Hard work. Bleh

Today I had a great ride on Hobo.
As to be expected, she was very good, even after her 6 week break.
She did a couple a pig-roots after jumping across a stream, but she wasnt being dirty, just feeling fresh.

I got some super cute photos of her, Atlas and Lily.
I might even get some framed.
(:

Lily has cut both of her back legs, after going through a fence.
I didnt get up close, but from I could see, they sont seem super serious, and should hopefully heal without scarring. (Fingers crossed!)
I will get her in tomorrow and put some cream on it.
She has grown much more stocky like her dad. Its cute.

Atlas has grown too.
He's looking so good atm. Hes put on some weight and gain some muscle, which has really made a difference to his appearance.
I cant wait until the end of winter when I can finish off breaking him in.
(:

Neeko was pretty good tonight.
Schooled again...
I also practised getting him to really run off the mark, which he isnt too good at.
He cando halt to canter no sweat, but he just doesnt have the speed in him like Im used too.
Im sure he will get better, I just think he doesnt fully understand that its ohk for him to really just let go and stretch out because he has always been kept screwed in.
He'll learn.

Neeko still hasnt put on any weight, and is still in light condition, despite all the hard feed that is being pumped into him. Ive never had a horse thats needed feeding this much!
My next option is Rapid Gain or something similar.
Ive been advised against it, but I really dont mind if he gets all hyper.
I can handle it, especially if it means he will chub' up.
(:
He was drenched again on saturday, which will hopefully help him.

I missed playing with Georgie today.
:|
He is always soo happy to see me, for the attention ofc.
But he's so sweet and cheeky and cute.
Im going to get him back before the holidays at the latest, so thats like 3 weeks.

I spent all day up at the farm today.
Man, I forgot how much hard work it is!
Im super tired.
I needa sleep. For a week.

Goodbye's, Hello's and a New Life

I finally went and saw my lil babies yesterday.
Atlas was super amazing.
He hasnt been handled in at least two months, and I just walked up to him in the paddock and took off his cover, gave him cuddles and brushed him all over, and we was a perfect gentleman!
I was totally stoked! He is gunna be an amazing horse.
Hobo is MEGA fat. Like, huge! Haha
She has had about 6 weeks turned out though, so I guess its expected.
Very hairy too. She is a big fluff ball!

I took some hay out to Lily, but I didnt get to see her up close as she was waaay down the hill. Typical.

Had a great ride on Neeko yesterday.
I lunged him in a pessoa first, then jumped on him.
Hes really getting the hang of working on the bit, which is awesome.
We've pretty much got it sorted at the walk, and hes improving heaps at the trot.

After we schooled, I took him and Georgie out for a hack with Marie and Woody.
It was the first time he's ever spooked with me on him yesterday.
We were going along the mudflats, and a cylclist was on the track, which he could obviously hear, but not see. It was nothing major, just threw his head up and lept forward a couple of strides, then just stopped. haha

Georgie was a little shit though. Kept taking of in a flat out gallop, bucking and carrying on.
Nearly dragged me out of the saddle a number of times. He is suprisingly strong!
I should have put him in his bridle, but I thought he'd be alright in his halter. Wrong.

Yesterday Georgie went out on lease for a couple of weeks.
I had no choice in the matter.
He went to a little girl,they just want him to lead around and brush apparently.
I have no idea how thats gunna work out, as I can bearly lead him at times, and he hates to be brushed, he just wont stand still. Hes not at all dirty, just super cheeky. He has learnt to walk all over people because kids have babied him.

I tried to say that he wont be suitable, he'll only ruin her enthusiasm, but they wouldnt listen.
The whole thing was already sorted before I even knew it was happening.
Im totally guttered,and upset.
Even though its only a couple of weeks, I still miss him heaps already.

TodayI went and moved the rest of my things out of mums, so Im officially out of hell.
Im so keen to put all of the shit she has caused behind me, and start a new life for myself, without her in it.
I miss Phe, the cat. It was nice to be able to cuddle her. Shes so nice.
Sigh.

Tomorrow Im going to take Hobo for a ride, and have a play with Atlas and Lily.
Im excited. I love riding Hobo.

Damn Over-reaching!

Just a quick lil message about my ride tonight.

Neeko went well. Making more progress in his schooling.
I mainly focused on getting him to wrok in a nice round frame at a walk, which he is getting pretty good at, but did try for the trot too, which he managed a couple of times.
He understand what I want now, at the walk anyway.
We just need to work on keeping him in that frame consistantly.

Also played around with his leg yielding, which he is very good at.
He is actually pretty well schooled, but he just needs some reminding and polishing, due to him being out of work for so long.

