Champagne
Cham is the first horse that I started really working with. Before I started with her, she had been saddled and bridled, but nothing else. She is shy and can be lazy and try to avoid work, but patience and a pat will reassure her. This summer I rode her about 4 times and got her to the point where she was walking and trotting around the arena, usually behind Karina on Sunbeam. She has little confidence in herself and just needs more time being ridden.
The first time I tried cantering her was a mistake, I felt she wasn't ready but ignored my instinct and ended up getting bucked off and a fractured collarbone! Woopsie! I've been out of commision for the past month, and although my shoulder is healing fast, I had to send my helmet away to get replaced so I haven't been able to ride her again yet.
On September 13, I taught her to lunge. It was a difficult task as every time she got to the gate, she would stop, expecting to be let out. A couple of days previous I had been free lunging her, and with no warning at all she half jumped half climbed over the gate... So even though it was easier without the line, it was safer with it on.
Once my helmet is back, I'll have more to post!
November 3, 2008
This weekend I finished her training! It was such a great feeling knowing I had finished training a horse entirely on my own..with ponying help from my sister Karina and her pony Sunbeam of course! Lately we've been doing tons of trotting and walking, practicing circles, transitions, bending, backing, and just generally not spooking and bucking! I rode her on Thursday alone and she did great, then again on Saturday and Sunday. Karina even wanted to ride her too - that's when I realized I was done, when someone else actually wanted to ride her! ;) Me and Karina spent the weekend riding her and Sunbeam, and even started jumping her a little, which she absolutely loves. One down, four to go!