride now anyway and you SHOULD be focuing on school-bitchmoan-whine'.)