Weekend play time

Early Fall is here! Chilly nights that the horses are loving, but sunny days. The leaves are just turning around here and things are started to hum in a glow of gold and orange.

Bugs are mostly gone and I have more open weekends to ride--HOORAH

On Saturday, I invited E to come ride Laz while I rode the barnowner's OTTB, Pito.

Originally we were going to trail ride, but the weather was a mix of sun and rain, so we stayed put. Not to mention I was 100% hungover from a bash I hosted the night before (#lovemeagirlsnight!)

So, we drug out some jumps and decide to give little Lazaroo a 'jumping' lesson

It was more, play with forward while giving him something to target.

Spacing out cavalettis for trot work, while the cow pony Laz just waited for his Aunt E.

He loves her. We love her. We miss her pony Justin all the time and our awesome foursome

 She is the perfect confident but SO gentle of a rider and Laz was perfect for her. I know he felt very comfortable in her hands

I pretty much don't let anyone ride him (not counting the pony rides I lead him on) but with E, I trust her to the end of the earth.

 Good forward pony

After about 20 minutes of walking/trotting over poles and X's, I thought Laz was giving 100% so we ended it by doing a reward road ride with the two horses.

 Pito and I leading the way. 

Side note; Pito rocks. Floaty hunter trot and all. He and his Mom were on the equestrian team at MSU. 

Coolness. He is such a gorgeous steely grey

 E and Laz (notice that Laz's mouth is full o' grass)

 Apples trees are in hanging in full fruit right now. This is just along the road, with THE SWEETEST apples ready for picking. 

 I am always envious of riders that drop their reins just confident that all is well. And indeed all was. I'm just hardly ever that rider. I always (always!) worry; what if he spooks? Steps on his reins? Breaks his neck? 

sigh. 

Riding is such an honest mirror into your anxiety or confidence. DEEP.

 Pito munching on road'sauce'

Pito is a cribber (despite his worry free, ulcer free life) and he has like no front teeth so I was happy he chose the smooshed ones vs round apples

Pito and I eating our fill

A fun day!

***
Sunday, I went back out to the barn

Laz and I just played around texting this photo to our friends

 Laz and I worked on riding point to point with forward movement and rewarding when we got to my targeting point. I stuffed a lot of treats in my pocket being he is so food motivated. (who isn't?!)

He tried his avoidance a bit, but I used leg (no crop or home made stick/whip) and he was like "UGH ok..." and then marched on. I stopped him and rewarded him. We continued on like this and on each ask forward he got better and better. 

I luv mah poneee!

We rode the road a few time, back/forth. We even dealt with the Sunday workers of lawn mowers and blowers, barking dogs (Mason running toward them and choosing to IGNORE me while I screamed at him) and a loose 4 yr old child who came running up to Laz barefoot (ummmm)

Anyhoo, after all that, I rode Laz towards another apple tree and let him treat himself!

Treat yo'self!

 We also rode in our Myler D bit with much success. 

 My trainer mentioned using the pasture as his reward to dismount instead of always back at the barn.

So, we did!

It was a good low key riding weekend!

Clinic #2

Clinic #2..yes, some may say I'm a glutton for punishment.
I just was so disappointing in my self (read not Laz) from the last clinic, that I desperately wanted a do over.

My trainer Meggie emailed me with a "Hey, there is a clinic coming up that is very small and I think it could prove to be great for Laz and you."

Saaa-weet! SIGN ME, er US, up! 

P.S. Can you also pick our asses up???

Woke up at 5:30 am (instant nausea, I'm just not nor ever will be a morning person)

Feed the ponies at 6:30

Thankfully, as a non trailer owning (or truck for that matter) horse owner, my trainer Meggie came to the rescue. So, not only do I get to attend another great clinic BUT my trainer can help me load him, put him a bigger slant trailer, and with another horse (her's) in it.
Recipe for success.

And it was.

7 am pick up

Laz hesitated for about a minute, then loaded (step up trailer) with NO issue. Dove face first into his hay bag and even shared with his new friend Ray (her 3 yr old mare)

Upon arrival, we were first. Yay, another successful thing. Last time I arrived at the clinic I blew in so late and frazzled. This time, I was able to walk Laz around (did I mention he unloaded like a gent?) and groom/graze him. All chill and quiet. Exactly what I wanted and needed for myself.

