Wizard Session 454: Nerve Endings

Tuesday, 3/26/13

Spring is really, really here. Wizard has been shedding for a few weeks already, and tonight, I heard the frogs screaming in the park. And the horses are nibble-nibbling at the new spring grass.

We took a hand walk in the park before it got dark. I tried out the Rambo Micklem Competition Bridle. Here’s a great review of it: http://www.teamflyingsolo.com/2012/12/a-skeptic-takes-on-micklem.html

On our walk, Wizard encountered a group of about 10-12 horses picketed in the parking area, on some sort of overnight campout. He was astounded to see all these horses, and gawked and craned his neck like a giraffe, but he behaved himself while he stared. The horses were all very well trained, and just watched him with quiet curiosity.

When we returned to the barn and after he had a pick of grass, I longed Wizard in the indoor arena for a little while. So far, I really like the bridle. Wizard was much less fussy in it, with less chomping and no curling behind the bit. We just did a quick session, warming up at the walk and trot with one spiral in each direction and 2-3 laps at the canter each way. I really wanted to ride, but I want to make sure he does not get sore with all his new work and the new saddle. His gaits were good- I wonder if the Pentosan has having any effect yet. I gave Wizard his snack, turned him out, and enjoyed the bright moon and sounds of the frogs. Ahhhh, springtime.

Wizard Ride 150: Bits and Pieces

Wednesday, 6/16/10

Wizard is getting his stitches out on Saturday. The laceration is healing nicely. He wears a fly mask during turnout to keep the area free from debris and to keep him from popping a stitch. He’s off his antibiotic and he was feeling perky so we got back to riding.

Since the browband sits directly on the spot where he has his stitches, I took a few bits and pieces off the bridle. I removed the browland and the cavesson, leaving only the cheekpieces, throatlatch, and crownpiece (and bit). The bridle looks a little like a western bridle or a racehorse bridle, but with less style.

We rode in the indoor arena for about half an hour, working at the walk and trot. My goal was to keep him loose and relaxed and get a feel for any differences after his chiropractic adjustment last week. He definitely felt more flexible and was offering lots of stretching. After he was warmed up at the walk and trot, we worked on very large circles, changing direction and asking for a stretch. Wizard complied beautifully- it was a great return ride after an unexpected layoff.

Wizard Session 112: From the Ground Up

Saturday, 10/24/09

A good day for ground work. I tacked Wizard up in his bridle and a surcingle and we did some ground work in the indoor arena. I started with a very light longeing session, walking for a few minutes, followed by about 7 times around at the trot in each direction. Then I fastened two long lines to his bit and introduced long lining to him.

I started by standing on his “good side” (his left) by his shoulder. The lines were held in my hands like reins. I asked him to walk on, just like we do on the longe line. His walk was a little wobbly because he was uncertain, but he seemed to catch on quickly. I asked for one turn and one halt, and praised profusely. Then, I tried the “bad” side (his right), which is the side on which he stops and spins on the longe line. He was very hesitant and reluctant to go forward but responded when I clucked him into a walk with my voice. I walked him along the wall so I could keep him straight. It will take a lot longer to work on the right, but it is an interesting glimpse into his personality to see that he is just as funny about his right on the longe line as he is in hand.

Here’s a photo of me long-lining JR this spring. Wizard will take a few more sessions before he can be this far away from me.

JR Ride 8; Wizard Ride 51: Heels Down!

Wednesday, 2/25/09

I lost Alibar in September 2008 but I still see reminders of him all the time. I bought a bag of hay cubes for Wizard and I just about started bawling when I started making them. We made hay cubes for Alibar for over a decade- it was a signature Alibar dish.

I started the night with JR. First, I turned him out in the indoor arena to let him blow off a little steam and stretch his legs. We worked on some clicker training at liberty. Although JR was a little slow out of the gate with clicker training, he has caught up really quickly. I rewarded him for circling around me and also for approaching me on command. I think that a moderate amount of liberty training really strengthens the bond between horse and rider. I’ve never used round pens- I find a big arena to be just fine for what I need.

