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Ozzie
Oct 23, 2010 17:17:58 GMT
Post by el on Oct 23, 2010 17:17:58 GMT
Arrived home! Lassoed the barrel with Oz looking on with interest for a few minutes. Then Oz went over and sat on the barrel so I had to lasso something else. Then he went off eating grass so I lasso-ed his hindquarters a few times from a distance. He continued to eat grass throughout. Oz was very mellow, hung around the whole time looking for scratches.
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Ozzie
Oct 24, 2010 14:44:17 GMT
Post by el on Oct 24, 2010 14:44:17 GMT
Everyone had disappeared so headed out today for a groundwork session, 1st in about a month (ish) nothing really that I wanted to achieve just wanted to hang out with my horse. After a frosty night, it was a gorgeous warm lazy Sunday afternoon. Oz was very mellow. Caught him and picked up his feet, not a bother. Then lifted my energy and he walked on beside he when I did, didn't need to use the rope. Then circles on both reins, left better than right. Focused on moving shoulders out right from the first step, and also keeping HQ out as they tend to be in too much. Then went for a walk down the hill, normal, then fast, then slow, very good. Then got him to walk and trot (a fair bit) alongside me as we did a few laps of the big paddock as I needed to go for a jog as well, so two birds one stone.... The first long stretch he was like 'what? trot? come on, seriously?' but then twigged and did lovely easy going trots alongside me. The second & 3rd lap Dads horse also trotted along behind, beside and in front of us. At one stage coming up to a corner I was on the outside, Oz in the middle, Doug on the inside, all shoulder to shoulder. So I pushed Ozs neck to turn him before we landed into the fence, and he then in turn bit Dougs neck to turn him, so we all then trotted down in parallel along the fence line. We did about 5 or 6 laps in total, mainly trot. Got him to do a shoulder in for a few steps on the left rein as well. Still a very mellow horse, wanted the underneath side of his head scratched. Also did a few big yawns half way through. Then did more circles with bend in walk. Better on both reins (I had my act a bit more together). Then took off on a few more trots, did one big massive one with me running as fast as I could, and Oz on a long rope doing the fastest Connie trot in the world in a big circle around him, until he twigged he could canter, then ducked inside me and did a bit of a canter bucky thing. He was having a bit of fun. Then the (unexpected) progress for the day. Tried a few slow trots in a circle, looking for bend. OZ seems to get distracted when he started to trot, so head pings out and upwards, body turns into a straight plank, etc. So did a few, then got one as follows.. 1. walk with bend & softness, bend in neck, shoulders pushed out, HQ not too close, focused on me 2. trot from this, head normal not high, still a fair bit of softness, bend still there (not quite the shoulders actively moving out but its a start) 3. Back to walk and kept bend & softness.. WOOHOOO!!! Thats my best trot with Oz ever! Quite chuffed. Physically he can do it, mentally he's still piecing together the "trot+bend+softness" and emotionally we are slowly working through the extra emotion he comes up with when asked to go faster, starting with the trot. So was very pleased. Left him off, so he stood there for a while, then must have remembered that back during the summer if he came over to the gate after a ride he might get a big of fresh grass (you couldn't call him spoiled!) so he toddled on over after me, got grass, then as Doug wanted something as well as that stage, both horses got an apple each which made their day. One more day in Tipp then back to Dublin for another few months.....