I did notice tonight just how bad his over reaching is though.
He only does it at a walk, and the footing doesnt really seem to make a difference.
And his hooves have not long been re-shod, so I dont think it is that?
And it doesnt make a difference if he is in a active walk, or just dawdling along.
He keeps on ripping the velcro off his bellboots coz hes been doing it so much.
Super annoying.
Ill have to look into it.
Grrrrrrr


Unfortunatly I didnt get out to see my other babies today.
):
And tomorrow is supposed to rain. bleh.
Will try for Saturday.
I miss them all loads!

Well im off, I wana read my new book before my eyes get too heavy.
(:

Success!

I was too busy yesterday to blog, so here is yesterdays events...

Well I braved the cold windy and rainy weather (It was 8 degrees!) to go and ride Neeko.
So rugged up with a nice big jacket,scarf and gloves, as well as a nice warm exercise sheet for Neeko, we set out to make some progress!

We mainly worked on his head carriage, and he finally clicked to what I wanted!
He was happily just cruising around on the bit, only at a walk atm though.
I was stoked!

He was being very careful due to the less then perfect footing, which in turn made him painstakingly slow.
I ended up having to do and get a whip to try get him moving more active, rather than a dawdle, which he still didnt respond to.

But other than that, and obviously the crappy weather, it was a good ride.
Finally making progress towards my goal!


As Im writting this, Im sitting in todays nice warm sun.
Although there is still a freezing breeze outside.
Hopefully I will go out and ride Neeko this afternoon.

Man Im really starting to miss my other horses.
Atm, they are all turned out at Waipatiki, which is like 40 minutes from here.
Neeko and Georgie are kept only 5mins drive from me, so thats handly.

Hopefully I will go out tomorrow and see the others.
I needa ride Hobo and handle Atlas too, just to keep him in check
(:

Self-discipline

I keep setting these goals, that I never seem to achieve.
Actually, just the one goal.
Initally I was aiming to get Neeko schooled up to improve his head carriage, so I could do some low key tests in the winter dressage series.
But before I knew it, the series has been and gone.

So now, I set the goal again.
My first show of the upcoming season is early July, on which I would like to have Neeko working in a stunning form.
So that leaves me with around a month.
In this time, I also have to do a bit of polishing on Hobo, for the same show.

I get really slack, and instead of knuckling down and doing it, I get into the mindset of "I can just work on it next time"
But I never do.
Sigh. I wish I had more self-discipline.

Today was a perfect example of how I chose to ignore the fast approaching date-of-doom.
Instead of schooling Neeko, which would be sensible, I chose to just muck around on him and ride him bareback and bridleless.
Which, by the way, he was very good.
Because of all of the rain lately, there were a few big puddles around, so we had fun playing around in them. I also popped him over a few low jumps.
I videoed most of it, with the intention of making it into a movie, but unfortunatly the footage was really average. Hmf.
So as soon as I can drag someone down to video me, I will have a new video.
(:

I gave Georgie the biggest groom everrrr today.
The little monster was covered in mud. His little feathers and tail were all knotted together by clumps of dried mud.
He was so fidgety though, which made my job alot harder.

Today my mother rang me and asked me to come around and move all of the rest of my things out, as well as get all of my mail re-directed.
Hmf.
They are getting a student in, In my room.
I guess its my old room now though, but it still sucks to think that someone will be living in my room.
That was where I spent a majority of my time, and where I felt most comfortable in that house.
Oh well. Time to move on I guess.

Wow, so we will see how this blogging thing turns out for me.
(:
Hmm well, here we go....
It was finally a nice enough day to ride today, sunny but still freezing.
Had a good ride on Neeko today.
Schooled him for a bit and worked on his head carriage.
I then whipped off his saddle and did some bareback jumping, just low jumps as it was a lil slippery.
Had him in a super-collected canter, feels amazing bareback.

Poor little Georgie got really worked up while I was riding.
He missed his buddy. Silly boy.
I was guna start breaking him into the cart today, until I realised I was missing some vital equipment. Damn.

Dont know if Im going to get Neeko clipped anymore, he barely even has a winter coat.
Georgie defs needs to get clipped though.
His coat is 6cm long. I measured!
Hairy little monster.

Cleaned out my tackroom today. It amazes me the things I find when I clean. lol.
I also managed to fit in two extra winter covers into my cover trunk with some rearranging.
Much tidier and easier to find things now.
(:

Today my whole family is going out to dinner together.
Even my extended family.
Apart from me.
I wasnt invited.
Boo.

Who needs family?
I have friends and horses.
:D