I tacked up JR and Sarah rode him first. She rode for about 10 minutes. She worked on adjusting his stride- forward trot, working trot, sitting trot. She also cantered him. For a green horse who has been out of work for more than a year, he was quite balanced. JR has a really nice inner balance and rhythm and I think he has the ability to go really far as a riding horse. JR just barely broke a sweat by the time she was done.

Then it was my turn. JR and I had a workout! Sarah really put us through our paces. We trotted figure 8s, serpentines, and figure 8s down the long side (really skinny figure 8s). Sarah asked us for three trots: forward trot, posting trot, and sitting trot. JR has a remarkable forward trot! He never feels like he is going to break into a canter and he sort of floats along. His natural ability to adjust his gaits will be an asset if he ends up doing any dressage. We rode for about 20 or 25 minutes. By the time we were done, I was sweating! I’ve ridden all my life but since Alibar got sick and before that hurt his leg, I barely rode in 2008. In the beginning of the lesson, JR did a lot of adjusting his head, sometimes up, sometimes out, sometimes down. At the end of the lesson, I could feel JR stretching into the bit and accepting contact. His trot became more rhythmical and easy to ride. I cooled him out, groomed him, and moved onto the next victim :^)

I let Wizard spend about 10 minutes loose in the arena to stretch his legs and so I could see how he was feeling on the new shoes. He looks more comfortable. I tacked him up and Sarah rode him for about 10 minutes. A lot of the relaxation and schooling we did in January has regressed. He was back to being tense and anticipating the trot. Sarah was very patient with him and worked on asking for a quiet trot on a large circle. He did relax a bit after a few rounds. Then, I rode him for about 10 minutes. I think that it will not take as long to get him settled this time around as it did last month. Even though he had a layoff, I find that horses pick up training quickly once they have already learned it at some point. We did a few quiet walk/trot transitions and then walked some more, working on getting him to his “happy place”. Wizard simply needs more physical care and work than JR. I love working with them both and I am beginning to appreciate their differences.

It’s also really nice to be doing actual riding lessons. It feels good to have somebody tell me to put my heels down :^) Part of the comfort of a lesson is that I can allow somebody else to pilot the ride while I work on myself. I can focus more and we both improve. I’m really impressed with the progress we made. Can’t wait for the next lesson!

Wizard Session 16: It’s Go Go, not Cry Cry

12/1/2008: Something good is happening! Wizard and I had a great session today. Like my favorite quote from Grindhouse, Wizard was all go-go and no cry-cry. And no kick-kick, either.

We started with a clicker training lesson. Wizard only learned the basics from me a month or so ago and he was a little rusty. I re-familiarized him with the process (target, click, treat) and he came back to the process fairly quickly. I also introduced a new behavior, “head down”. He caught on to it like a bright little student. Perhaps Wizard will live up to his name, after all.

After we finished with the clicker, I tacked him up and brought him back out to the arena for longeing. Wizard longed very nicely, trotting in each direction without stopping a single time! More progress!

After he longed (about 5 minutes), we did some more in-hand work. We walked over poles, walked and trotted patterns, and did several walk/trot transitions. Wizard seems to be building strength since he can follow me with ease. During the first few sessions, he was not as good with his feet or his balance. Now, he is learning to follow me and seems a tiny bit better with his balance. We ended the session with carrot stretches.

When we walked back to the barn, I noticed that he was a little short-strided in his front end. I’m hoping that this is simply tender soles and as his hoof gets rebalanced, he will be more comfortable. He also does a fair amount of “clicking” in his legs, back, and neck as he works- it sounds like he has gotten arthritic over the years and I hope that this light work will help him manage it.

Something felt really good during the training session today. I felt very confident with Wizard, and we were both very comfortable with each other. Since I lost Alibar, I have not felt as confident around horses, even though I’ve ridden since I was a little girl. Today, I felt some of that old spark. My Equine Therapist is doing a great job.