Note the raindrops and mud puddles. Plus it was windy. I deserve a freaking medal for tackling this weather. I'm pretty sure P thought I had lost my mind when I threw the saddle over her back.
We mainly just worked on bending and schooling figures at the walk with a little trotting. The footing was terrible, if you'd believe that! My main focus was getting P to relax and listen.
Most of P's issues as of late are 100% caused by rider. I'm not sure why, but my self-confidence has been on the fritz the past month or so. It is pretty rare for me to be anything less than stoic in the saddle. But between P being more reactive and forward due to the cooler temps, plus the fact that I'm on a green horse in an open field with very bad footing... well, I guess everyone has a breaking point. And bad ride after bad ride wasn't doing a darn thing to reassure me of my riding abilities.
The other night, I started re-reading Bombproof Your Horse by Rick Pelicano. It was given to me as a gift a few years ago. While I'm an open-minded horse person, this isn't the type of book I'd ever purchase for myself. I had flipped through it when I first received it and wasn't particularly moved-- it was all very commonsensical and seemed to be written for a less experienced audience.
This time around, I still agree the book isn't anything earth-shattering. It is indeed aimed towards the beginner crowd. However, the author reiterates the need to stay confident and to continue riding through reactive behavior. I know this. Everyone knows this. But for some reason, it really helped my mindset to read it repeatedly in print.
So sporting B's racing yoke as a grab strap, I set off on P with renewed confidence. When we got down to the end of the field, I kept my leg on when she tensed and started looking around. I pushed her at a forward walk, doing circles, figure eights, and serpentines. That's another thing the book stressed-- keeping your horse active and forward when they are disturbed by something. That way they have an outlet for their energy and tension and are less likely to explode. Again, I know this. I've done this my whole life. But for some reason, lately I want to slam on the breaks when P starts getting nervous.
Aside from being tense and spooky, P has also developed new interest in acting like she's going to bolt home without warning. She hasn't actually bolted, but I've felt like it's coming. You wouldn't think this would phase someone who spent a good chunk of her life galloping at the track. There's a big difference between a routine gallop on a well-manicured surface (something I enjoy) and bolting erratically through a slippery, hilly, obstacle-ridden field (something I detest). When P gets even the slightest bit jiggy lately, I find myself unneccessarily snatching at her mouth. The yoke worked wonderfully to thwart me of this newly acquired habit. As soon as I felt myself wanting to take death grip on the reins, I just planted my hands in the yoke.
The result-- within minutes P was relaxed and stretching down into the bit. No more giraffe meets Tigger the Tiger on speed wanting to audition for the pro rodeo circuit!
(Right about now... I'm realizing I sound like a phobic loon who shouldn't be without 100 yards of a green horse. I swear I'm a capable rider! Honest!)
We trotted a couple large circles each direction on a fairly loose rein. I just was concerned with keeping a consistent pace and her not doing anything whacko at the trot. She was good both directions, so I figured I shouldn't press my luck anymore. I'd love to get back to working more on our carriage and suppleness as well as our canter, but the footing truly is atrocious right now.
We ended with a couple turns on the forehand and then headed back to the barn. The bombproofing book does have a great method for teaching turns on the forehand that is different than I have ever used. It is much more effective than the way I've been going about it all my life.
A ride like this is exactly what both of us needed. She started off tense and distracted and we were able to work through it without issue. Hopefully we're beyond the roadblock that went up this winter.
The only thing that could have made today's ride better-- my raincoat. It was locked in my car... with my car keys. Thank goodness for wonderful significant others with spare keys! But the spare key didn't arrive until after I was done riding... better late than never I suppose.
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