Ride #10

Anyone see this graphic on FB?

Ashke was definitely the horse depicted in the bottom graphic just over two years ago.

Learning to ride him correctly, with my trainer, has developed him into the horse above.

Tonight was our lesson night and I was pretty excited to get my poneh out. Because of the bathroom remodel and the need to pick all the things, I didn’t get to ride on either Monday or Tuesday. Our last ride on Sunday was a bit shady, so I was wondering which horse I was going to have. He whinnied when he heard me walking up to the barn door and then whinnied three times in a row when he saw me. I gave him a carrot and scratched his face and nose, before heading to the bathroom. I had given myself plenty of time to get ready, so had no problem hanging with Kat for a moment while Flambé got her helmet. I went to the bathroom (it is still a glorious thing to have an indoor bathroom, with running water and a space heater keeping the toilet warm. It’s the little things, folks.) I pet the Manx cat and gave her scratches behind her ears, then headed back to pull Ashke out of his stall. 

Do you see the muscle at the base of his neck?

The muscle at the top of his neck almost reaches his poll.

The muscle in the front of his shoulder (one of the sling muscles) is getting some real definition and bulk.

I got him brushed off, feet cleaned, withers scratched. He let me know that lots more scratching of his withers was required. I got him saddled and we headed to the indoor to get warmed up and relaxed. He was so sweet and willing, moving out easily at a walk. Preening a little bit when he saw Kat. We reached the far end of the arena, where the poles are laid out for the BO’s practice rides. I think she competes in Western trail, but I’m not sure. Anyway, he was being a little looky when we got down there, so I sat quiet and waited to see what he would do. He stared for a few moments, then walked forward and sniffed at the round pen, a couple of standards, walked over a couple of poles, and then walked out of the area. I did nothing but let him investigate what he wanted, at his own pace. He didn’t give them a second glance for the rest of our ride. We moved into a really nice trot and I told him every time we went past the mirror how awesome he looked. He fluffed.

Muscle over and behind the withers is building all the way down his back.

More muscle building up along the “sling” of the shoulder, which gives him the strength to lift his shoulders.

We started the lesson with leg yields in a figure eight, getting really nice inside bend and crossing. He felt awesome. There were a couple of times when he started to get bunchy and I encouraged him to move forward in more of a medium trot. It helped unlock him, as did me keeping my weight forward over the shoulder we were moving towards. The next thing was some shoulder in along the rail and after doing that in both directions, we switched to haunches in. By the time we were through with our stretches, Sal was ready to do his canter sets, so we took a bit of a break while Sal cantered in both directions (he’s had issues with hocks, stifles and perhaps his SI). When he was done, Ashke and I were up.

Nicely muscled through the hind end. 

He is also stopping square when halted, an effect of the strength and balance we have developed.

We did canter-walk-canter transitions on the serpentine, and when he started getting a little crooked, moved to do them on a bigger circle at odd intervals. I told him how proud I was and then we did some changes. The first ones, he got bouncy and tense. I halted him and stroked his neck, explaining that I wouldn’t take him by surprise. I would tell him when to change and he just needed to trust that I was right. We got two changes in a row, on a straight line. Amanda had me try it again on a diagonal and expected three changes. He nailed it. Both times we tried. 

We took a bit of a break, then I attempted my first counter canter. I was feeling a bit intimidated, but Amanda had faith and coached me through it. I kept my leg on and we muddled through our first half circle counter canter. Ashke’s ears said he wasn’t sure if he was doing it right, but I verbally encouraged him and kept him going. We transitioned down to a walk and then tried it in the other direction. Once again, he did the full half circle, ears back and to the sides a bit wondering if it really was that easy. We stopped by Amanda while Sal was working on his laterals and some extended trot. I was scratching Ashke’s withers and he had his head down, twisted to one side, lips working in ecstasy. I stopped, picked up my reins and asked him to move forward. He ducked his head, raised his withers and pawed at the ground. Amanda burst into laughter and said “he wants you to keep scratching”. Sure enough. I scratched for about 30 more seconds and then told him we needed to finish our lesson.

Close up of the top of his withers.

We ended with transitions within the trot, with his medium trot getting really strong and forward. He is doing so awesome at lifting through his withers as he moves into the medium trot. I worked on keeping him in contact, with his shoulders up. It’s very bouncy, but better than it was a year ago. I was so happy with how he was tonight. 

Of course, a winter storm is moving in tonight and I won’t go out tomorrow night (no one needs to ride when the high is 18). Friday I will need to meet with Chris and do shopping for HCWE’s Open House on Saturday. Saturday morning, I will ride before the horse event. I figure horses, barn, no one will care if I am covered in Ashke hair. (I also really need to get him clipped again. Maybe Sunday morning.)