Monday, 26 January 2015

Gettin Good

After reading everyone's reviews, I finally caved and bought Denny Emerson's "How Good Riders Get Good". I sat down to read it this morning, nodding in agreement with many of his opinions. Yes, good riders only get good by being dedicated, motivated, making sacrifices, it's not all about talent etc etc. About halfway through, I looked up and started to feel really, really guilty that I was sitting on the couch reading late into the morning on a perfectly good riding day, drinking a cappucino and eating cookies for lunch.

In a last ditch effort to get good, I hopped in the truck and drove out to the barn with the intention of taking both the girls to the ring for a good workout with some poles and small crossrails.

Then, a friend pulled into the driveway with plans of meeting another friend for a nice trail ride. I thought about that for about two seconds, quickly groomed and booted Ginger back out to the pasture, tacked up Bridget and went for a 3 hour trail ride, in which we trotted maybe twice and jumped one ditch. Getting good will have to wait for tomorrow. Sorry Denny, I tried. OK, OK, actually I didn't try at all, and this is why I'm not good. We did jump a ditch though :)
Bridget was forward and happy, so all kidding aside, this was a pretty productive ride because I was able to use that energy and play with transitions and lateral work for a few steps here and there.

After, I braided Bridget's mane in an attempt to train it to one side. Bad riders attempting to at least LOOK good ;)


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12 comments

  1. Nicole26 January 2015 at 11:30

    Long trail rides as fitness hours and miles are TOTALLY part of getting good!!

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    1. T26 January 2015 at 20:02

      It's more of a 'hack and yak' but I'm quite happy to label it 'fitness hours and miles' ;)

      Delete
  2. emma26 January 2015 at 13:50

    haha i think your trail ride is totally an important step in the journey!!! (and yea i experienced some awkward guilt reading that book too lol)

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    1. T26 January 2015 at 20:03

      So much of it is so true...but there's always going to be that part of me that values 'fun' a little too much over over hard work

      Delete
  3. Laura @ Bit by Bit26 January 2015 at 17:40

    Best laid plans... but still a productive day. Lazy old me should probably read that book but I will probably fall asleep (not due to boredom, but because that is just what I do!) ;-)

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    Replies
    1. T26 January 2015 at 20:04

      I fall asleep every night reading some horse training book or another :)

      Delete
  4. Alanna M26 January 2015 at 20:36

    Haha. I can totally relate!

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  5. lytha26 January 2015 at 22:06

    whoa, you're trying to get her mane to lie on the left side? the "wrong" side? i know aarene did this on purpose with her horse too but it always makes me think i'm seeing a mirror image when a horse's mane is on the left. i'm probably the only person out there who has this little personal problem: )

    btw, i'm trying too for a one-sided mane, i left the bands in for months and now it's better but not perfect.

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    Replies
    1. T27 January 2015 at 08:46

      You're observant :) She has a huge cowlick on the right side along the top 2/3 of her mane that pushes it to the left. If it wasn't for that I think she'd have a completely right sided mane because it just ends up sticking up, I don't think there's any hope training it to the right, and I've been told that's fine for open or dressage shows, but I'll have to braid to the right for anything else. Not the best, but slightly neater than part on one side and part on the other I hope!

      Delete
    2. lytha27 January 2015 at 22:41

      hehe, i thought you might have a good reason for it; )

      Delete
  6. Aoife27 January 2015 at 13:51

    Hey, you rode your horse that is step 1 to how riders get good surely. So you're a step ahead of me today *blush*
    I was taught to braid/train the mane to the side that is "natural" for the horse. Admittedly i don't show nor have I ever participated in an event where presentation played such a part of success - so what do I know really?! A whole lotta nuthin

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  7. Kaila B28 January 2015 at 09:57

    Gorg trails.

    ReplyDelete

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