Karon's Big Fat Hereford Photo Thread

[kas]

[breakfast]

Some lovely pics there. And a great sceptical look at the camera in the last one as well

[Karon]

Thank you! I love the photos (although we could have a "does my bum look big here, and here, and here" thread.... ) - and Rash looks really grown up too!

What am I doing in the second last photo?! About to fall off?!

[kas]

Oh reflection, it looks like your saddle has slipped over a bit. ;D
I think you are just about to feel down one rein to take up a bend, step her under, take a slight backup and lead off in the other direction.

[tazzle]

oh karon that one with rasheeka and the flowers is just a classic

that I must say was a wonderful exercise and I think you did superb at it


and dont she and steve look so persil white together

[Karon]

I thought it had moved - all three of us lost weight over the 3 days! I lost half a stone

I think you're right, Kas, that I was about to start to get Shantih to step under and change direction - she's listening to me there, too so I was obviously starting to get her attention more.

[kas]

You did a brilliant job with Shantih, kept very calm when she was winding herself up and getting shorter and shorter. No mean feat in such a strange environment.
Rash was pretty angelic really wasn't she? Once she got over her screeching!
Maybe you and Laura could do us a little bit about what is going on in these pics, and what you got up to at the clinic, if you get time?
I've got more photos of the others, but sorting 300 photos takes some time!

[heidi]

Your girls are GORGEOUS Karon! I think they are the best photo's I've ever seen of them.

[tazzle]

just how you managed to cope with two very different horses over three days and it being your first clinic ...... wow ... and can I just say that listening to all the comments fomr the "audience" when I was part of it everyone was saying how much you were taking on board and putting in to practice was amazing.

And the compliments on rasheeka, such a credit to you especially as you have bred and educated her ..... so everything is down to you .

[Karon]

Thanks everyone I wasn't sure just how much I was taking on but did notice a difference in all of us by Thursday Am just about to write a report but one thing I did notice was, yesterday morning I woke up thinking it was time to get up and something just clicked - "Ah, that was what Steve meant, of course"! Strange how your mind works.

Shantih does tend to get shorter and shorter when she gets wound up at home - although she doesn't get as wound up as she was at the clinic - so now I have ways of dealing with that without grabbing hold of her.

I'm so pleased with them both, but Rash was a complete angel once she stopped shouting Hard to believe she'd done perhaps 3 or 4 hours work under saddle before the clinic, as she just took it all in her stride.

First couple of photos - I was apprehensive about getting on Rash (which seems really stupid to me now, seeing how good she was) so Steve got on her first. He was showing how to get her to flex I think? 3rd one I was starting to ride her and getting her to step her hind end under slightly to try to change direction, if I remember correctly - I've been doing a bit of hind end yielding under saddle with her but now it has a purpose to it after the clinic, and I know what I'm feeling more, too.

4th one I think we were both just mentally worn out

Last two of Rash, first I was having to stay the other side of the pole while getting Rash to walk up and down it, yield quarters over then moved front end to turn at the end of the pole and go back the other way. Harder than it sounds! Then the cones, we had to do a figure of eight through them again with me staying back behind the poles - really hard as my brain was fried and I couldn't work out where to position myself or her!! Once Steve showed me, it was obvious but still hard to do - but she did a couple of perfect figure eights without even stopping to eat the flowers

Shantih: Again, getting her to yield her hind end and try to get her to do it softly without getting all flustered and lifting her head up. The two of her standing - if you'd seen her on the first day you'd know what a change it was for her to be standing so quietly Then again, more hind quarter yields and finally, standing quietly again without getting concerned about what everyone else was doing

They really are a very different pair - if I could channel Shantih's energy properly I think she'd make a great endurance horse and I hope Rash will as she's so laid back about everything she won't waste any energy on fretting and messing about.

[kas]

People were saying "She's got it", which is high praise indeed, believe me.

[Karon]

Excellent! Thank you again!!

[casper]

Fab photos Karon, your girls are soooooo beautiful.

[redhorseracinguk]

That's excellent I love your girls! Thanks for a great report xxxx

[mandal]

Fabby pics.
Gosh that Steve has got long legs, good job no one brought a shetland for him to ride! ;D