29 May 2000

Polly arrived with Chablis.

Jun 2000 - Nov 2001

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We wanted both of them to get used to us so we spent a lot of time handling and grooming them.   Establishing a regular routine meant they knew what to expect.

Polly has three white feet which are extremely sensitive. She has had problems with sunburn in Summer and mud fever in Winter.  They were very sore when she arrived and she was reluctant to let anyone near them.  Every day we applied creams to heal the sores.  The effort has paid off as she now stands quietly.

We also made an effort to ask both Polly and Chablis to stand and walk on while we took them in and out of the fields, being consistent in the commands we gave them.

We had decided to wean Chablis gradually.  So during this time we began by splitting them up at meal times then later by splitting them up during the day in different fields.  Neither of them seemed to mind too much.

Nov 2000 - Jan 2001

The time seemed right to start working with Polly, so our first step was to put an ordinary snaffle on her so she could get used to it.  We did this every day for about 20 minutes.  She didn't like it at first but now she has accepted it.  Chablis mouthed the bit straight away when she was shown it.  The innocence of youth!

During this period we continued with the handling and walk, stand commands.

W/c 8 Jan 2001

School work started in earnest for Polly.  I asked her to stand and walk on as we walked round the school on both reins.  This went well, however, she was just lulling me into a false sense of security.  When I asked her to move round me on a circle, the left rein was a doddle but the right was a nightmare.  She would not leave my side, twisting back to the left rein whenever she could.  At the end of the session we both went back to the yard with steam coming off us.  I'm sure I was more tired than she was, running around on all that sand.  The same thing happened every day  of the week.

On Saturday after grooming her ( she loves being groomed! ) we introduced Polly to a saddle.  She accepted this without any qualms.  Polly didn't mind having someone leaning over her either. She didn't bat an eye when we did this and walked her around for a few steps. 

In the school our goal was to get Polly to move around on the right rein in a large circle in a relaxed manner.  We achieved this by placing a lunge line on both sides of her with one person walking on her left side to keep her out on the circle.

Sunday - Our instructor came to visit.   Polly would still not move on the lunge on the right rein on her own.  rearing and bucking was the order of the day.  With a horse as big as Polly this was quite scary! We have to persevere however, being quite firm if necessary. She will give in eventually - we hope!

W/c 15 Jan 2001

My mission this week was to get Polly to move away from me on both sides in the stable.  I discovered that the secret to Polly's training seems to be polos and lots of praise and stroking.  Rewarding her with a bit of carrot or polo worked wonders.  We moved back into the school where we gradually increased the size of the circle on both reins over the week. 

It was  suggested to me that the problems with Polly's right side may be due to the fact that we generally do everything from the left side and she was not used to people being there.  I have now started leading both her and Chablis  out, and doing more, on the right side.

Saturday - Polly will now walk & trot in  a relaxed manner on both reins on the lunge in a bridle and saddle.  We felt so confident that my husband, Richard, sat on Polly while I walked her  around the school. She was great, we had no problems at all.

Sunday - Again Richard sat in the saddle while we walked around the school.  Polly stopped when a gentle half halt aid was given.

It can't be this easy and we are still waiting for an explosion!

W/c 22 Jan 2001

This week we made good progress with lungeing Polly.  Although on Wednesday she decided to show off! She trotted round with her tail sticking out and her feet flicking out.  Unfortunately she wouldn't stop and when she did the old trick of twisting back to the other rein appeared. It was back to basics, calming everything down, walking on the lunge.

The next day Polly decided that she wasn't going to co-operate, so I had to persist in keeping her on the right rein.  Every time she stopped she twisted round so I had to keep leading her back in the right direction.  She was rewarded with her favourite, polo's, when she did what I asked. Polly eventually gave in thank goodness. 

Sunday - We tacked Polly up and took her for a walk up the valley, the aim being to make sure that she doesn't have to rely on another horse when she is being ridden.  I led Polly while Richard sat on her. (I'm no idiot!)  She was as good as gold.  

W/c 29 Jan 2001

It's been a bad week for weather but a good week for Polly.  The week started with a lesson.  We lunged Polly for a short time in walk, trot and canter on both reins. She tried to twist back on the right rein once.  Other that that she was good.  Cantering should have got rid of any excess energy that she might use for bucking!  It was then my turn to get up.  With back protector and hat firmly in place up I got.  She was very good and I was surprised at how narrow she was for such a big horse.  I was then led as we walked, halted and trotted round the sand school.  If her head started to drop it was held up, again to stop any thoughts of bucking.  I was very pleased with her.

During the week I lunged Polly.  Again she only tried to twist back once but I had to slow the trot down before asking her to walk.  This gave me time to get behind her and keep her going.  (I am getting much fitter!) Any treats she gets she has to work hard for.

Saturday - We lunged Polly before getting on ( she was a bit lively having been kept in the day before due to the weather) and it was the first time that she hasn't tried to twist back - progress indeed!  Richard got on and I led them round the school in walk and trot.  Polly was so good that I gradually stood away whilst Richard asked her to halt, walk and trot.  She is just a big gentle giant.

