Welcome to Rabbit's world - 2014 edition!
Follow my journey through the twists and turns of 2014 - training my horses, training my dog, attempting new things, attempting to improve on some old things, and attempting to have bucketloads of FUN!
Click on any photo on the page to enlarge
After being gone for 4 days chaperoning the senior class to NYC, I got home at 7am, took a nap, and then headed out to the barn. Time to get to work! I am extremely pleased with Tango's trot, but I am not at all happy with his canter. I'd like to blame the
Another not-so-good ride on Tango, he was kind of a jerk tonight. He just did not want to listen or give. I am having second thoughts about the show this weekend. Quite possibly we are not ready, we might just haul down there and ride around the break and not actually show. I guess we shall see...
Of course,
We left bright and early for the show. I longed him for a while in the arena before the halter classes started. he was pretty darn quiet! When other horses started whinnying, however, he whinnied back and then reared and bucked. The other horses' voices really set him off for some reason.
The show was really small, so there was a nice long break before the hunter under saddle classes started. I got in a very very good ride on Tango - he was great! traffic did not bother him, things on the outside of the arena went unnoticed. Times like this reminds me of how much I love this horse. I needed one like him after the
The first HUS class went nice and smooth. Canter to the left was still a little sticky, but not nearly as bad as it had been. The straight lines of the large arena REALLY helped Tango - he is much better at keeping his shoulder up and staying correct in the hind end when we have these long straightaways to travel on. The second class went even better, smoother and more relaxed. I was
We decided to do the $100 open walk-trot class for practice. Tango went around like he was a machine, won the class, and got me a little cash to buy lunch with. What a good boy!
Ok, I've been a slacker! Nothing posted on my training diary for almost 3 weeks?
May 5th - I practiced agility in my backyard with Pretzel, and then he and I went to the barn to ride. Within a half hour of us being out there, the neighbor's tree (eaten up by disease and bugs, apparently) came crashing down on our fence. Amazingly, it fell in between agility obstacles so NOTHING was damaged other than the fence!
Yes, we have
I spent
Pretzel's mom
*Sigh*, on my way to agility practice on May 21st my truck
So...an update on Tango. I have been riding him somewhat regularly, did get one ride outside and it was really really nice (and he was
Next on the agenda - a 2 day open show on June 7-8. Pretzel heads to a 2-day agility trial this weekend and one day next weekend. Then we are off to Florida on the 9th for an undetermined length of time...woo-hoo! I have some great agility plans this summer, all culminating with the weimaraner Club of America hosted trial in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at the end of August. This is going to be another fun, crazy, busy, did I say crazy? summer!!!
This weekend, Pretzel and I entered an agility trial in Sharonville, Ohio (near Cincinnati). We haven't been to a trial on a month...and had very little practice this week. Yep, a
Last was Jumpers, and we blew it right away by crashing the very first jump (Thank you Pretzel for your complete
It was a gorgeous day, sunny and in the 80's. Like yesterday, my runs weren't until the very end of the day, so I spent some time in the morning sitting in the sun and relaxing. My first sunburn of the season...
Our first class was Standard. I was determined to get his contacts this time. I think part of my mistake was trying to run alongside to get ahead of him - and this encouraged him to speed up even more. Today I walked quickly and stayed a little behind him, and right before the bottom I first called his name, and then said
Last was Jumpers. Unfortunately he crashed the second jump, which made the rest of the run just for practice. He was all over the place, running and taking jumps and bypassing jumps and generally not listening to me at all. He had a grand old time, though! I left the trial feeling very frustrated, and very very discouraged. It seems things are getting worse, not better - every time we solve one issue, another pops up. His complete wild enthusiasm is something I just cannot control. I am really wondering if maybe Pretzel just doesn't have the right temperament for this sport. I watch everyone else with their Weimaraners doing agility, and everyone else's Weims and much slower and steadier and focus on the handler...Pretzel is NONE of these things. All the wild talent in the world is useless if you can't channel it into running clean. Not sure what to do...
What does one do on a beautiful sunny dry day off from work? Why, ride outside, of course! Tango was marvelous...outstanding! Those long straight lines in the big outdoor arena are great for cantering. I was able to really keep him upright and balanced, and we got a LOT accomplished (including working up enough sweat to require hosing off!). Maybe I should stick to horse training instead of dog training?
Another beautiful day, I rode Tango outside after work. He was a little jumpier today, having slight reactions to the sounds off in the distance. I also (oops!) forgot to fly spray him, and the bugs drove him mad. Oh that thin, sensitive thoroughbred skin...I should buy stock in Pyrhanna fly spray. It was overall a very good ride even with the occasional jump and buck. The bucks just remind me that I NEED to put some money aside for a new helmet that fits. Priority!
Pretzel and I went to agility class (outdoors) tonight. We got in about 20 minutes before the downpour. It was enough time to have Pretzel blow three different sequences by running around and not paying attention. He was especially bad tonight...not sure of the rain (which started sprinkling right away when we got there) was bothering him or if he was just being a butthead.
I, of course, was thoroughly discouraged yet again after class. I am at a loss as to what to do about the focus problem. But you know how I am...I went from the depths of despair to brimming with hope. Generally what I need in order to get out of the funk is a
Try try again...at another agility trial. This one is at Springfield, OH and is outdoors in the covered horse arena. It was pretty warm today, and immediately I saw that the temperature had a major effect on Pretzel - it slowed him waaaaay down! Slowed him down enough to Q in Novice FAST and Novice Standard, and we even came close in jumpers. Suddenly I have hope again. Funny how my perspective changes so quickly! These are our first Novice B Q's. First step in the long long long long road to a MACH (Master agility championship) someday. Yep, I said it. that's my goal!
But, next on the agenda is taking Tango to another horse show, and then a Weimaraner vacation to Florida again...yay!