Baby Greenie Support Group now open: Share Your Pain!

[Beezer]

I, too, am a late-night rider: I’m frequently pulling out my saddle at 8 p.m. or later. Being ridden under the lights at night – oh my! – was one of the tests Sam had to pass before he could take up permanent residence.

I’m a big believer in the pre-ride lunge or turn-out. As in, just buck and squeal and get it all out of your system before I set foot in that stirrup. It just makes my life (and I’d like to think my horses’ lives) easier. If the silliness (including seeing monsters in darkish corners) gets out of the way before I get on, we make much faster progress on real business. It just makes everyone happier all the way around than if I’m always dealing with the silly spooks.

Now, as for those asking for details of Hammie’s 2002 debut: I think Merry would like to put her on spin on it. I know Hammie did.
One thing that boy has to learn, though, is that objects on the ground are not going to magically morph into Hammie-eating dragons if he goes past them to jump the jump.

I see trees of green, red roses too. I watch 'em bloom for me and for you. And I think to myself … what a wonderful world. Yes, what a wonderful world." – Louie Armstrong.

[LuckyMe]

Meshach… just a thought… have you had him thoroughly examined by a vet? Sounds like he is experiencing some sort of physical discomfort. I’d have his back and hind end looked at, and perhaps his teeth as well… can’t hurt…

horses just don’t suddenly go bad. there’s generally and underlying issue, and seeing as he was doing so well before, I’d think it was more than him just “acting up”.

good luck, keep us posted.

[JRG]

Baby steps is the only way I can describe it. (The add crack, I was only kidding about) When I was at that stage with my guy, what I found was to get to the point of being productive and then let it go untill tomorrow.

From what I understand your horse is pretty young so 30 min of walking doesn’t sound like much to you, but to him it may be a lifetime. He may not be able to handle that long just yet. Once you are at the point where you are thinking “one more time”…stop there. Chances are your baby was thinking that a little earlier. Good luck and have fun.

As for my guy, did the clip job the other day and I am so thankful. It is really warm up here right now. This year instead of doing a full body clip, I left his legs and a patch on his back for the saddle. He is much happier then the full we did last year. He just couldn’t stand the short hairs under the saddle or we have gotten past that stage…one way or the other I am not knocking it.

[Figjam]

he’s only 5, and he and i are both so green, but he is just a doll, and never goes beyond just “looking”.

-Figjam

[Merry]

Wow, the baby greenies and their moms were busy this weekend! In comparison, my weekend was rather dull. My neck didn’t get snapped (although I’ve been in that movie before), a berserk horse didn’t chase me, I didn’t attend a schooling show, and (thank goodness) I didn’t have to jump any bending lines!

We are grown women. We ride baby greenies. We are insane.

“Friends don’t let friends eat fish tacos.”

[Merry]

Well, the winds died down enough for me to ride Hammie today. He was sooo wonderful schooling over fences on Thursday at my trainer’s, so yesterday he just hung out in his paddock. I figured, he’d be great for a 10-minute hack today.

Let’s just say if I had a dollar for every twenty-meter circle I cantered in the “scary” corner, well… I’d have the $ for that new-fangled GPA helmet I’ve been admiring.

And yes, Beezer, those marks on the inside of the arena fence? Yes, those are from my boot and my stirrup iron being dragged–via Hambolarama-- against the wood.

“Friends don’t let friends eat fish tacos.”

[Merry]

Ah, JRG, do you have a land shark, too, like me? Mine loves me only when I have A)a horse cookie, or B)I’m coming with the halter for his turn-out. If I arrive with bridle in hand, forget it! Does that tell you something?

“Charter Member of the Baby Greenie Support Group of North America”

[LaurieB]

Pam, it’s great to hear from you again! I, too, am sending all good thoughts your way. Isn’t it nice that Sophie is turning out so nicely?

Tess (aka Miss Perfect ) is having herself a very light winter (that’s the way we did it when I was a child–and it just makes sense to me to give them some down time) much to the chagrin of my trainer who is currently taking our lessons more seriously than we are. Nevertheless, we have achieved leg yielding at a walk and trot. I’m afraid cantering may be next.

[hunterprincez]

I was soo excited last weekend, my greenie finally put all his stuff together and actually went into the show ring. It has been quite a journey from our first show where he got loose, got kicked and I ended up holding him all day because he refused to tie to the trailer. He went to another show that had a round pen he could hang out in and got over his fears. Finally last weekend we took him to a show thinking he would go in some little classes and trot in canter out of the lines. Well, thursday when we schooled my trainer cantered a few jumps to see what he would do and he just hopped right over them like he has been doing them all along. So she canters into a corner and turns. Presto a lead change. The next day he went in and cantered his fist course and got a 4th out of 40 horses!! On sunday he got a 5th. I am so proud of him. I can finally see all this hard work has paid off. Now I only hope my foal will be this much fun to work with

[Midge]

Merry, on the way to the barn, I pass a little road called Merry Way. I think of you and pretend I am also tall, thin and effective.

And then I get on…

---

‘If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?’

[Lord_Helpus]

Its the old “fall off at the first fence” trick, eh?

I haven’t fallen off in years (since I broke my neck, I try to make a practice of NOT falling off. Then I switch trainers. First day of first show – big jump, big buck, big prop and spin = fall off.

Second show, warm up day, first jump (“HUH? Jump? Where? I am too busy looking at the other 18 horses in the ring.”) – Stop, spin = fall off again. This was getting really old!

