From racing to riding... the training diary of an off the track Standardbred

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The Three Musketeers

Yesterday Mom, Mary-kate, and I went down to HHF for a trail ride together. It was broiling outside so we went early in the am.

We tacked up quicjly and off we went! We did a LOT of walking with some trotting on the wider paths. about half way through the trails Elsa was t-i-r-e-d! After that, she didn't trot anymore. Kaite and Jet were ready to go! In the last field, we decided to take one sode and canter while Mom went on the other. I was infront and Mary-Kate was behind me. Jet was ready to go and as soon as I asked he shot off! It took a few strides to get the canter but he got it. No kicking at all! I really focused on sitting, supporting, and lifting him up and I think he was glad I did.

After the trail ride, we decided to go swimming. Elsa was happy to be the first one in and Jet was right behind her. Katie actually went in this time too! Elsa was splashing away and getting herself and Mom soaked! It was hilarious! She wanted to roll but obviously, Mom didn't let her. Elsa was hesitant to get out of the water since she liked it so much! Mom went to go hose Elsa off and Mary-Kate and I stayed back. Jet was having a fit but I tried to work him through it. Mary-kate got Katie all the way across the river! Once I saw that it wasn't too deep, I went all the way across as well. Jet is a funny horse. When I asked him to go in the water, he refused to do it. He was side-stepping, backing up, and even "reared" (lifted his front legs a few inches off the ground) but when I let him have a loose rein he decided to go in himself! Gotta love him!

Anyways...I don't feel well AT ALL but I am going to try to force myself to hop on Jet today. The meds have kicked in so I'm feeling a bit better, thank gosh!

-Emily and Jet

Friday, June 25, 2010

School's out!

Finally got out of school today! WOO! But, I am going to miss it believe it or not. I really liked it this yar. Next year is going to be a blast too!

Anyways...not alot of riding in the past week since I had finals. I did lunge him over some ground poles to help build up his hind end and I plan to do that atleast twice a week. He is also getting his feet done soon as well as having the vet come out to get his coggins and lyme titer done. We will see if the vet can figure out why he is bucking at the canter and see what kind of future I have with him. If I am limited to just walk trot...I guess that will be fine. I'll get into driving, bareback, horsemanship, western, something....as long as he is comfortable and instead maybe work off rides on a horse that has the ability to canter and jump. Time will tell...

I did bring him to HHF last weekend. We went swimming! No pics, but we had a blast! He got up to about mid-chest. I was bareback. I had no problem staying on and he was having so much fun so overall it went great! I was proud of him for just going in when I asked. I was surprised really. Before we went swimming, Mary-kate and I went for a trail ride. We did a lot of trotting and a little canter. He did kick out twice but not as badly as he usually does. About 30 minutes before we went, it was terencial downpooring so it was wet. We were very cautious and walked through the slippery parts. One HUGE puddle we trotted through which was fun. We also got to a part where there were four or five smaller puddles on a straight away. they were maybe three feet or so in diameter. We trottet down that side and Jet jumped the puddles! Silly boy! Katie was actually really good in the water too! We were proud (:

I plan on riding tomorrow either before or after my brother's birthday party. It is almost his tenth birthday!
-Emily and jet

Thursday, June 24, 2010

An my high school major is...

I GOT INTO LARGE ANIMALS! Woo!

I have lots to update on! I WILL post later!

-Emily

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Back Field Adventure

So yesterday I rode Jet through a neighbors yard, down through the trails, and into a few fields that have side trails and loop around back into the field. We walked the first field once so I could see where the holes/rocks were and then we picked up a trot. We trotted around the field once then moved to the second field. We trotted down one of the side paths and as we came back into the field, I saw a person. I said, "Hello!" Then I said it again a little louder. No answer. They had a heltmet for ATV riding on but no ATV. They saw me, then started running into the woods. I got freaked out and turned around and booked it back towards my house! (This is someone else's house that they let us ride in by the way) We galloped through a field, over a small stick that Jet jumped (I'm so glad he now watches where he is going!!) through another field, then back into the trail home. Not one buck, not one kick out to the side, not one bad or odd step. His ears were perked the entire time and he wanted to go go go! We walked back home then did a little work in the ring. He was perfect. Gotta love him (:

-Emily and Jet

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Time off

The past week has been rain, rain, rain rain, and a little more RAIN. So I haven't ridden since Last Friday...but he has been lunged 3 times during the week and I have been working with him on bowing and he is getting very good at it!

