Did Someone Say Lesson?

Ollie continues to improve.  He's been a blast for me to work with. 

I'm still doing ground work with him and follow it up with some time in the saddle.  When it's super hot and humid I may only do ground work.  I tried out Filly's Best Friend ground work suggestion of touching Ollie near the girth to make him move away from the pressure.  He picked up on that quickly and that has helped us in the saddle.  Thanks! 

When I'm in the saddle and he feels leg pressure he typically starts to move forward.  In this case, I've used the fence as a block to help him learn that I want side movement away from the leg and not forward movement.   This has worked well. 

Finally I try to remember all the things Betsy has said to me during our lessons with both Toby and Ollie.  Reading my old blog posts has been VERY HELPFUL!  Things like sit back, let him know his limits, open up a door for him to go to, and reward him instantly when he does the right thing.  The "limits" thing has been helpful for me.  I imagine that we have a space that he can work within and allow him to figure it out.  So I let him figure out the bit pressure, if he begins to rush and lean forward he will bump himself with the bit.  He doesn't care for much bit pressure so he backs off easily.  I also do this with my body.  When I tip forward he goes more forward, if I'm sitting back in the saddle he maintains a much steadier pace.  When I put it all together (hands and seat) we march around at an even steady pleasant pace.  I really need to work on sitting steady and back in the saddle... sigh.  One fun thing about Ollie is that I get great responses from him and we're both communicating with each other - at least I feel we are.  He has a very responsive back and sometimes all I have to do is think about turning and he magically does it!  It's great fun!  

Now I feel that all we need is a lesson...  I'm not a professional trainer by any means and know I have my limitations!  I'm anxious to have someone come and watch us to give me/us some help and training suggestions.    It looks like tonight may be our break as an instructor is coming to visit us (schedule permitting).  Keep your fingers crossed for me that she can make it!

The Ollie Routine

Lately I've been able to work Ollie on a regular basis.  He's turning into a total rock star for me and meeting my goals with flying colors.  Of course my goals are very attainable goals.  Primarily, I want him to be able to be ridden in the ring without being stressed and tense.  I'm happy to report that he has met that goal and we are ready to move forward!  I dragged my husband along to photograph our routine for all of you.  Routine and consistency has been the key for Ollie.

We begin by coming in for breakfast with his BFF Toby

Toby and Ollie hang out in the pasture in the background on the right.

BTW - Toby's doing great too!  We've been on a couple very nice trail rides around the area.  He's the BEST trail riding horse!

After he eats his itty bitty bit of grain and supplements (he's only getting 1 qt these days!) then it's time to get cleaned up and tacked up.

Then it's down to the round pen to see what kind of mood we are in today - almost always it's been a happy gray pony...

Then we head on up to the riding ring for a spin and work on being relaxed and knowing "whoa"...

He stand at the mounting block like he owns it! But we practice standing most chances we can...

He looks so relaxed with his floppy ears!

But then it's time to do some work.  I'm trying to get him to move away from my leg (such as leg yields) and he's great at it going to right but we fail miserably going to the left.  Any ideas for exercises we can try to improve on this would be appreciated.  Right now we do lots of spiral circles in both directions.  He's getting better but we still need to work on it.  I suppose we all have a bad side...  LOL!

He's been a very good listener.

and we can relax at the walk

He was being so good today that I decided to try canter.  This is a big deal for us.  He's been so high strung in the past but now I feel confident that we can try canter and he won't put his mind into a tizzy over it!  So away we went and he gave me a LOVELY carousel horse canter.  It was so cute and fun to ride!  He's well balanced going to the right but left is another story.  I'm just happy that we can canter and not spin his mind out of control with it!!

And we are relaxed AFTER we canter!

But he did have a little more get up and go and showed outwards signs of it with is mouth.

Overall he was WONDERFUL!   Now I feel like I have a horse that I can take to a riding lesson and he'll listen and we can improve!  Woo hoo!!

After our rides, I've been making an effort to walk him out by cruising around the property.  I'm hoping one day I can take him for a real trail ride with others.  I think we may be getting there sooner than later...

Afterwards we undress and take him to his favorite time of all - bath time!

As you can see, we're doing very well!  I'm so proud of him.  Proud of me too!  I've been so patient and going slowly has been paying dividend for me.  I'll list these couple of things that seemed to be the key to keeping him happy (and healthy): 24 hour pasture time, a buddy (Toby), being on good pasture (no more ulcers), and Uckele's Focus Calm.  I think the combo of these has made Ollie happy and focused in the right way.

Let's hope we keep heading in the right direction!!

The Aliens Brought Him Back... Then Took Him Again

What is it about the little things that get me so excited? 

As you know, Ollie has been doing well as a calm, settled recreational pony for me lately.  I figured the aliens had taken away the over-active, busy body horse I originally had.  But alas, the busy body came back the other morning.  SIGH...

I worked Ollie in the round pen fully tacked up.  I kept thinking to myself that today was going to be the day I get back on him and he'll behave like a normal horse.  He decided that he had a need for speed and sped around, bucking and tossing his head.  I was so disappointed.  He worked himself into a lather in no time at all.  He eventually went around nicely and in the end, he was following me around like a puppy dog.  I was pleased with how we ended but bummed about his need for speed when we started out. 

Then came today.

I took him to the round pen again and we started out with walk/trot transitions.  He did them perfectly.  Then I asked him to canter.  No problem!  I felt that today was the day to get back on him.  What a nice horse!  He stood at the mounting block, he was actually a little lazy about going around the ring and not once did his hind end want to pass the front end!  I was thrilled.  I even went through the Introductory Dressage test with him (it's only walk/trot) and he went around very well!  He even halted perfectly square.  I wanted to do cartwheels.   I'm so excited because of his attitude.  He was calm, willing to work and not trying to out think me at any time.

I'm just busting with pride over my calm, settled, recreational pony!! 

Ollie and me.  Photo by Holly Tonini, a Capture The Light Photography Workshop attendee!