W/c 5 Feb 2001

I'm sure like most of the population in the UK we have suffered badly with the weather this week.  The stables, barn and yard were flooded out, luckily non of the horses panicked.  The conditions for training (even if we had some sand left in the school) were not good.  This morning I felt like quoting Oscar Wilde "To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness"  as both my boots were sucked off by the mud when I turned the horses out!  I'm sure it'll seem funny in the summer.

W/c 12 Feb 2001

The weather cleared up towards the end of the week, so I was able to spend some time shovelling back the tons of sand to where it should be.  Who needs a gym when you can have muscles like Popeye for free!

After a week or so without any training I thought that Polly might have forgotten what we had been doing.  To my delight she started where we had left off.   She showed off a bit initially with a few playful bucks on the lunge,  but settled down and behaved beautifully once I got on board (still with help on the ground).

When we ride Polly we ask her to halt, walk and trot, gradually increasing the length of time that she trots. We ask for downward transitions when we think she is going to slow down anyway.  The length of the lunge line is increasing, so hopefully she will become less reliant on the person on the ground.

On Saturday our miniature Shetland pony, Lucy, decided she would join the lesson and follow Polly round on the lunge.  Polly  didn't appreciate the company however, and raced round bucking as she went.  It didn't take much of this for Lucy to decide it was all too much like hard work and back to eating she went.  Luckily Lucy didn't come back when Richard was riding Polly!

Everything seems to be going to plan, touch wood.  Let's hope the rain stays away.

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Chablis after a roll!

We're starting to get back into a routine as the weather is a bit better.  I'm starting every session by lungeing her gently on both reins.  I then put side reins on to get her used to the contact and I work her a bit harder.  On the left rein she is quite happy and relaxed in trot, on the right she is more unbalanced and has a tendency to break into canter.  She is getting better all the time though.  

After she has got rid of some excess energy it is time to get on her.  Polly is happy to walk round me in a large circle.  In trot I have to run with her to make sure that I am close enough if she decides to do anything. It is hard work running on sand, if it wasn't for all that chocolate I'd be as thin as a rake! Touch wood Polly has not been at all naughty with a rider on board.  

W/c 26 Feb 2001

Unfortunately no progress has been made this week due to the weather.  How I envy those with indoor schools!

W/c 5 Mar 2001

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We fared a bit better with the weather this week.  I normally work with Polly in the morning but at the beginning of the week I took her into the school late afternoon.  This was getting a bit close to tea time for Polly and she was VERY lively.  So much so that when I got on her we didn't attempt to trot.  The last thing I wanted was to be catapulted into space. 

The next day I lunged Polly in the morning, she was very good and didn't break into canter on the right rein.  

On Friday we took her into the school just before tea time again.  This time she flew round snorting like a dragon but she quickly settled down.   When she had calmed down we introduced her to some very frightening coloured poles!  She needed somebody to walk with her over the poles.  After a few walks backwards and forwards she soon relaxed and we called it a day.

The weather was appalling on Sunday so all the horses were kept in.  When there was a break in the weather we took her into the school.  I thought I would have a go at long reining her as I wanted to be able to take her for some walks.  Believe me, it's not as easy as it looks!   Polly was quite anxious at first and I nearly ended up doing a few head plants.  Richard then walked beside her and this soon calmed and relaxed her.   After she walked on her own for a bit we took her back to her stable.

This week we made some more progress with Polly.  We usually start her off by lunging her, she can still be quite excitable!

After lunging her we then had another go at the long reining.  Both Polly and I are getting better at this, we even managed a few serpentines - only in walk though  as I can't keep up with her.

Polly still hasn't objected to us getting on her.  I wonder if this is the way it will be or will she suddenly decide one day that it was about time she expressed herself?

At the weekend I led Polly, with Richard riding her, to the end of our drive and back.  It was the first time she had ever been down there and she behaved exceptionally well.  Towards home she got a bit spooked and gave a little rear and spun around a couple of times.  All in all we were really pleased with her as we hadn't lunged her as the school was too wet.

W/c 19 Mar 2001

What can I say? Snow, sleet, mud and more mud.  We did get a dry opportunity at the weekend but the school was too wet.  I had the "bright" idea that we should hack her down the road with one of the others.  Very bad idea, she wasn't ready.  Polly walked out quite well for a while but then wouldn't go any further.  The horse I was riding was really playing up and I nearly came off. Still you live and learn!

W/c 26 Mar 2001

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I think I've said before that Polly loves being groomed.  After grooming her this week I was bending over putting my brushes away when I felt her rub my back with her nose.  She was obviously repaying the compliment!

The weather was dry towards the end of the week but the sand school was still very wet so we decided to have another go at riding Polly down the lane.  This time I walked beside Polly whilst Richard rode her.  She wasn't on the lunge and behaved really well.  The only time she played up a bit was on the way back and close to home.  I put her back on the lunge for a couple of strides until she calmed down then took her off the lunge line again.

W/c 2 Apr 2001

We managed to do a couple of sessions this week, both times lunging as I was on my own.  Polly responds well to voice commands, she halts, walks, trots and canters.  Polly still puts in the odd playful buck on the lunge, she even managed to have all four feet off the ground and buck at the same time!  I was glad that I wasn't on her at the time.

