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Post by beksnjake on Dec 3, 2012 20:01:44 GMT
I've got a friend helping me & mum out - Hazel will ride either horse but at the moment is riding Rosie out with mum & Jake when I'm at work a couple of times a week. She lost her lovely cob Banjo last year, who I used to love riding, he was such a character. I thought long & hard about this and with the new job & winter evenings I am not going to be able to do as much with Rosie as I would like. I like the way Hazel rides because she rides like me! This not only helps me with Rosie but it also means mum has some company & help round the yard - I've been quite worried about mum being on her own so much. Although I think I am going to have to let mum ride Rosie at some point, she's been dropping hints . . . . .
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Post by beksnjake on Dec 6, 2012 6:44:42 GMT
As its been my first week in the new job, mum's been doing the mornings for me. I am pretty sure that I can do the horses before work when I'm doing 9 - 5, but just wanted this week to get myself settled into a work routine.
Anyway I'm not the only one settling into a routine! Rosie is doing really well with the turning out. She did run round a bit for the first couple of days but settled quickly. Now you can just take the halter off in the yard and she remains calm. Sometimes she stays in the yard with mum, sometimes she wanders straight out to the field. Yesterday she stayed in the yard as mum tidied up the stables. Suddenly mum heard Jake come into the yard & nicker at Rosie, who apparently totally blanked him! Jake kept calling to her, she continued to ignore him so eventually he just turned round back into the field and cantered off bucking & farting ;D
Rosie stayed with mum who basically just got on with her jobs and suddenly mum realised Rosie had gone - she'd very quietly just ambled into the field.
Evenings are lovely too - both horses come over to the back of the stables once the field light is on. Most of the time I have to go into the field to get them, but they do walk to meet me, once or twice they have come into the yard, which isn't a problem - just put on halters & tie up. Again there's no tension when they come in and I can bring both in together. Apart from my lack of riding time due to the new job, which was always going to be a problem initially, it feels like everything is coming together, Jake's happy, Rosie is settling (like she's always been here really!), I'm slowly working out mare psychology (soooo different to geldings!) and mum has some company a couple of times a week.
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Post by redhorseracinguk on Dec 7, 2012 14:58:53 GMT
Great stuff It's all coming together and your new job sounds cool too Xx
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Post by beksnjake on Dec 7, 2012 19:25:15 GMT
Thanks rhr - it is coming together, just takes a little time. Like I said before, it just feels right with Rosie. But then to be honest I thought that when I first saw her, had a feeling that our paths would cross again. I did think long & hard about having someone else riding her but again it feels right with Hazel. She's still missing Banjo and needs a "Rosie", mum needs some company & help and I need some help while I settle into the new job. Mum & Hazel have known each other for years, Hazel says she's her second mum & they used to ride out together when Banjo & Josh were still with us.
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Post by beksnjake on Dec 9, 2012 19:51:01 GMT
Only a very short ride today as my back seized up and went into spasm as I was trying to ride. Made life quite interesting as I couldn't get my balance right when we trotted, felt like I was tipping forward terribly. Mum said afterwards that I'd looked really tense as I got on Rosie & she thought I was nervous. In fact my lower back was so tight I wasn't too sure what to do other than to try & ride through it. On reflection I was a bit stiff yesterday riding Jake - a week of office & computer work and my back is not good!! I do need to keep active & riding usually sorts out any kinks but not today.
However it was out second outing with Polly & today they just looked at each other, went "oh it's you" and both were very chilled - Jake of course just loved having his girls with him! Mum & L dropped me off back at the stables & carried on , Rosie was a little upset at this, called quite a bit but wasn't too bad on her own - but I think its important that we continue to separate them so that it does become something routine. I don't think she'll ever be totally comfortable on her own but she is settling quicker, her whole frame just totally relaxes when Jake comes back, but although she calls it is less frantic than when she first came. She nuzzles you a lot, initially thought she was trying to nip me but she's just being very sweet. Weather permitting mum & Hazel should get out about 3 times this week, so we are building up Rosie's fitness (lots of hills!) slowly & steadily.
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Post by kas on Dec 10, 2012 18:08:27 GMT
It's good to hear how well she's settling in Becks.
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Post by beksnjake on Dec 16, 2012 12:38:22 GMT
Theme tune for the day - "Onward Christian Soldiers" Those of you who were with me at one of Steve's clinics this year, may recall me saying how despite not being of a religious persuasion I have often been heard singing the aforementioned hymn in times of stress, because if I'm singing, I'm breathing and it seems to be the only song that comes into my head when I'm riding - why who knows Anyway with the sun shining, the temperature definitely above freezing and no wind me & mum were off on a little hack with L & Polly. L had finished her riding lesson early and had ridden to our yard even before I'd got Rosie groomed let alone tacked up! So it was an interesting lesson for Polly in having to stand still & wait for us. It was good for Rosie too having another horse around. Anyway we set off and all was lovely and calm. Rosie & Polly have settled down and will ride upsides now - Jake of course is just loving having "his" mares with him! Someone near us has been raising geese for Christmas and they are out in a field right next to the road. The horses are a little wary but usually its not a problem, until today when the geese rushed the fence as we rode past at the same time as a transit van drove past us. Rosie just took off (nice canter!) with Polly in fast pursuit. Fortunately Rosie just got to Jake's shoulder and stopped. I was busy congratulating myself on sitting upright - mother burst my bubble and said I was a frog on a rocket (damn & blast, I felt really upright!!) but I didn't feel unsafe or out of control which was good. Drama over, we continued on. Then approaching us was this funny little lorry thing with a blue tarp over the back of it. I just felt Rosie sink down at the back, as Polly skid addled behind us, the driver slowed as we tried to take the ponies into a side road, but he didn't stop, just crept past us. Rosie was all over the place, didn't canter off, but I could feel my anxiety climbing. Suddenly behind me L starts singing Onward Christian Soldiers at the top of her voice. I started laughing and joined in. Mum asked how I was - I showed her my shaking hands, said I was beginning to calm down but was worried about the effect I was having on Rosie. She suggested we swapped horses. So we rode a little further along the road until there was a nice big gateway and we swapped rides. Jake was his usual gentlemanly self (bless him) and we all continued on. There was a defender with a trailer on which Rosie wasn't sure about, but mum just rode her forward and gave her lots of praise afterwards. Wasn't quite how I planned mum to have her first ride on Rosie, but given that not so long ago I'd have just given up and gone home on foot I feel I achieved something today by continuing the ride on Jake. I am able to deal better with my panic attacks now but am very aware of how Rosie picked up my rising anxiety levels this morning. The main issue for me was the two "scary" things happening in quick succession, guess you could say I got a bit flooded!! But I stayed on, no emergency dismounts - it was all done in a controlled calm fashion further on. And yes, mum was rather taken with Rosie!