Some of my State Line Tack order came in yesterday! I got a leather bracelet with a gold plaque that has Jet & Biscuit engraved on it. I also got fly spray. The other part should be here soon and that would be wormer, a hunter green crochet ear net, a blue ear net with tansels, and two packages of treats. Thank for the gift card Mimi and Grandpa!

Updates after our ride today!
-Emily and Jet Star

Friday, June 4, 2010

An Interesting Week

Sunday I went to HHF with Mom and we had a great time! w/t/c and a few jumps on Jet then a few on Elsa.

Monday I went by myself with Jet. We did w/t/c and jumping but he was a little freaked out being alone so we only did a few and called it a day. He was bucky and not happy alone. We ended on a good note (a perfect line!)

Tuesday was a much needed day off...it also thundered and lightninged....

Wednesday...Jacqie needed to take pics for her photography class so I brought Jet over again...alone. BAD mistake. He was not happy at all and I knew it from the second we got out there. I tried to work him through it and he got to the point where he was content and listening. Then we started jumping. I never should have jumped and I regret it. He was not comfortable and did not want to jump and I could feel it but pushed him anyways..I'm such a bad horse owner...We did a lot of jumping...had a lot of refusals and bucks, but a few perfect jumps. I decided that we just aren;t ready to start jumping about crossrails yet and I am going to go back to flat work for the rest of June. after June I will ONLY do crossrails until next year. Well, unless we go on a hunter pace and there is a little log...that's not technically a crossrail but nothing over 18".. I don't want to push him more than he is comfartable. If it turns out he doesn't like jumping, then we will try other things until he finds what he likes. I personally think he would love hunter paces...but only time will tell. Anyways, Wednesday was not a productive day at all and I was disappointed in myself for not listening to what my horse was telling me. Lesson learned.

Thursay I brought him up to the ring to brush him. We started out on the lawn but he decided it was fun to move away from me and make brushing difficult so we went in the ring instead. I finished brushing him and then when I went to go get the fly spray, he ran away. So it turned into a lunging lesson. He let out several HUGE bucks and he was happily galloping along whish was nice to see since I though I overworked him the day before. Obvioudly he was full of energy and not stiff at all. I finally caught him and took him for a cool down walk around the street.

Today Mom and I went to HHF again. Just to go on a trail ride. We had a blast! Lots of trotting on the trails and a canter around a field. Then Abby hopped on Elsa and I walked with her. We moved down to the jumping field where the footing was better to actually work a bit on flat work. He was really good w/t but he bucked twice when cantering... I am not sure if it is because he is being a pill or if there is something wrong. When the vet comes out I am going to ask her about it. Hopefuly he was just full of himself and giving me a hard time! It was a great day, he was a fabulous boy and we had an amazing time!

Possibly going to HHF again tomorrow?

-Emily and Jet

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Redesigned!

As you can see, the page has been redone and minor adjustments will continue to be made. I will be adding links, more pages, photo albums, etc.. so check back soon!
Sunday and Monday I went to HHF again. I went with Elsa and Mom on Sunday for a nice trail ride then a bit of jumping afterwards. We galloped on the trails aswell as trotting, tons of fun! Monday I went by myself. I worked more in the indoor, then went to the jumping field to go over a few jumps. He was silly at first but settled down a bit. It was his first time being there alone so he was very nervous. He also thought there was something in the woods which we agreed there was. He was getting a bit obnoxious after he saw something in the woods, not out of control but just more playful than he ever has been. He bucked! More than once! He was tellign me that he was DONE! So we did a bending line and ended on a really good note. His jumping skills improved 1000% this weekend! He only had 2 or 3 awkward jumps yesterday. I was so proud! I also did a course of 5 jumps yesterday with him. I think he liked it. His ears were up and he was enjoying himself. When we go to the jumps, he is much comfortable cantering to it. It helps him pick a spot (well, help me help him pick the spot) so he wouldn;t take it long and awkward.

Overall, it was a great weekend! He also got a bath, ate lots of grass, was spoiled and now has a well deserved day off today (:

-Emily and Jet