W/c 9 Apr 2001

This week I lunged Polly again, she was very good, but unfortunately we didn't have time to ride her at the weekend. It's too dangerous to try to ride a youngster when you are on your own.

W/c 16 Apr 2001

This week I managed to ride Polly after lunging as I had some help.  She was great until the trotting started and she got a bit stroppy and decided she didn't want to go forward.  This is when you need experience on the ground and she was coaxed forward without me being dumped on the ground.  Once going forward she relaxed.  The same thing happened on the other rein.  It's only because she is not used to the feel of someone on her back as she is trotting around. Hopefully I'll get some help so we can work on this.

A friend lent us a measuring stick so this weekend everybody got measured.  Some of the horses thought that the stick was very frightening, but not Chablis who stood still whilst it was her turn.  Chablis is now 15.3hh and she is not one year old yet!  Polly has shrunk and is "ONLY" 17.1hh!

More lunging and lessons for Polly.  In the lesson she was a bit stroppy. When I was being led round on her in walk she kept going backwards.  We let her and she soon decided it was easier going forwards than backwards.  

Polly needed a bit of dentistry on Saturday.  She wasn't very co-operative and she is so big she just puts her head up.  Rather than have a fight with her about it we got the vet to sedate her.  Polly should be very comfortable now.

I tried long-reining Polly again this week.  We stayed in walk while she got used to it.  In our lesson this week we worked with her in hand, then I got on.  As she was being well behaved we took the lunge line off her.  It was Polly's first solo flight in the sand school, luckily it wasn't mine!

At the weekend when Richard was leading me round Polly reared up!! I guess it had to happen.  It felt like slow motion and I stayed on.  She is definitely testing the water to see who's boss.

The next day we tried some free schooling with Polly, she was a bit over-excited and managed to trip and fall over.  Luckily she didn't harm herself too much.  A couple of cuts which cold hosing and some antiseptic sorted out.  

We have started taking Chablis into the School.  The first time was a bit of a disaster as I got kicked in the shoulders, back and head.  Thank goodness for hard hats!  Everyday we have taken her into the school and she now behaves really well.

The good weather has, I hope, finally come.  We will be able to do so much more with Polly rather than just lunging.  The light evenings will mean that I can get a bit of help mid-week and she will hopefully progress a bit quicker.

W/c 14 May 2001

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We have taken Chablis into the school with a bit in. All we did was hold the bit in front of her and she took it and started chewing it!

Polly has had more lunging and and riding on the lunge.  She seemed a lot happier if we trotted in a straight line rather than in circles.  I think she finds it a bit hard going in circles, even though we try to make the area as big as possible, as she is so big.  She gets a bit upset if she is off balance.

W/c 21 May 2001

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Chablis has made some more progress.  As well as walking and trotting her in the school she has been walking in between poles and over them.  We have also managed to get her into the horsebox without other horse being around.

I was feeling a bit braver this week and I have ended lessons off the lunge.  Initially it was just walk but then added some trotting.  She has tried planting her feet and has refused to go forward.  What we have done is to move her head so that she is a bit off balance and has to move her feet to get back in balance.  This seems to work as she then walks forward.

I'm really pleased with Polly's progress this week.  I've used the chambon for a few minutes while I lunge her before I get on.  It looks like it is really working and is encouraging her to lower her head and use her back.  

I have then been getting on her (as long as there is somebody within shouting distance!) and walking and trotting her around the sand school.  I have been trying to use the whole of the school so that she has as much room as possible.  She has really been trotting forward which is great.  Polly has not resisted at all nor bucked while I am on her.

Chablis has been back in the school for a few minutes, walking over and between poles and a bit of trotting.  She has been great.

Polly & Chablis

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Chablis managed to scrape her face just where the head-collar goes - so nothing has been done with her this week.

Polly has made more progress this week. She is getting more balanced on the lunge  which I do before I get on (the lunging warms her back muscles up as well as seeing if there are any bucks to get rid of!). I am still using the chambon for a few minutes on both reins when I lunge her.

I am increasing the amount of time she trots as well as introducing changes of rein while trotting and transitions from trot to walk and walk to halt.  I make sure that I get off away from the sand school gate so that she doesn't "nap" towards it.  I'm very pleased that she stands quietly while I get on as I find horses that dance about while you are trying to get on very irritating.

The cuts on Chablis face have healed so we have managed to do a few things with her this week.  As usual she has taken everything in her stride.  We started her back walking and trotting over poles.  The next day we added some jump wings for her to walk and trot through.  

We ended the week by leading her into the horsebox.  She had only done this once before which was several weeks ago and she took a bit of time to get in.  This time it didn't even take 5 minutes, just a few polos and lots of fuss!!

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1 foot on the ramp           2 feet on the ramp              All 4 feet on

We're in!                           Gently does it           Out safe & sound!

More progress this week with Polly. I have ridden her several times and continued with the walk, trot and stand work.  She has walked and over poles and through jump wings.

I have also walked her up and down an adjacent field a couple of times.  Apart from being really bothered by the flies she was very good.  I managed to open the gate whilst on her but couldn't close it on the way back as she was a bit agitated by the flies.