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Post by heidi on Dec 16, 2012 21:55:59 GMT
Your mum certainly had a very big smile on her face, when I passed you! I guess if the geese upset their owners horse, as much as she says cows do, they wouldn't be by the road, especially not on a bend!
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Post by beksnjake on Dec 17, 2012 5:13:44 GMT
Mmmm. Sadly some people can be oblivious to the effect their actions may have on others. Not that I'm suggesting this is the case here.
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Post by redhorseracinguk on Dec 19, 2012 23:33:20 GMT
Well done for being brave Becks. Sounds like an eventful ride matey Xx
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Post by beksnjake on Dec 21, 2012 12:36:47 GMT
Thanks rhr - it was an interesting ride!! It's always going to be strange adjusting to riding s different horse. Mum has pointed out that my "involuntary squeaks" are back - when Rosie cantered off I squeaked! Not aware that I'm doing it so really need to try & get more aware. Jake is used to them! Had another interesting episode with Rosie this morning. Was sorting out head collars & found one I thought might fit Rosie. As they were in the field so wandered over to them. Tried it on Jake first cunningly as this immediately caught Rosie's interest! Then popped it on her - didn't do it up, but checked it fitted. As I went to let it slip off Rosie took off like a rocket? Jake just gave her on of his "what are you on" looks. Very odd, she obviously has some issue with being let loose. As she settles in more, it's becoming more apparent that she is an anxious little soul. She is very bonded to Jake, looks to him for reassurance when out. But she does worry about things, can't always work out what's bothering her either. Am hoping to be able to do some GW with her next week as haven't done any with het for over 3 weeks. Will be interesting to see how she goes.
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Post by redhorseracinguk on Dec 22, 2012 13:14:40 GMT
Yes, I can't say we ever had an issue with haltering? I think when she was showing, she must have been kept in an awful lot. I think this must translate somehow in her head when being 'set free' as a stressful thing.
Like I said, I've been perfectly honest about her- and I can only speak for how she was here. She was here eight weeks and to be honest the girl that had her before didn't do much with her and we had to school her the way Levi wanted her to be schooled. Lindsey did much of the ridden with her... she wasn't anxious in the big herd but she did get attached to Ruby, my friends 17.2hh Hunter mare that arrived around the same time as her, but we could always take her away. The one thing I did notice was that she wasn't vocal, at all... not a squeal or a squeak.. so maybe she needs to let go a bit. She is a good mare. I do miss her and had she been mine, I would have worked more with her to gain her confidence.
We only had a couple of times whereby she wasn't happy with being turned out- the first time I turned her out and she nearly jumped on me. And the electric incident (thanks to the incompetent electrician, which did stay with her unfortunately which did make her a bit reluctant in the gateway.
I hope you get to the bottom of it and that Rosie continues to make progress Xx
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Post by beksnjake on Dec 22, 2012 13:33:54 GMT
Please be reassured that I have no issue with what you did with her rhr - I'm sorry if I have inadvertently given that impression, I am immensely grateful that you gave me the opportunity to have Rosie. I think her "anxiety" is something from farther back in her past & the longer she's with me I think the more the real Rosie will come out. Funnily enough she is quite vocal with us - she will nicker softly when Hazel or I drive into the yard & shouts a lot if Jake is taken out without her. I think she is a lovely horse, with a huge amount to offer but she needs time to realise that this is her home for life & be able to relax. Looking through her passport she's had a lot of moves in the past year which has to be unsettling. It's always going to be difficult in the winter to do the amount of work I would like - this weekends weather is just horrid, but the days will now be getting longer!! Plus I'm in no hurry
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Post by beksnjake on Dec 22, 2012 13:36:06 GMT
Apologies for odd smilies - can't quite work them out on my phone!
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Post by beksnjake on Dec 22, 2012 18:35:28 GMT
Also forgot to mention that Hazel is really keen for me to show her GW etc as she feels it is really important but has very little experience of it & knows how its helped me & Jake So once the weather is better (oh ha bloody ha!) we've planned to take both Jake & Rosie to the school for me to show Hazel the ropes (pun totally intended ;D) Have also mentioned next years clinic - it would be great if I could get Hazel to watch for a couple of days because I think she will totally get it.
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