You have had some busy weeks! I hope you are healing well and riding again very soon!
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Shannon came over and I rode my HH for the first time in 3 weeks.
Amazingly I did fine. All the squatting and deep knee bends where normally I would just lean over to pick up something really paid off!
I rode my HH for 17 minutes today, 8 minutes longer than I made it three weeks ago. With my feet flat on the platform I did a few sessions of posting 10 times and a good bit of 2-point. I was surprised I did so much today.
While I was up on the HH Shannon picked up my HH rein extension and I suggested she go ahead and put it on the HH since we were both getting a little bored with the same-old same-old. Then of course the front of my HH went DOWN (the rein extension plus 2 pairs of reins weighs a few pounds.) So I asked Shannon to go to my bookcase and get my thick veterinary dictionary and put it on the back of the platform. This made it so much easier to stay in front-to-back balance and it the HH felt a lot steadier under me than it does when I use the rein extension without a weight on the back of the platform.
Next time I am thinking of using the stirrups which always sends the front of the HH DOWN. I have another thick, heavy equine body work book I can put on the back of the platform and if I need more I can just pile another heavy horse anatomy book on it. With the added stability I spent less energy trying to keep the HH centered.
Shannon said my side-to-side balance was fine too. That sort of surprised me to because I had ended up staggering a bit walking around. I NEEDED to get back into the saddle and hopefully my balance will get better again.
I might be able to get my riding lesson this week. It is good to know that I have not lost all the strength in my riding muscles during this time of not riding due to medical reasons.
Shannon liked having the reins to occupy her hands. She has a minor problem of holding her hands too high, probably because she learned to ride in a Western saddle with a horn. So I got her to get her arms so there was a straight line from her elbow to the snaffle âbitâ.
Shannon has never ridden in a double bridle though I think she has ridden with a rein to a noseband/side-pull equivalent and another rein to the bit. I had her use my method of holding two reins (used historically at times) with the curb rein passing around the little finger, keeping contact with the snaffle rein between the ring finger and the little finger, and letting the curb rein sag a little bit. That way I find it easier not to put too much pressure on the curb rein and my handicapped brain can keep track of which rein to use when much better than if I use the method that is currently approved by the powers that be. Then I schooled Shannon on keeping a straight line from her elbow to the âbitâ so she could get a feel of it.
We discussed how carrying the reins too high could come from the riderâs body curling up into a fetal position, a problem she admitted having occasionally (I have this problem too but I trained myself out of it long ago.)
I got into the saddle today!!!
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Yay! I hope you get your lesson in this week!
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Real life interfered, sniff.
Debbie called me yesterday morning driving back from PA, with her rather elderly aunt who is going to stay down here a little bit. She said our weather was calling for rain so she was cancelling our lesson, if the weather were pleasant sheâd try, but rain and super soggy ringâno way. We NEED this rain since the drought has come over here lately.
I told her to enjoy having her aunt around.
An odd thing happened to me. Though I was NOT full of energy I managed, slowly, to get my brush bag ready (take out the fly spray and applicator mitt, put in my Incrediwear neck sleeve) and check my bridle, but after the call all my energy just disappeared and I dragged through the rest of the day and I mostly lay in bed on my computer.
And yes, it was raining when I woke up. Thank goodness for the Home Horse, at least I got into a saddle today.
I did not eat breakfast first, and I only lasted for 10 minutes or so. Today I did not need help with getting my right thigh over the cantle of my saddle like my last few rides on the HH.
I picked up the reins and then balanced with my feet on the platform. Having my âSaunderâs Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionaryâ at the back edge of the platform helped offset the weight of the bridle extension so I could get balanced according to the bubble balance after shifting the saddle back and forth to the magic spot. I posted a few sets of 10-12 âstridesâ, then I got up into 2-point. According to my husband I was usually fine with my side-to-side balance but it took me some concentration and experimentation to get my front-to-back balance, temporarily.
Then I got daring and picked up my stirrups. My husband had to move the dictionary from the back edge of the platform up to the base of the center post. Then I did more 2-point, practiced âwalkingâ up in 2-point, always trying to return to center.
Having that nice thick and heavy dictionary on the platform made me feel more stable. The HH was still shifting under my moving weight but the vibrations were muted. My increased stability made dealing with the reins easier since I was no longer subconsciously trying to bring the balance back under me by pulling on the reins. âWalkingâ on the HH gave me practice with opening and closing my elbows, mimicking following the horseâs mouth with my hands.
At least I got to ârideâ this morning in spite of the rain.
