Test pilot flies Solo

Side reins and poles

Today I lunged Charlie in side-reins. I kept them quite long so there was just a gentle contact on the bit he was a lovely boy and did some nice work.

We had a little canter on both reins and it is abundantly clear that charlie thinks canter comes from thee front not is quarters.

I put some trot poles down while Charlie stood patiently waiting.

He worked quite nicely over them. 

This was part of my master plan. I got him to walk around for a circuit and then walked him backwards and forwards over the poles.

The return of the Saint

Anne popped in again and having stripped the side reins off and put on a hunting breastplate we played the mounting game again.

Charlie now recognises Anne as his friend and after she had led us around she left us and sat down. I thought I was going to ride Charlie around but he thougt he was going to sit with Anne and be fed carrots.

Solo Flight

We invoked the master plan and rode around the school a few times without a safety net (Anne) and walked over the poles. 

And so it continues.....

Tomorrow Pessoa and ridden work.

We did it again!

Boa Constrictor

Buoyed by the success with Charlie yesterday the school had carefully been booked for a slot prior to some helpful friends.

We lunged in the identical tack to yesterday using saddle bridle cavesson and reins. Charlie as ever was positively simpering to work as he realises that working in the school involves pockets and treats. He has also, so far, come to realise that a hand pushing those flapping lips away means not now.

He worked well on both reins just falling in a bit on the right again. I decided it wouldn't hurt him to have a little canter on each rein and this worked well however the canter on the right rein involved a very upward transition. Not sure about this but didn't over cook it and finished our flatwork by walking around a square shape asking him to move shoulders or quarters on turns and not getting trampled in the process or end up wearing him as a rather fetching stole.

The fetching stole impression has been developed by Charlie as an aid to getting his treats during baited stretches think big cuddly boa constrictor there is a lot of strength in that neck.

Saint Anne

True to her promise a head popped round the door as we finished and Anne the rescuer (she was there the day I got dumped and tried to force me into a wheelbarrow) came in ready for the vaulting session. As promised to Tori, Bill, the yard owner , his wife,the yard collie and every other livery I shall not be leaping on board unless accompanied by an adult :).

We did the standing on a block thump the saddle stuff I climbed on board and Anne duly walked me round the arena wearing her hard hat as advised by her sister just in case the snorting beast went a bit epic. Charlie in fact went to sleep.

So there we have it day 2 of ridden work or maybe that should be sitten work.

Tomorrow side reins trotting poles and a little more sitten work.

Sudden change of plans and a New Year Project

Today 28th December is exactly 10 weeks since Charlie had his KS op. That is week 6 of lungeing following 4 weeks box rest and working in hand.. I cannot believe how fast it has gone.

I have just looked at my last post 3 weeks ago how much has changed. The big lad continues to find me a source of entertainment and trot poles are easy peasy. He works well in the Pessoa and is starting to find is right bend as well as left.

Carrot stretches as recommended by his physio Grace Fairburn are getting easier and I still have my own fingers. The little bugger is now, however, begging to stretch if I adjust the girth strap on the Pessoa a head comes round attached to an enormous pair of flapping lips with a carrot glint in his eye. The stretches are definitely improving his flexibility.

You are double booked

It's lesson day groundwork has now been added to Charlie's lungeing for the last few weeks and Tori is teaching me to waltz with Charlie to attain shoulder in, leg yield and neck dislocation (mine) as I fumble around with bit rings and reins looking in the direction we are going not at his feet to ensure they are moving where I want them.

So Tori is coming today at 12 for our last lesson prior to Charlie's trip to vets for checkup on Monday.

Cue phone call as I leave yard at 9.30 from the vets to say they can no longer do us on Monday would wednesday be ok then swiftly follow up that Ian Camm (aka God) is coming out between 11 and 12 for another livery and could check Charlie as well.
 

This surprised me as I thought we had to go to the clinic but apparently not its because Ollie Crowe does surgery not yard visits. Pushing my luck I agreed hoping that my lesson and the vet check wouldn't run in parallel.

You can ride

Ian prodded and poked Charlie and announced "its all looking good you can put a saddle on him and he can start ridden work. Who is going to do it?"

Blimey I had never ever considered I wouldn't be first on so I said "ME".

Perfect planning
 

Anticipating the chance of a yes to ridden work I had arrived prepared with riding boots plus saddle in the boot and it was perfect timing for us. Tori and I spent his lesson lungeing him in his saddle and then did some groundwork with a recalcitrant bendy man indicating a lack of enthusiasm for moving his shoulders or quarters as indicated by us.

Finally the moment arrived the last 10 minutes of the lesson we did some hearty saddle thumping and patting and Tori gaily threw her mobile phone and gloves into the sand as she, somehow , considered this better then leaning over him with them in her pocket. 