"Grazzz, yaa I do dis!"

 This clinic (Hunt the Jump) was at the same lovely barn the first clinic was.

This time, it was held outside (40's and sunny) and I was happy footing was good.

We started out just allowing the horses to walk the arena, smell, check everything out before asking them to do anything. 

Laz is all "sniifff, waz that?!"

 Ray, my trainer's almost 3 yr old mare 

She rolled side to side to side to side to side to side to side

 then promptly took a toddler's nap. She's a growing magical pony

Laz was like "YOU is CRAZEEE girlfriend! Get upz or tigerz will eatz you"

Ray is a small, chill, little girl

Laz meets Puzzle, the barn managers little spotted sprite

 Oh the barn manager (who I adore!) also has a gee-orgeous Oldenburg mare who's agility is stunning

Here she is 'hunting the jump'

 Here we are, just having fun.

 So I didn't have Laz JUMP anything, but we did 'hunt the jump' (side note; this could be a drinking game for when I say 'hunt the jump' -you will be drunk by now)

I used my send command and he got praise for his attempt

 "OH I'll hunt dis jump wif my sniffer!"

The whole point is to have them approach things confidently.

Some ground work, having him trot at his comfortable pace around me without breaking gait

 Meggie working with Puzzle who apparently can be very naughty (rears, bucks, etc..all the mini antics we all love to coo at) He was just TOO cute

Laz and I working on our sideways lateral movement. He would go and stop, so my goal was to act like a moving train and have him respond to my cues/space and move over sideways

Due to his rehab, I have babied him.  Duh!  I regret none of that, although sometimes when I ask for something, he has learned that he can get away with murder, so I want to work on when I ask lightly, to get a light but quick response. I had to go heavy, then retreat back to light a few times

Here is a 'heavy' ask, but eventually, I can go back to light and just point my finger into his shoulder

All this translates into riding. My cue would come from my leg and body, so the lighter the better obviously unless you want a numb horse

Meggie and Ray, I can't say it enough, it's so great to work with someone positive

Like, essential for someone like me

Can you tell we were both in tune and listening this time?

 One of the things my trainer stated was "If they want to roll, allow them"

It's a great mental release and shows comfort. Laz would paw when he saw the others roll but he didn't roll this time (secretly the brat in me was happy because he was groomed up so pretty and the sand was mucky wet!)

 Laz was just the cutest, he watched, listened and was in sync for most (not all) of the day

 One of my now all time favorite photos below...thanks J9!!! xxoo

 A nice calm kerplunk

 Glamour head shot anyone?

Laz was very yawn full, licking and chewing, eye rolling. He barely did his nervous bubble gum chew. It came out a couple of times, but nothing like at the last clinic. He was just able to process more. I think being outside, in a larger space and with less people/horses helped. And 2nd exposure.

 J9 captured how focused I was on listening.

This time I was able to absorb and not just concentrate on not crying 

I was having FUN! Sooo much better

After lunch, we worked on the theory of 'hunt the jump'

Only one of the three of us was actually a jumper, but the idea is to have your horse 'hunt' or seek any obstacle out and find the answer. Whether your answer is to jump it, squeeze in between, stand on it, etc. You can apply the theory to any discipline.

 

 Once we practiced on the ground, we mounted up. YAY! I didn't even ride Laz at the last clinic, but I knew we would be a-ok for this one. He was just focused and so was I.

Game freakin on

"Lez do dis, lez hunt some sing"

The more the day went on, we had worked on squeezing through cones, barrels, poles, and trotting over poles flat on the ground. 

I decided to try something...

We had something in our focus....

We were going to hunt an F'ing jump!

Amazing news worthy footage below, get ready for 9 seconds of pure glory

My inner 6 yr old was beaming!! Who am I kidding, so was my 36 yr old self!!! 

I'm just elated with my horse and his progress from rehab, training and partnership

No, I know we didn't jump it, and I know a flea could have jumped it, but we went OVER it (a few times) and Laz did great, no stopping, no freaking, no issues. 

He hunted that jump for me.

This is how you should end a clinic...well, at least some of them.

Oh and PS. I loaded Laz myself in the trailer and he walked in all ladie dah

I should have bought a lotto ticket that day...oh wait, I already won.