May the Universe cooperate with me so I can ride a real horse next Wednesday!
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The HH will be very handy during the winter months.
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I WAS supposed to get my first riding lesson in 8 weeks, but it was 19 F out here. No way, no how, MJ, my lesson horse, would have been going âWHY???, you insane ladies!!!ââ30 years old with achy joints.
So my husband helped me ride my Home Horse. I did an experiment, I was wondering if I was used enough to the HH so I could use it by myself if I took the saddle off. Clearing the cantle with my right thigh has been a challenge and a big reason why I need help to ride it.
Well riding bareback was more uncomfortable and less stable. It was harder to mount since my right hand could not grip anything. Riding was less comfortable, instead of almost nothing being between my legs there was NOTHING between my legs.
I balanced while sitting with my feet flat on the platform. This required me to get into a very forward seat, crotch lightly touching the pommel as I kept my weight down in my feet. My thighs got tired.
Then I balanced while in 2-point. This took a while.
I also posted some.
After 7 minutes of this I was TIRED.
It was a little bit easier to dismount.
My wonderful saddle is now back on my HH for my next ride.
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19 F is cold! Glad you got to ride the HH. Hopefully it wonât be as cold for your next lesson.
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Shannon came by today, yeah!!!
I made it 12 minutes on my Home Horse. First I kept my feet flat on the platform for 5 minutes, balancing, âwalkingâ, 2-point, and posting for 20 âstridesâ. During todayâs ride I did the posting trot both with and without stirrups 20 times 3 separate times.
Then I did it all over again with my feet in the stirrups. It is harder for me to 2-point and post with my feet in the stirrups as my feet tend to swing (I MISS having a horseâs barrel between my legs!) I just cannot get my seatbones as far out of the saddle as I can with my feet flat on the platform.
All of this is so much more easier with my very big veterinary dictionary on the platform behind the center post, the HH feels so much more stable under me and when I get centered it lasts longer than when I donât have the dictionary on the platform. Shannon thinks that the dictionary, at around 6 lbs., is heavy enough to offset the weight of the âbridleâ attachment plus both pairs of reins. Just like the bubble balance this big dictionary is now on my HH for every ride.
It was easier to get on with the saddle. It was so much more comfortable to ride the HH with the saddle.
I asked Shannon how Iâve been doing riding the HH. She said that I have improved greatly since I started riding my HH. My side-to-side balance is very good now and I can keep stable side-to-side. My front-to-back balance is not as good but still it is better than when I started.
Shannon said that she thinks that muscle memory is helping my stability even when my conscious brain is screaming that it feels off balance (all the time.) So riding the HH for months HAS improved my balance in the saddle. I am sure that the horses will approve.
The last time I checked the forecast Wednesday morningâs low will be a comparatively balmy 31 F, and no rain is forecast. I might get to finally get back on a real, live horse.
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Fingers crossed for Wednesday!
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For the first time in two months I rode a horse today, a REAL, LIVE horse.
It was much colder this morning than the last time I had a lesson (low 40sF). I got out my home-made bit warmer, my BOT butt blanket, my Fenwick Western saddle pad that reaches over his loin, my Incrediwear neck wrap and hoof socks, and I did not get cussed out by MJ even though the breeze was bitterly cold.
I had to wear goggles to protect my eyes from the plentiful dust in his coat. Right after Debbie got his blanket off I moved in and worked on his back, both sides, with my Posture Prep tool. He was not sure at first about me doing his back, shifting back and forth and moving around a little bit. Then he started relaxing and settling down, and when I got to doing his neck under his mane all was forgiven.
I did a good bit of 2-point today as his back was not really moving at first. I finally got to sit down when his back started âswingingâ though I had to get back up into 2-point twice before his back muscles were finally warm enough to carry my weight for a while. He said he was really too stiff and sore to give me much extension but shortening his walk stride was fine. Contact was fine both with the bridoon and with the curb bit.
He had been used by other riders the last 2 months, including performing in a show.
We did several posting trots, and again he really did not feel up to extending his stride more than just a tiny bit, just enough so that he was obeying my driving aids and to show willingness in spite of him being stiff and all. I accepted what MJ gave me willingly.
I made it a full 30 minutes today. The break in lessons must have done MJ good because for once he did not make it a point to inform me the split second when our 30 minutes were up.
Debbie said I rode pretty well with some minor corrections. I had zero problems with MJ even though he obviously would have preferred being next to a wind break with a blanket on.