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The good weather has made all the difference.  The horses have been turned out and I have more time for riding.  Polly has been excellent this week.  I have been doing a bit of schooling first with her then taking her up the adjacent field.  She is much more forward going and we trotted all the way up to the farm yard.  Polly then walked all round the yard, past the scary tractors and machinery then we walked home again.

Towards the end of the week canter work was started.  She covers so much ground that we run out of school.  Direction is a bit of a problem but we haven't crashed yet.  We have also walked and trotted her over a cavaletti (what's that Shetland doing??).  The trotting turned into a bit of a jump!  Polly also introduced to clippers, after the first few seconds she nearly fell asleep whilst the clippers were moved all over her so she could feel the vibration.  I think she thought she was getting a bit of a massage!

There was more in-hand work for Chablis.  She walked over the cavaletti without any problems and she didn't bat an eye when she felt the vibration of the clippers.  I did try to walk her up the field on a windy day which was a mistake.  I think I'll let Richard do that!

Chablis has also being doing more pole work as well as walking/trotting over them she has been walking in between them and going backwards between the poles.

The week started and ended a bit disappointingly with Polly.  At the beginning of the week the heat and the flies got to her a bit and I abandoned the schooling as I wasn't achieving anything.  

In between though Polly worked well.  We were in the school on Wednesday when something cracked through the trees and she shot off to the other end of the sand school, luckily I stayed on.  I have now started to get on her straight away without any lunging.  We do a lot of walking and halts to warm up first and then progress to trot and canter work.  We have also been trotting/jumping over cavaletti.

At the end of the week we tried boxing her. In the morning of the first day it ended with Polly being happy to walk up the ramp and put both front feet into the box. I worked her later in the day and then asked her to go into the box.  We tried mints and a bucket of food but she wasn't tempted to go all the way in.  We then tried boring her to death and I took the first shift.  She would go so far and then back out.  Richard took the next shift and about an hour later she gave in and ate her tea in the box.  Patience paid off though as the next day she was in the box within five minutes. Unfortunately she lost a shoe so riding her was out of the question.

Her daughter, Chablis, continues to shine.  She walks in and out of the box without any qualms with travelling boots on.  What a difference it makes to start them young without any frightening experiences.  We put down some blue plastic to simulate water and after an initial sniff Chablis walked and trotted over it without any fuss.

Polly seemed under control enough to start hacking out so we took her and another horse out up to the local woods.  She behaved very well and took the lead until she came across the bags that had been put out for the bin men.  She did follow the other horse after a few seconds.  Neither of the horses took to a pot bellied pig that we came across but after a bit of cajoling they passed by.  The next day we took them a different route and again Polly took the lead, she is quite brave.  At the end of the week I started interval training with her and cantered her along the field three times.  She got a bit tired and couldn't cope with more than that. She is so comfortable to canter.

We have been giving her a small feed in the horsebox every day to build up her confidence.  It only takes a few minutes to get her in now.  We brought the partition across and initially she started to panic but at the end of the week she stood relatively quiet with one of the partitions across but not fastened.

As Polly had behaved herself so well I took her out hacking on her own this week.  The first obstacle she came across was some different coloured tarmac in the road.  She backed up the hill about six times before she would pass it.  At least it did her bum muscles some good!  The only other thing she didn't like was a lot of puddles in the road.  Again she backed up a few times but then passed the puddles.

By the end of the week Polly walked straight into the box with only a carrot for encouragement.  Now that she is comfortable with that our next task is to get her comfortable with the partition closed over.

Polly will now walk into the box with only a bit of carrot for encouragement.  We are pulling the partition across now and she doesn't seem to mind too much.  

I have continued to hack her around the lanes.  She spotted a pheasant before I did and stopped and did a little tap dance, that soon got rid of the pheasant and nearly me as well!

In Polly's lessons we have been concentrating on steadying up the trot to increase her balance.  The hacking has really improved her walk, she strides out now and is much more confident.  Polly has also started to do quarter pirouettes.

In Chablis' lessons we have been asking her to move away while walking down the long side.  This is her introduction to leg yield, she is quite good at it.  We are also teaching her to lift her legs individually on command by giving her a polo when she does it right - hopefully in the future when we try piaffe this will make it easier.

Well they say all good things come to an end - Chablis has had her day! She has lulled me into a false sense of security. I took her into the sand school and she reared up. She was so tall I lost the end of the lead rope - she is probably over 16hh now. She ran back to the yard. I walked back and put a lunge line on her and walked her back to the sand school, as I was putting up the barrier she ran back to the yard and I couldn't hold her. Then, Tom, who was putting some gates up for us walked back with me and put the barrier up. She took off again and kept pushing against the barrier until it broke. I then put the lunge line through the bit, I hadn't done this before as I didn't want her to get hurt in any way. I kitted Tom out with a hat, gloves and body protector and he walked her back and of course she did nothing. I have since taken her up to the sand school and she has been very good. It just shows you that youngsters can be very unpredictable!

Polly has behaved much better than her daughter, in walk I am introducing a little bit of leg yield and quarter pirouettes to get her to sit a bit further back on her hocks.  Her trot is coming on nicely as is her canter which I am only doing a little of in the school.  At the end of each session I have asked Polly to lift her legs individually without moving the others.  I have used one side of the school to stop her swinging her quarters away.  She's slowly getting the idea although mints help!