BUT, Warren saw the light. Last week he knew he had better get his butt over the jumps in good order or be fired from his job. Problem then is that his mom kept making ammie mistakes… Oh Well. At least we got a good picture out of the show (I figure it is a $500 picture…)

Gotta love those greenies. I think he is sure there is a crocodile in the jump and he has to jump high to avoid having his hooves bitten off…

[JustaLurker]

For all of us who have expressed concern over Lord Helpus, I sent her a Blue Mountain e-card and signed all who recently posted. You can see the card at:

The Spot at Blue Mountain

[Lord_Helpus]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LaurieB:
Welcome to the group! This bunch of mostly mid-life masochists is always happy to have a new member. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

LaurieB, I could not have said it better, myself: We are all MLM’s here (mid-life masochists). Why do you suppose it is that there are few (if any) young 'uns in this group?

Perhaps I shall finally have to go to a signature line: “MLM and Member of BGSG”

Now, if I can only figure how to do it…

[Bumpkin]

Congratulatons for a FABULOUS FRIDAY also!!!

What a wonderful start to 2002!!

V. .V
.( * )

[Lord_Helpus]

Mr. Mikester had another lesson today in his intensive “we’re going to a horse show this weekend” mode.

On the flat he was awesome. All of the resistance he showed last week at the trot was gone (thank you, draw reins) and Bobby could not believe it! He bent left. He bent right. He lengthened. He shortened. All while tracking up underneath himself and maintaining a round top line and a soft jaw.

On to jumping. No “x’s” for MY Mike. No, sir’ee Bob! Start right over a 18" trot plank, 6 strides to a 2’ plank. Perfect. Then we add in the 8’ wide gate oxer (at 2’9" mind you). Sublime. And did I mention the smooth as butter flying lead change in between the two?

Then a 6 line and another single gate. Never a bobble or a gawk. The Mikester was truly a star. Now what I want to know is, why couldn’t Warren (who has more talent), have Mikey’s mind???

The only flaw in the ointment today was me. I cannot ride Mikey. He is too easy. I keep trying to DO SOMETHING. Steady, steer, balance, help him. I don’t know what. I just want to DO something. And I kept messing up what could have been wonderful courses. I just have to learn to let him get in a canter and canter around the damn course. Like a made horse. Like I want Warren to be… SIGH…

[This message was edited by Lord Helpus on Oct. 11, 2001 at 08:36 PM.]

[JustaLurker]

Duffy, you and Gramento look wonderful. He certainly is a handsome horse, even if you feel he’s a bit on the thin side - I’d call it winter fit. As soon as it warms up, I’d bet he’ll start packing on the weight.

Then I love the rust breeches. They look so great that I can’t understand the silly juniors who almost have a coronary at even a mention of them. It’s their loss!

Merry, we’re all waiting for your side of the story!

Cheers, Maggi

[Beezer]

But it was necessary, because he’s starting to canter itsy bitsy fences, and that is best done in the daylight at this point. His human mom uses her nighttime rides for such things as collections/extensions/transitions/cantering poles on the ground … you know, the boring stuff.

Merry says it went very well (though she did comment on how “boing-y” his canter is these days; I had to remind her that we’ve been working on being round and that that’s what Tiggers do best: They bounce! ). That is, it was going well right up until Grumpy Old Dad decided that NOW would be the perfect time to change the flat tire on the farm pickup. Never mind that it had been flat for a good 24 hours; never mind that Merry was riding a baby. Out comes the jack, the bouncing new tire; then the hubcap got flung like a Frisbee (or so I’m told) and Rocky-the-steak-knife-wielding Labrador ran off with it…

Needless to say, Merry had a few, uh, VERY QUICK turns on the Tig-Meister as he spooked turning toward a jump. And then spooked again. Finally, they managed to get through the turn and over the jump a couple of times without further spooking, though Tiggs was reportedly a little tense about the possibility of that whole flying hubcap scene repeating itself.

Tigger’s note to Justice: I think we MUST be related! I, too, am a red horse … I have just a little bit of a white star and two hind sock-ettes. I think that was disappointing to my human mom, because my dad is a pinto and my sainted horse mom is this cool, cool chocolate-y chestnut with a big white face, three high stockings and a flaxen-and-silver mane and tail. But I explained to my human mom that I think personality and disposition and, yes, CHARACTER are soooo much more important than all that white. Besides, this way, I save her a lot of grooming time. But I’m not sure she entirely bought it … she still has a severe case of pinto envy.

Bulletin Board Goddess

[Beezer]

Yippee, LaurieB! Yippee, Tess! You go, girls!!

Bulletin Board Goddess

[Beezer]

Methinks that whole “saddle issue” might be a weak point in your sales video.

That is hysterical!

I can see the ad now: “Lovely, tall, attractive TB mare, has a really – REALLY – big jump. Suitable for trick riders.”

Bulletin Board Goddess

[Merry]

Ah, Janet, I must say your experience warms my heart. So I’m NOT the only one with an occasionally panic-striken young horse! Phew!

I don’t know whether this is good or bad, but our horses “do” cows, sheep, goats, etc. They look at pigs, but I think that’s just the smell. Then they go on. Now, banners printed with big letters hung on the inside of the arena rail…

And Bumpky, Hammie is the same as Elliot. He just lollygags over 2’9". I can’t wait to jump him up to the point where he actually has to make an effort. But he’s just not mentally ready. And I haven’t ordered my parachute yet.

“Friends don’t let friends eat fish tacos.”