I find that it really can pay off when I baby these elderly lesson horses with stuff that just makes them more comfortable when I ride. The horses forgive me my many riding sins because they feel reasonably comfortable.
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Yay! You got to ride! 30 minutes is great!
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It went downhill from there. I MIGHT have done too much getting up on a horse. That day my lower right jaw starting hurting and not letting up. Soft diet, nothing that required much chewing, etc⊠The pain continued and I called the office and they said it was within normal range.
My jaw was hurting so much that I did not even do my Home Horse ride on Sunday.
Well I kept hurting, the pain spread up to my ear and lower eye socket bone and it crossed to the left side of my jaw. I had my husband call the ododontists office hoping for the magic of a male voice to get me results, and that worked. The ododontist was quite willing to call it an infection and called me in some antibiotics.
I feel a lot better now.
But when I look at the forecast for my lesson next Wednesday it is going to be 25F or lower. MJ has troubles with his navicular bone, there is no way I am going to make this poor old horse carry me around in the cold on hard frozen ground.
At least I have the HH. As long as my lower jaw does not hurt bad I can handle that.
And I have been wondering if this infection had been lurking at the bottom of the adjacent molars that needed the root canals for YEARS.
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Dental infections can go to the brain! Hope the antibiotics work for you.
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That is nuts, that they wouldnât listen to you but would listen to your husband. Misogyny is alive and well, unfortunately. Glad you got treated, but it should not have taken that much effort.
Rebecca
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For an example of why it is REALLY BAD for me not to ride horses:
I got up to pee last night. Stubbed my toe. Started staggering. Fell to my knees, slowly. At least my legs are strong enough to slow down a fall, at least I have enough muscling on my legs to absorb shocks. My knees feel fine this morning.
When I fell I asked my DH to bring me a cane, then I hobbled to the bathroom. I have been using the cane around 50-60% of the time instead of never using a cane.
I plan to ride my HH on Sunday, my DH is home so Iâm good if Shannon canât come over.
The last time I looked at the long term weather forecast their prediction for next Wednesday morning, my lesson time, my get to love on MJ time, does not look good at 20 F. At least DH will be here and can help me ride my wondrous HHas a consolation prize for my lesson. I do not last that long when I ride the HH so he should be able to get back to his stuff quickly.
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I hope you have some good days where the weather is nice enough so you can ride!
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Do you have access to an indoor? Or outdoor only?
Stinks about not riding but so kind of you to think of the horses.
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I simply cannot afford to take lessons at a place with an indoor arena.
At least at my lesson stable they keep the riding ring groomed so it does not get too bad. Luckily Debbieâs husband seems to like operating the tractor and doing stuff.
But even with an indoor I would pass on riding at 20 F, not just for the horsesâ sake but because my muscles sort of stop working when it is COLD since I am just walking the horse. In spite of all my far-infrared radiation gear breathing the cold air seems to affect my muscles.
This year I am SO GLAD I bought the HH. At least I can get in a saddle on a moving object.
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Shannon came by and I got to ride my Home Horse. Since it has been raining all day I enjoyed being in a saddle while I remained warm and dry.
It was a little bit more challenging to get on, but I finally got my feet in the right place so my right thigh could get over the cantle, then everything went fine.
I posted some, just 10 posts then I got tired. Then I walked. Then I got up into 2-point, balanced, then I walked in two-point.
Getting off was challenging. I am glad that Shannon was there to help me get my right thigh over the cantle.
I made it 15 minutes today, a few minutes more than usual. I am tired even after a 2 hour nap, but I am walking on my own two feet better so it was worth getting tired riding my HH!
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I made good use of the last day of the year, I rode my Home Horse. Not as good as getting up on a real horse but at least I got up in a saddle. The last two weeks it all added up, the cataract procedures, the root canals (2 teeth) and on top of that my descendants visiting me, I got exhausted and did not even get up on my HH. I just laid around in bed resting. My walking got a lot worse, I ended up using my cane in my house most times I walked around the past two weeks because I was staggering so badly plus last week I fell down for the first time in many, many years.
Shannon kindly came by. She had to help me more than usual when I mounted. When I got up I mostly balanced (that needed some more work than usual lately), walked, and I posted some with short sets of five posts, rest, then some more posting. I did eventually make it up to 20 posts but I could not do it in one unbroken session. I kept my feet flat on the platform since I did not dare trying to use the stirrups.
At least I made it a full 15 minutes. When I dismounted I NEEDED help to get my right thigh over the cantle. I got tired and I needed to take a 2 hour nap.
At least I got into a saddle on the last day of the year.
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