It rained a lot this week.  I thought that I had picked a break in the rain to hack Polly out but it was not to be.  Of course everything looked different to Polly and the rain flowing down the road into the gutter could have been 10 feet deep as far as she was concerned.  It took a lot of coaxing to get her across the water. 

The second time we hacked out this week we took a different route. Firstly we came across a cat that marched towards us, I didn't pay much notice as we have five cats at home but in Polly's mind this was a mountain lion!  We stood rooted to the spot until the cat passed us by.  We continued on and lo and behold the council had been out and sprayed white paint round all the holes in the road that needed filling.  It took quite a long time to get to the woods as there were a lot of holes to fill in.  She didn't mind trotting past them on the way home though!  Polly has started to buck when I ask for canter. The saddle was checked only three months ago but I think that it is the problem.  We are due another visit from the saddler at the beginning of September so hopefully we can sort it out.  I may only lunge her until he comes.

Fortunately Chablis has behaved well this week although I am taking no chances.  I am only asking her to do a little in hand work in the school to make sure that she has good manners and is used to being handled. 

I have exercised Polly a few times this week and she has lunged really well.  She is much more balanced but still finds it harder on the right rein.

Chablis has been pretty good as well, I am trying to get her to walk a bit away from me on the lunge line.  Initially she didn't like this and reared three times but the next day she was happier and didn't rear at all.

As we don't have a saddle to fit Polly at the moment I have lunged her a few times this week. She is still not as happy on the right rein and bucks a bit if she becomes unbalanced.

I was taking Polly out to the field and we passed the horse box ramp which was down at the time.  Polly sniffed the ramp and then took herself up it! "Times they are a changin".

I have taken Chablis into the sand school and am attempting to get her to walk away from me. 

I lunged Polly over four poles that she would have to trot over as she went round in a circle this week. Initially she jumped them but after a few times she calmed down and trotted over them. We put Polly in the horsebox and then moved it a bit.  She was a bit anxious and it took some time to get her back in the box.  She was better the next day. Polly lost a shoe on Wednesday so had to wait a couple of days for the farrier to come out and put it back on. I can't wait for the saddler to come next week so that I can start riding Polly again.

Walked Chablis over the poles and continued with getting her used to being away from me in the school.

The fitting took several hours but we now have a saddle to fit Polly.  She has gone up nearly two widths in three months! 

She was a bit spooky when I hacked her out for the first time again on her own. I lunged her later in the week and the next day we went out hacking in a group.  She was not too happy with this and fell behind at the back then got upset because she was behind. If she got in front and the others were too close behind her she tended to kick out which, understandably, upset the others. When she gets anxious the first thing she seems to do is back up.  We have backed up through several bushes and trees - several times - before she would walk on. She was quite scared as she was shaking. Still we all made it home in one piece.

I managed to school Polly twice this week but it came to a halt at the end of the week as she seemed a bit lame. This may have had something to do with Polly (17.1hh) trying to kill Lucy (29 inches) in the field and stumbling.

I gave her a couple of days off but she still wasn't quite right on the Sunday.  Chablis had a lesson and behaved well for most of the time walking and trotting over poles and over the blue plastic and through jump wings.

Polly had most of the week off.  I walked her out on Saturday and she seems to have recovered.  I've not seen her go for Lucy since - maybe she has learnt a lesson!

I don't know how many lead ropes Chablis has managed to chew her way through but I think I have found a solution with a tip from my farrier.  I have put a piece of water pipe over the lead rope where she would chew it (see picture left).  So far so good.

W/c 24 Sep 2001

I started the week by gently lunging Polly. The next day we went for a hack and we were trotting up a hill in full flight when Polly suddenly spotted a blue crisp packet in the hedge - she slammed the brakes on, had a good look then on we went again.  I hacked her again later in the week and the week was to end with a lesson.

All went well until I asked her to canter.  She immediately bucked, I asked again and the same thing happened.  I only had to think canter and she got upset.  After doing some nice trot work it didn't seem logical that she would then refuse to canter.  We took her back to her stable and removed the tack.  We felt all over her and it turned out that she had sore pecks!  This explained the refusal to canter and that her walk felt a bit short.  We arranged for her to have physiotherapy the same evening and the next day.  She obviously felt a lot better as she really flung herself about in the field after a few days of being  turned out.

W/c 1 Oct 2001

It was more gentle exercise for Polly this week.  I took her out hacking and completely forgot it was Dustbin day.  There were plastic bags and boxes everywhere.  After the first two or three she completely ignored them.  We then turned into a field and started walking round the edge.  As we rounded a corner there were big black sileage bales everywhere.  Polly stood stock still and snorted at them and I thought "this is it" she's going to bolt. I talked to her and stroked her neck and after a few minutes she walked on but gave every bale a wide berth.  I was so relieved to get home in one piece!

W/c 8 Oct 2001

The Equine Dentist came to visit this week.  Polly had to be sedated as she needed some work done and wasn't all that co-operative.  All she has to do is put her head up and it is impossible to do any work.  As a result of the work she was given two days off work.