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Ozzie
Oct 25, 2010 13:05:29 GMT
Post by el on Oct 25, 2010 13:05:29 GMT
Today, after a month off, I hopped back on Ozzie. Yesterday we had been doing a bit on the ground - I kick the basketball, we both walk after it, I kick it on again, we both follow it, etc. Oz wasn't that into kicking it himself. Today, we went riding. And he wanted to play 'OZZIE RULES'. He was kicking it himself, looking where it went, following it himself, then kicking it on again himself. ;D Luckily I had a photographer lined up
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Ozzie
Oct 25, 2010 13:18:11 GMT
Post by el on Oct 25, 2010 13:18:11 GMT
So today, (as from the pics above) I went for a ride. Was out for over an hour, 45mins at least ridden. Caught the Oz, tacked up, then did walking and jogging about, along with circles with bend in walk on both reins. Then hopped on and stood still for a few minutes. At the start at halt he did about 4 or 5 head shakes, so I ignored them and then after a while he relaxed, the eyes started to close, head lowered and a few lick and chews. Then lateral flexion both ways, not bad at all, he was listening not totally asleep. Then started on the 10/9/8s. got as far as about 7, not bad at all, softness there, and our photographer arrived out, so then lost about 3 mins as Oz wanted to stare at Dad rather than flex laterally. Got over that, and back to the 10/9/8s and finished them off, with lots of rests in between. That was the only time in the 45 mins or more that Oz tried to not do as I asked of him and take over a bit. Then went off and did circles on both reins with bend all around the bottom half of the paddock. Circle + bend, straighted up, new bend, then new circle - all aroudn stuff, etc. Really very good mentally from oz no messing, no braces, stepping shoulders out when asked, I'd give it at least 70% of what we've done before,, and mentally an excellent 95% for listening and being relaxed and not taking over at all. Then he kicked the ball, so we went off an a tangent playing with that for a while (above) then back and did more circles with bend on both reins. Literally he was fab. After 4 weeks off with no handling, to be able to hop up and walk with bends all around the paddock and no messing (still its a small comfort zone but!) was GREAT! woohooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ozzie
Oct 27, 2010 8:14:49 GMT
Post by louisec on Oct 27, 2010 8:14:49 GMT
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Ozzie
Nov 7, 2010 19:35:05 GMT
Post by kas on Nov 7, 2010 19:35:05 GMT
I'm fixated with ears at the moment El, they're looking good I think.
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Ozzie
Nov 13, 2010 16:20:20 GMT
Post by el on Nov 13, 2010 16:20:20 GMT
Back down in Tipp after 3 weeks in Dublin. Went out and gave them 2 horse an apple each on the ground. They ate, then got scratched, then Doug wandered off. Oz hung around though. He tried a nibble or two and got told not to. Normally he's very good at walking & stopping and turning with me when the halter is on, with a loose lead rope or with the lead rope resting on his neck/back. However in the past he seems to understand no halter = no halter (!)and he can do as he likes, i.e. stand there looking pretty Anyway, I stood beside him in the field, took a deep breath and walked on. Low & behold he walked right along beside me. I stopped he stopped exactly at the same time. I walked on again, so he did. Then we stopped again together. Did two or three 90 degree turns towards me as well. I didn't have to re-manouvre to keep up/stay with him, he just stayed beside me. Then a halt, a slow then fast walk together (still shoulder by head/shoulder! with a few head shakes from himself) then a trot, then back to walk when I breathed out (he was about 2 strides ahead of me now, gained during the trotting part) then back to halt when I breathed out again. Was quite chuffed as thats the first time he's walked/trotted with me with no halter on at all
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Ozzie
Nov 13, 2010 17:35:17 GMT
Post by kas on Nov 13, 2010 17:35:17 GMT
Cool El!