Life being what it is, at just about the point we were going to get me on board, there was a horrendous crash above us an accident on the road outside and Charlie....... Did nothing just gawped. I gingerly got on board,my god it was a long way up and I forgot how wide he was. We had a lovely little walk around Tori advising me not to use any legs just treat him like a baby and sit still.

So that is the plan for January treat him like a baby just broken horse which I will do of course bbecause he is my baby. I am so pleased with him I may have to buy him more stuff so the search begins for Burgundy brushing  boots and maybe something in the bridle line as he only has one ;)

Week 7 ends - A Beautiful Day with Charlie

Well it is exactly 7 weeks since the op 4 weeks of box rest and 3 weeks of Pessoa. I cannot believe this is the same horse who exploded the first time I asked for trot.

What a beautiful day the sun is shining and whoop whoop no ice scraping. The combination of correct work in the pessoa from Tori and stretches from Grace seems to be suiting Charlie very well.

He worked beautifully today I even got a little bit of inside flexion in his neck I have been looking for. We have even braved the dreaded lunge whip.

No losing balance and charging off in canter.

Stayed out on both reins instead of falling in on right and out on left.

Did the NSEW trot poles without tripping and looking quite elegant.

Only one little problem.....

There he was trotting around elegantly head down using his bottom and his tail swishing nicely, a stupid droopy look to his lips I was just thinking how lovely he looked and asked him to walk the conversation went a little like this.

Me And Chaaarliiiiee Waaaaalk.

Charlie Trit trot trit trot watch the rope follow her lead trit trot trit trot

Me And Chaaaaaaaaarlllllliiiiiiieeee Waaaaaaaaaaaalk

Charlie Trit trot trit trot watch the rope follow her lead trit trot trit trot


Me And Chaaaaaaaaarlllllliiiiiiieeee Waaaaaaaaaaaalk

Charlie Oops she is moving trit trot trit trot follow the rope SHIIIIIT theres a wall in front of me aaaaaah!
I didnt hear you tell me to walk I wuss just doing my trit trot trit trot follow the rope thing!!!

Well at least it stopped him ;)

Week 3 complete - Charlie Builds his Fan base.

Circles and Lines

Charlies lunging continues to improve and we are now including a  bit of spiralling in and out. He no longer looks lameish and has a lovely lift in his trot and a very happy swishing tail.

Pole work

In this weeks lesson we introduced pole work. 4 poles at North South East West and asked himself to walk over them then commenced trotting over them. He tripped a few times and was a bit sloppy but then got the hang of it..

We meet a lovely Physio

As we decided last week Charlie was carrying his tail slightly to one side I thought we should get some Physio help. A little bit of research found Grace Fairburn who appeared to have all the right credentials so Wednesday afternoon she was given the opportunity to meet the lovely Charlie.

We had a thorough assessment including lunging trotting up etc and Grace was pleased with what she saw. Some twitchyness in the back (my words not hers) which she treated and we came away with more guidance on exercises for my handsome boy which would enhance the work we are doing on the lunge. She also recommended pole work during our lunge sessions. So currently I feel quite happy that I am doing as much for the lad as he needs and I now I have my appointed army of Damsels for Charlie in Tori Rendle and Grace Fairburn.

A word Charlie

Following on from Grace's visit yesterday and Tori's lesson Wednesday we had some lovely work in the school however when Grace did baited stretching with Charlie he was putty in her hands positively simpering in his desire to stretch. Not so with me it was a case of go on you'll give it to me anyway!

We've done TWO weeks.

Chubby Cheeks

It wasnt getting any easier and on Thursday we were allowed, finally ,to turn our horses out.
I cancelled our normal morning slot and rebooked to lunge in the afternoon. Charlie came in with grass glands the size of watermelons (ok slight exaggeration).
Pessoa'd him in the school and he was a real pain having more tantrums but I persevered and the work improved although I went home to bury my head in the pond and beat myself with the garden spade.

Popped out to Stroud Saddlerys Christmas Evening and had a chat to the lady from NAF. Charlie now has NAF D Tox for his chubby cheeks.

TGIF

Back to our normal slot Friday morning and I felt we had turned a corner the work was much better though not perfect. He still reacts to the Lunge whip somewhat so I place it in the middle of my circle and as he tires and slows introduce it quietly. We are getting somewhere and I have to remember this is only week 2 of lunge work.

Hallelujah Saturday

The tantrums have ended and yet again we had some quite nice work however he seemed better on his bad rein but that may be because we had concentrated on this area of stiffness.

Tori's tip of getting him to flex to the inside and step out onto the circle in a sort of leg yield definitely improves his way of going. He is quite tricky to encourage to step over but that is probably because I am not getting it quite right so its best endeavours. Even my feeble attempt improves his shape.

I am not sure about my timing of the lunge work because everytime I try and look at my watch he misbehaves even if its just to fall into walk so I have to rely on the inner clock in my head.

Four more weeks folks.