At the end of the week I took Polly back in the school.  After warming up I asked her to trot and she kicked out.  She did this a couple more times.  I called Richard out and we had a look and feel all over her.  We took her saddle off and I rode her bare back with Richard on the end of the lunge line.  Again she kicked out in trot and then refused to walk.  We came to the conclusion that she has learnt to evade her work by kicking out.

We put all the tack back on and kept asking her to trot until she stopped kicking out.  Then we stopped.  The next day I lunged her first and she didn't kick out at all.  As soon as I got on and asked her to trot she tried the same trick. Again I kept asking her to trot until she stopped kicking out. This didn't take as long as the day before and I kept her in walk and trot, changing the rein often. Why is it that bad habits seem to be learned quicker than good habits?

W/c 15 Oct 2001

At the beginning of the week I lunged then rode Polly, when she kicked out I growled at her and she trotted on.  I only had to do this a couple of times and then she stopped kicking out.  The next day I did the same thing but Polly didn't try to kick out at all.  At the end of the week I got on her straight away, there was one kick out and then she was fine.  I thought I'd cool her down by walking along the road - Big Mistake! It was a new piece of road for her and she hadn't been out for a while.  After a while she decided she didn't want to go on - I kept asking her to walk on and then "she went into one"!  I managed to stay on but it gave us both a bit of a fright.

W/c 22 Oct 2001

The saddler was back on Monday and adjusted the flocking again on the saddle - she is changing shape so quickly.

I hacked Polly out in the middle of the week.  When I started out the weather was dry.  Pretty soon the wind got up and the rain started lashing down.  To add to this, while we were walking along the road I saw a refuse truck coming along.  I stopped in a lay-by and held my hand up.  I was completely ignored and the driver didn't slow down.  As he passed Polly panicked and spun round nearly into the truck.  We were both a bit upset by this.  I calmed her down but she was quite agitated.  I ended up making up a song and singing it to her - similar to Ten Green Bottles but with Brown Polly's.  Luckily she didn't take offence at my singing and eject me.  In fact she seemed to like having a song dedicated to her and she became quite relaxed.

The next day I hacked her with a friend and she was much more confident.  Polly was getting very warm whilst she was working so I had to clip part of her neck and chest out.  She stood perfectly still and actually seemed to be enjoying it as she lifted up her head so that I could clip under her chin.

I finished the week with a short session in the school and she was very good and obedient.

W/c 29 Oct 2001

I've hacked Polly several times this week and she has been very good.  The middle of the week was slightly marred by Polly kicking me in the face! I think she thought that I was going to take her in (we'd already been out in the morning) and as I was adjusting her rug she ran off and kicked out.  Fortunately I only have a couple of bruises to show for the incident.  I immediately caught her, took her in the school and did "join up" with her - there's only one dominant mare here - me!

In the lesson on Friday Polly walked and trotted nicely but she is still not happy when I ask her to canter.  We put her back on the lunge and asked her to canter on both reins until she stopped kicking out, then we stopped.  On her worst rein - the right - she kept giving the wrong lead but at least she cantered. Over the next few days I have repeated this, in between hacking, and she is getting better every time.  She is not well balanced and this makes her lack confidence.  It's just a matter of giving her time. (I hope!)

W/c 5 Nov 2001

At the beginning of the week I lunged Polly, the next day I got on her and after she was warmed up we asked her to canter (on the lunge), she was quite good on the left rein but gave the wrong lead every other time on the right rein.  Still it's progress.  Towards the end of the week I had a lesson.  We concentrated on trying to get a balanced walk and trot.  Polly worked really well and she popped into a really nice canter on the right rein.  It was great and we gave her a big pat. 

On Sunday we continued  schooling her in the walk and trot - she didn't like us asking her to keep her left hind leg under her and started kicking out again.  It doesn't take much to upset her.  I sat quietly and kept asking her to walk or trot and she calmed down again. 

We also tried loose schooling Chablis.  She spent most of the time whizzing round calling for the others.  Eventually she slowed down but I don't think she was listening much - her attention span is still very short.

W/c 12 Nov 2001

This week I split my time between hacking and schooling.  Polly has started to object when I ask her to leave the yard and tries a little rearing and bucking.  It is a bit unnerving but once we get going she seems to settle down.  I don't think it wise to take her out on her own at the moment.  She is trying the same thing when I school her, although the kicking out is becoming less frequent.

Michael Peace came down to see a friend's horse this week.  It was very interesting watching him working the horse, and his owner!  I have picked up some tips to use on our horses.  You realise watching him that you can get a bit sloppy in your habits with the horses.

19 Nov - 30 Nov 2001

We found out why Polly hadn't been listening to us in her lessons - we found an empty box of ear plugs in her bed!

The middle of November saw our first canter out hacking.  When she went into canter Polly kicked out but I kept her going and she stopped kicking.  It felt great and we seemed to cover a lot of ground very quickly.  I hacked out for most of the time for the rest of the month.  In our lesson we concentrated on trying to keep her straight (not an easy job). It is when she is crooked that she gets the opportunity to kick out, it's usually with her left hind leg. I had to clip her neck and chest out again as she sweats up too much if I don't.

Dec 2001

Polly seems to have pulled the muscles in her chest again.  I am told that this may be a recurring problem until she gets stronger and more muscled up.  At least she lets you know she is hurting.