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Ozzie
Nov 14, 2010 13:22:38 GMT
Post by el on Nov 14, 2010 13:22:38 GMT
Went out this morning at about 11.30am. Oz was sitting down, had twigged who I was and as I approached from directly behind him, made no effort to get up at all. Doug was very sociable, straight over as usual. Anyway, it was lovely - all blue skies and sunshine, so though I might as well leave Oz there and take Doug for a trot around in hand (I wanted to go jogging myself to save me doing it later). Halter on, off we went, horse happy as larry and did a lovely jog beside me. Of course Oz saw so so eventually got up and just stood there, usual pose, watching us two trot around in big rectangles. We ended up beside him, so told Doug he was great and put the halter on Oz. Then Oz & I went off jogging. I need to work on his trots as he does tend to just go off in a normal to fast trot from the start, rather than pick up my speed. Of course we set off, and first he was lazy. Had to wake him up to get a decent walk, then a decent trot. We got tuned up anyway, and did a gorgeous trot (not fast) in hand around 2 sides of the field. then walked a bit, then off trotting again together. After this, stopped and pulled his tail and got three steps backwards . Then worked on bends in walk (better on near side) and on offside worked on walk bends & sideways to get that shoulder moving out as twas a bit stuck. Then worked on walk to trot to walk on a circle, trying to keep bend. got half way there, lovely walk to trot trans (no head shaking, no messing which is half the battle) and bend starting to come once every so often on near side. Not great on offside so just kept on walk & shoulders. Oz very mellow throughout, including when Doug used to gallop past us off to some exciting destination up the field. lots of standing in front of me with his head at my knees. then more jogging - walk then trot, and this time working on the speed of the trot - start at slow as he offers, then stay at this pace, then once he;'s listening to me, slow down the trot to as slow as it goes, then up to as fast as I can run, then back down to normal trot again. So basically working on both side, in trot, getting bends, and different speeds in trot turned up, and working on him getting emotionally more balanced and relaxed in trot. (aim to be just like he is in walk - bends, speeds, etc). Lovely morning, came back out with an apple per horse, both delighted as well.
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Ozzie
Dec 29, 2010 16:37:26 GMT
Post by el on Dec 29, 2010 16:37:26 GMT
Oz had the best part of 6 weeks to his own devices, so after some minor protestations (a few nips which were unusual) about picking up his near fore yesterday I thought perhaps it was time to put on a halter and see where we were at.
Halter on, all feet picked out, no probs aside from minor foot shaking on the near fore but better than the day before. Circles with bends both sides in walk, soften and backup and HQ yields. Backup in a 180 circle as well once I remembered to push his head away from me. He was a little feisty (one nip) but still quite mellow, started huge yawns etc.
Then took off halter, put it on Dads horse & picked out his feet while Oz watched. At one stage I was picking up front foot and had 12 ft rope over my arm, with the tail of it on the ground (or so I thought). As I picked out Dougs front foot, I felt a tug on the end of the rope. I turned around and there was Oz, head up high, end of the rope in his mouth, pulling on it looking delighted with himself.
Anyway, halter got put back on Oz, and we jogged around the field (another acid test) and he was good and stayed beside me. he moves forward when I do through raising my energy and stops or slows down when I breathe out (all good).
Low & behold hadn't we ended up beside a lovely wooden ditch type thing, you can walk beside and go through under trees and between bushes. Doug, Dads horse had followed us loose up to it as well.
Anyway, no better oppertunity for a bit of practise. We walked into, down and through it in a few places, walking, stopping in the middle, reversing through it, sidepassing though it, hindquarter yields to reposition, etc. The horse can get a bit spooked by it at the start, so Oz did get a bit tense, and when he does did think maybe he'd go for a nip or two on me (alternative by trying to eat the tress - he does seem to have to vent on something - me, other horse nearby, physical object - when he gets stressed for some reason) and Doug didn't help by galloping through the tress a few times as well setting Oz off, but we stuck at it and he was actually pretty good at listening to me and we mixed it up with some circles with bend then on either side of the tree line. I'll do it again tomorrow and would expect a big leap in his progress as day 2 is traditionally when he's thought about something and realised its not that big of an issue.
Then back into the field, up to the hill, down the hill one step at a time, then a jog home, all very relxed, while Dads horse, delighted with the excitement galloped, bucked and danced his way around the field so it was lovely to see him in such good form, as he's usually more of a quiet relaxed horse rather than an extrovert.
That was about it. Oz got nearly 2 hours of work, prob too long but it was mixed up well and he had more than enough energy and lots of rests throughout.
