went up to the yard today for cuddles and a quick ride. Lots of transitions, changes of rein/bend etc and played about with trying to change his stride. 13 canter strides down long side of school in normal working canter, and managed to get 11 and 16. Did the same thing in walk and trot also, in trot mostly concentrated on getting him to really stride out and 'bounce' forward rather than lazily drag himself from behind! He worked really well today and was really pleased with him, also noticed def getting better canter transitions now.

i am sooo looking forward to tomorow! i need a break from physiotherapy revision before i lose the will to live! cant wait for Luran cuddles!

stupid revision spoils everything!

meh, in such a bad mood, lovely day and couldnt go up to see Rani, as stuck in doing boring work for my exams. Thought i was being v sensible saying i couldnt go up today, but considering how much ive got done, wish i had!

:( i want pony cuddles!

lesson

Good lesson today. Lots of work within paces-shortening/lengthening down short/long sides of school. actually just getting him to move was effort! he felt really laggy today, but he'd been out in a lesson earlier in  the morning. had a little jump at the end, cross pole, which he mocked and just tried to trot over, so we wacked it up a bit and he refused once, as not enough leg, and then went over really well after that.

And now back to more revision funtimes! sometimes i wish i could have just stayed a working pupil forever!

things to work on in week... playing about with strides. try and shorten/lengthen and get big energetic trot so he comes from leg into hands. same in canter, count strides down long side of school, then try and do more/less.

wohoo!

yay lesson in a bit!def need a break from revising for my end of year exams....hope it doesnt bloody rain! really want to do some jumping today!

27/05/11- schooling sesh

weather was really miserable today, looked like it was gonna chuck it down with rain when  i got to the yard. Luran (Rani) was in his box munching on his haynet and didnt look particulary amused at the prospect of being pulled away from it to go for a ride! Anyway, after he had lots of love, and a groom, went for a bit of a play in the school. Did lots of bending exercises-circles, figures of 8, and worked on trying to get him to go straight, and track up. after about half an hour started to get a bit more engaged, and started to come round to an outline, but getting him to stay on the bit is a mighty tough challenge. I guess the issue with school horses is that they get riders of all abilities on them throughout the week, and get used to working in a certain way-and know what they will get away with!

lesson tomorrow so hopefully can do some jumping! Next week we can start hacking-need to be escorted for our first ride out, as he is known to be a bit of a loon, plus i dont know the routes around that area.

25/05/11: First schooling sesh on my own :)

Today was my first official day as Rani's sharer! got him in from the field, and spent ages giving him a really good groom, and lots of cuddles. He had a bit of a sulk coming in from the field, but was qwuite happy sunbathing on the yard while being poshed up!

So, just kept it quite simple today and had a bit of a play in the school. let him have a good stretch out in walk/trot on a long rein to start, and gradually picked up the contact, then lots of walk.trot/halt transitions, changes of rein and 20m circles. had a canter, and got him going forwards, i think hes a bit on the forehand, and leans a lot on my hands, so need to think of ways to work through that. did a few school figures- shallow loops, 3 loop serpentines, 10m circles, and had a lay with leg yielding, then took my stirrups away for a bit of a trot. Felt a bit all over the place today, but hopefully will start to feel better and more secure as i ride more often. with my last pony, Alfie, i didnt really do much in the way of school riding with him...bought him as a four year old, and backed him 6 months later, so he was almost 5. but was just doing v basic things with him, so my mind has gone a bit blank about schooling, so need a bit of inspirartion, and some goals to work towards. Hopefully on Friday, when im down next i can hack him, apparantly he can be a bit 'interesting' out, so one of the instructors is going to come with me the first time, and that way i can see the routes as well, as i have zero sense of direction!

first/second lesson

So, i rode Rani for the first time a couple of weeks ago, when i first thought i would really like to find a share. Its tricky when you've been riding for a long time to know what to do when its not possible to have your own horse...I get a lot out of lessons, but it gets expensive to ride regulary, and its difficult to get out hacking. And i miss all the stuff that goes with having your own pony, the playing about, and the cuddles, and well, you know what i mean. I guess im also really used to the routine of having horses...turning up at a school to ride in a lesson, with the horse ready, then literally handed back to a groom straight after just isnt what i want.

He's quite an old boy, and an ex showjumper. He's also a total gent and a total sucker for someone getting his special scratchy spot!

notes from first couple of lessons-

• He's quite stiff, so give him lots of time to stretch out and warm up/down
• work on getting him in front of my leg, though he has a bit of a delayed reaction to leg aids-he does exactly what you ask, but it takes a few secs for his head to tell his legs what to do!!
• he likes to have a look at things, but doenst really do anything but have a bit of a look. he gets quite distracted by ponies in the field when you're in the school!
• sit up, on bum, shoulders back, losen through lower back, and stick my boobs out! hes a lot bigger than anything ive ridden before, and also a lot bouncier! because I've had a bit of a break from riding since ive been at Uni, i just need to work on getting riding fit and suppling up a bit.
• He's not likely to refuse a jump, known to do it from a crawl/standstill, but jumps with a much better shape with lots of impulsion.
• lots of transitions to get him listening and off my leg
• need to do some work without stirrups, funtimes!
• had a bit of a jump, nothing too big, need to watch he doesnt try to drift, and SIT UP after fence.

Luran pics

intro :)

Hiya :)

Im 27 and currently a physiotherapy student at a university in London. I had ponies when I was a teenager, and until recently, also had a dartmoor called Alfie, as a bit of a project. I had to sell him when i moved from Cornwall, to London for Uni, which totally broke my heart. Since then, ive done my best to try and convince myself i could survive without a pony to play with, but recently gave in, and now have gorgeous 16.2 TB cross Luran on part loan! He lives at a busy and fab Riding school/Livery yard in Greater London, where i also have lessons once a week, to keep things ticking over.

So i thought it would be nice to keep track of what we get up to, chart our progress and share some schooling ideas!