I've been trying to get Polly to canter without kicking out but have not managed it yet.  At least she no longer kicks out in trot. We met two cars, two horses being led, a miniature Shetland and a very noisy motorbike all at the same time along a narrow country lane.  Polly went into  passage along the road, if I'd known how to ride it properly it would have been good!

A mixture of bad weather, Christmas and lost shoes stopped us doing much towards the end of December. Polly seems to have a bit of a rash so I'm changing her feed so that it is Barley free.

1 Jan 2002 - 27 Jan 2002

I managed to fall over and sprain my left wrist quite badly and had to stop riding for a couple of days.  Tacking up is quite painful but once riding it wasn't too bad. I haven't wanted to risk doing too much canter work out hacking because of this.

We measured Chablis and she is now 16.2hh! We're hoping she won't be bigger than her mother.

Because of the weather we hadn't been in the sand school for a while. Polly decided she would prefer to hack and was very stroppy in her lesson. It was back to basics and walking.  We've introduced little bits of lateral work so this gave her something to think about. The lesson ended when she had relaxed and would trot round the arena nicely.  I took her into the school a couple of days later and she was much better.

The barley free feed didn't seem to make a difference after six weeks so I'm now in the process of changing them all so that they are on chaf with a complete feed balancer.  Polly's rash does appear to be going - fingers crossed.

Over the six weeks Polly has been hacked out several times a week.  Due to poor weather we haven't spent much time in the school. Initially every time she went into canter in the woods she bucked but then cantered on.  I managed to get three days in a row when she didn't kick out at all!

By accident I've sussed how to get Polly into canter without bucking - there is a log in the woods and if I trot her to it she jumps it and goes into canter without a problem. There just aren't enough logs around!

Her walk and trot have improved in the school although we don't yet canter there as she doesn't have enough balance to canter in a small area.

 Today we tried to walk and trot her over a low cavaletti.  Walking was OK but when we trotted she jumped it then bucked and reared with her front feet straight out.  Although it was only a small rear it felt huge on Polly!

We've started in-hand work with Chablis again now that the weather is better.  She behaved herself reasonably well in the school but when we were walking back to the yard she bolted.  I've already had a wrenched shoulder from another horse so didn't try to hold on to her.  We caught her and took her back where she promptly did the same thing again.  Out came the cavalry in the form of Richard who made her walk and stand all the way back to the yard.  Unfortunately in the process she managed to wrench his finger and it is now very swollen.  She was much better the following week.  Chablis does seem to know her own strength and just pushes through the fencing if she fancies the grass on the other side - a bit of a problem! Electric tape doesn't stop her either.  I guess we'll have to invest in better fencing.

Hacking with Polly is getting much easier. She is so much more confident and canters as soon as we jump the log. She has only blemished her record once by bolting back to the yard. On that occasion she didn't kick out though! I even got three canters on one ride without bucking - a record! I have been using the impulsion on the way home to do a little bit of lateral work - leg yield, shoulder fore. By doing it this way she attempted it without panicking, not like in the school.

There is an indoor school close by that I can use. The first time I took Polly there the weather was terrible. She was very spooky and it took ages just to get her in there. Horses were neighing and the wind rattled everything inside. On the way back there were rivers running down each side of the road. I went back the next day and she was better but still wasn't that settled. She wouldn't canter over log which was most unusual. She had another session with the physiotherapist.

Our dentist came back to check all the horses. Polly was much better and didn't have to be sedated. Chablis was also very good allowing the dentist to feel and wash around her mouth.  It looks like a wolf tooth is coming through though. We started doing a bit on lunge with Chablis. Asking her to walk and stand on both both reins. I started her off in the field closest to the stables so that she wouldn't want to bolt back to the stables. It was just a few minutes on both reins and she was very good. She accompanies most requests of her with a big sigh. I think she finds it all a bit dull.

We now have new fencing and proper gates, hopefully this will keep Chablis where we want her. I tried a bit of it in hand work with Polly and Chablis in the school. Both were good although it is not my strong point. I used some poles along the edge of the school to try to keep the shoulder in line.

Polly has had a set of natural balance shoes fitted. I am hoping these will stop her over reaching and pulling shoes off. When I hacked her out I couldn't hear her over reach. Unfortunately for me someone has moved my security log! What to do?

The lesson after the shoes were fitted Polly was very nappy and I was concerned that she was sore again. We tried lunging her and she was fine.  Looks like she had remembered her evasion trick. The last thing I wanted to happen was to be bucked off so I asked her to go forward on the lunge before getting on in the school. The weather was quite good for a prolonged spell so I was able to hack her one day and school the next. When in the school I lunged her first and then got on and trotted straight away. This seemed to keep her in a forward frame of mind and within a few days she gave no resistance.

Chablis is getting good on the lunge, she will walk and stand when asked on both reins. When I asked her to trot though she had other ideas and was very naughty, rearing and kicking out. You realise how big she is when looking at the soles of her hooves. When she reared I tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible for her by doing "star jumps" and shouting at her. As soon as all four hooves were on the ground I was quiet and stroked her. She looked very confused as I'm sure my neighbours were! The next couple of sessions I didn't ask her to trot and then when I did I ran with her and we trotted over a couple of poles and then I kept her trotting around me. Richard also trotted with her and she now seems to get the idea.