It was quite nice to have a challenge to work through again!!
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Ozzie
Dec 30, 2010 13:37:27 GMT
Post by el on Dec 30, 2010 13:37:27 GMT
Went out again, Caught Oz and walked very relaxed through all of the gaps we'd gone through yesterday. No rushing, no anxiousness all v good. After a while we went through a few new ones as well, a v good. No real nips at me, one or two nips on the rope which resulted in v quick reverses which worked fine. When I breathe out now he just stops. Then of course Dads horse had to follow us about everywhere, often galloping through the gaps after we'd gone through them and once or twice setting Oz off on a few steps of canter then a halt. Only happened maybe once or twice when Oz was also near the ditch, when Doug gallops past him in the middle of the field he doesn't blink. Overall, he was mellow, not as many head shakes as yesterday and when we left the ditch he got mellow and had lots of yawning as we walked along. Did some fast walking and he got a little distracted and wasn't listening when I asked for a turn, but worked on it with lots of turns and he got much more attentive and did some lovely (funny) slow walking as well. got really nice & soft by the end, floating beside me on a loose rope, backups perfect with me beside him, and also forgot to say yesterday was going backwards when i pulled his tail. Also today picked up all four feet with perfect manners from himself. A nice session.
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Ozzie
Dec 31, 2010 16:33:38 GMT
Post by el on Dec 31, 2010 16:33:38 GMT
Dad had hidden Oz away in the next field so I spent about 10 mins looking for him in his usual spot, then realised he'd probably been moved somewhere else to make space for the point to point track. Caught him, picked up all four feet by squeezing a chestnut or hock very lightly, no mesing at all from him, v mellow horse, told him he was great and left it at that as it was geting dark, having spent most of my day trying to compile an android app.
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Ozzie
Jan 4, 2011 19:43:05 GMT
Post by kas on Jan 4, 2011 19:43:05 GMT
Your dad was just trying to keep you on your toes.
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Ozzie
Jan 9, 2011 17:33:10 GMT
Post by louisec on Jan 9, 2011 17:33:10 GMT
Sounds like he's really tuned into you el:-) What are you plans for this year?
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Ozzie
Jan 30, 2011 15:18:53 GMT
Post by el on Jan 30, 2011 15:18:53 GMT
I've been up in Dublin, so when Dad went down to bring up the two horses from the bottom field, instead of Dougal being caught, Oz was the one who Dad caught!! Oz used to be a bit standoffish with Dad (and other people who arent me) but it sseems hes got over that now.
Its all the good training you see
Anyway I came back on a flying visit, so said hello to both in the field, and got a few lovely head / neck snake things from the Oz who was in good form.
Went out the next day, both came on up again. There were a few cattle in the next field Oz had twigged, so i left the two horses where they were in the middle of the field and went over to investigate. I was about 20 steps gone, when Oz decided he had better come too, so he trotted to catch up with me, then walked along beside me literally shoulder by shoulder with me, both on our way over to investigate what was going on. It was a real 'going somewhere together, for the same purpose' moment.
Then for the craic I stopped and the bugger stopped dead along beside me. Then I walked on then he did too. Again, you can't beat the bit of training coming though!
Then I pottered about a bit while he had a drink of water, so headed back and he stood watching. So I backed away from him at a good distance, crouched down a bit, and the dote looked at me thinking, and then walked straight back over to me twice!
Then I gave up and started walking home, and spotted a few bits of rubbish in the field left over from the pt to pt, so I started to pick them up, Oz curious and thinking maybe there was food involved, was over like a bullet, and then insisted on walked with me the whole way back. TO stop him walking directly behind me like he wanted to (experince shows its best to keep at least one eye on the Oz) I helf out my hand to the side, and he walked up to it, and then walked home with me with his nose gently pushing against my fingers the whole way, about 200 metres.
awwwwww. Of course he was just thinking was I going to move him into a more exitcing field, but still!
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