Polly is getting very forward in the school, we no longer get any resistance in walk or trot. When I asked her for a bit of leg yield and shoulder fore she tried without getting panicky. The physiotherapist checked her again and there are no problems. We cantered over the  top field for the first time and also several places in the woods. On our  way up to woods we rounded a bend and it was "Oh Bullocks!" About a dozen bullocks had been turned out in the field. Every time Polly moved a bullock moved and every time she stopped it stopped. It was like they were playing a game but Polly didn't understand the rules.

Polly's saddle was checked again and slight adjustments made. It is being checked about every three months. To get Polly to canter in the school we put a lunge line on her and asked her to canter. She tried to back off a few times but was driven on before she had time to do anything about it. We then took the lunge line off. Polly still thought it was on and cantered in a circle.  I took her round school and was chased with the lunge whip if she backed off. In the end she cantered on both reins.

Polly will now canter in school! Not necessarily on the right rein or that well balanced but it is canter and bucking is rare. We even cantered in the indoor school. Progress!! I took her up to the top field with the idea that I would canter, walk back and then canter again for a while. I thought I might have a few problems with Polly wanting to go back to the yard.  Just the opposite - she played up when I asked her to go back to the yard.  She really seems to enjoy cantering now and is more than ready to canter out hacking.

When out hacking we encountered the bullocks again. This time she wouldn't pass them. A man got out of his car to shoo the bullocks away, they just moved so that they stood in a straight line along the road. The man had to lead us past, quite embarrassing!

Chablis was a bit frisky in the school and I lost her a couple of times. Initially I had to trot in the middle of the circle to get her to trot but she has quickly caught on and I just have to ask her now. Generally she is very good. The voice commands should help when it comes to backing her.

I tried playing classical music in my latest riding lesson. Chablis used it as an excuse to be naughty.  Polly was a bit wary but not too bad. Her trot work is coming along nicely.

Chablis decided to scratch her bottom on the only piece of old fencing. The fence broke and Chablis and her best friend burst through onto the garden. Luckily they didn't garott themselves on the washing line. It took a few polos to catch them and put them in another field.  More fencing will have to be done before we can use that paddock again!

4 Jun 2002 - 7 Jul 2002

Polly's canter has really improved. She doesn't kick out and will canter in the school but not necessarily on the right lead. She's a bit more confident with the bullocks and we can ride past without being led by a stranger! I changed her bit from a jointed snaffle to a french link. She much prefers, she doesn't try to evade it and I have more contact.

At the beginning of the month Chablis was no trouble to start lunging.  I tried to lean over her from the mounting block (a bit difficult as she is so tall) and she didn't seem to mind. The next time I tried to do a few minutes on the lunge she got a bit bored, squeaked and then ran off in a straight line. Not wishing to go sand ski-ing I let go. A few days later I tried again and the same thing happened.  Richard also tried and at least he kept hold of her!

8 Jul 2002 - 5 Aug 2002

Click to enlarge

Polly's saddle was checked again to make sure she hadn't changed shape too much. Out hacking we met a car and horse trailer and as we squeezed past the horse inside the trailer kicked out.  We shot up the road and I made a mental note not to do that again. Some Exmoor ponies have been turned out on the nature reserve up to the woods. They have a habit of galloping down the hill when ever they hear hooves.  A little bit exciting for Polly and me! Polly's chest was checked again by the physiotherapist and she had a little treatment. She is getting much straighter in her schooling.

We tried Chablis on the lunge line again and it was still a disaster. We tried putting up an "assault course" (cones, small jumps with wings, flags - selling cheap after the jubilee!, chairs to go in and out) anything to keep her interest. She seemed to like this, did everything we asked of her and we stopped before she got bored.  We didn't have a problem with her. She wasn't worried about the flags fluttering at all, in fact after looking at them she  tried to eat them.

6 Aug 2002 - 30 Sep 2002

Polly's canter getting better - I get the right lead about 75% of the time. Apart from schooling we are hacking and interval training. We started jumping Polly over poles and very small jumps. Initially she was very reluctant to even walk over the poles. Once we had persuaded her to walk over the jump she flew over them. It's a bit like the canter, once she has gained a bit of confidence she finds she enjoys it. I took Polly for a jumping lesson and I made a big mistake by turning too quickly after the jump and we both fell over.  We were both OK and I will never do that again. It turned out to be an expensive lesson after paying for the chiropractor for me and another physiotherapist visit for Polly. Polly had her teeth balanced and rasped. Continued on with a little bit of jumping and it seems that we have to start at the beginning every time. Otherwise she plants her feet or tries to go backwards. I've been told to turn her in small circles if she tries to go backwards and this seems to stop her. Polly was measured on the 24 August 2002 and has grown to 17.2hh.

We put a bridle and roller back on Chablis for the first time in months. We  walked around and over jumps. She has behaved herself so we started long reining her in walk. She doesn't seem to mind this and we have kept the sessions short. I have now leant completely over her and she hasn't bothered at all. Hopefully this is a good omen for next Spring. Chablis has had a  wolf tooth out so we can't put a bit in for a few weeks. Chablis was measured on the 24 August 2002 and has grown to 16.3hh.