Blow Up Caught on Camera

She's had a few lately (as talked about previously), but they are less frequent than they were a few months ago. Have NO idea where this one came from, she was going really nicely and then, "NO. I CHANGED MY MIND, GONNA BE A BRAT." She had two more little episodes today; have no idea what her deal was. There isn't pain, her feet were done after and farrier said her feet and legs look great; I think it could be A) She just wanted to be a brat--it's part of her personality B) She had to pee really bad and hasn't figured out she can pee undersaddle yet--she peed a river when I untacked her or C) The flies were really ticking her off. They've been biting pretty bad lately so I don't blame her for being pissy with them.. She would focus in really good, have a tift, then focus again real good for a good while, then a tift... go fabulously then someone shook out their scary horse-eating saddle pad between two trailers we trotted by and it was THE END OF THE WORLD. Really... ?

The other day, we were just WALKING in the arena. All the sudden, out of no where, she lifts up into a HUGE crow hop. WTH did that come from?! It was pretty comical. That's all it was, just the huge launch and then nothing. Most of her little tantrums are pretty funny and easy to ignore and are always short-lived. Today's she ticked me off as she nearly ran us into her boyfriend and his owner who were at the rail (partially my fault for not gaining control right away).

She's only 4 and is doing rather well. I'm extremely proud of her. I'm just glad Dave got this one on camera, haahaha!! People think she's so innocent. DON'T LET HER FOOL YOU!!!

--Includes our schooling session (not all of it, we rode for about 45min cause of her fits) and her blow up at the end, lol. She fought with me a good portion of it you'll see..

Yeah, I suck!

I'm better at updating my other blog than I am this one. Half the time, when I get home I'm too tired and lazy to post our rides... I just want to sit on my ass and unwind, hahaha!

G has been pretty great lately!

Even a few rides ago when I was cantering her (SO nicely and on her hard side too!!), there was a jump lesson going on the other half of the arena. I always stay on the side I was on when there is a jump or larger lesson going on the other half. We're having construction at the barn, getting our large arena covered so we can't use that one and most have to share the medium size one. Anyway, the girl on her little reiner are a good pair, however, girl wasn't watching her line and should have turned and circled to the right for her next jump...and made her circle larger than necessary...coming right into us. I saw this about to happen, and of course she didn't even say anything to communicate WTF she was doing, and I turned G sharper right to avoid collision..and the girl just comes RIGHT up on our butts. G through a FIT (and I don't blame her), bucked and just got totally ticked off. I would have too! And was, but focused on disciplining her--while I didn't blame her for acting out, she needs to learn to just "let it go" in those situations, that it's not okay to buck/kick out in that fashion. Still, don't blame her, lol, what that other rider did was just rude. And the fact that her instructor didn't say anything, nor did they apologize for it, really irritated me. "They" have a tendency for having bad arena etiquette I have been learning in the year I have boarded there. My soon-to-be instructor was in the arena also giving a lesson on "our" side of the arena and she couldn't believe what she'd seen. I just shook my head and we had a laugh.. Oh well! I was still really happy with how G did.

We've been working mostly at the trot, staying balanced at the trot and doing a lot of circles, serpentines, figure 8's and some more trot poles--which we haven't done for a while. Her temperment has been great too! Hardly any actual tantrums, fits, or fights with me. She'll have a slight moment for a few seconds here and there, but for the most part she's focusing a lot better these days. So proud of my big girl!

That's pretty much it, I guess! Another ride tomorrow and possibly a trail ride with one of the kids at the barn :)

Fun Times!

Man has it been HOT! It's ridiculous that I sweat my butt off before I even get in the saddle! We hit monsoon season so our humidity shot up a bit and it was rather disgusting. It got up to 60 something% last week and it was must miserable on top of the 100*F heat. Bleh!

I think G has been rather miserable too. She has been SO LAZY. We had a fight a few rides ago. I decided to let's do simple stuff and just put her in her hackamore. She usually does so well in it! But that day, we did nothing but FIGHT. She was lazy and didn't want to move out at ALL, hold herself at the canter, would NOT canter on the right lead (her hard side), which she had been doing so well with for a while there. Oh I was just beyond frustrated with her!

I really think I'm going to have the chiropractor/message therapist work on her. She's not really stiff going left, but I really think it will help her relax that side so she can use it better and properly.

Saturday and Sunday she was just fantastic. I put her back in her snaffle and she was a lot happier. Still a bit lazy, but I had also started adding electrolytes to her water and feed; I believe that has helped a LOT. I don't know why I hadn't thought of it. I noticed how much better I felt drinking a Gatorade after riding; the electrolytes in it made me feel so much better and I had a little lightbulb moment. If I was feeling as cruddy and drained after a ride, I can only imagine how SHE felt. So since putting her on the electros, she seems much better and has more energy.

Yesterday we went on a nice trail ride with one of the younger riders at the barn and her Arab gelding, Romeo. We rode for about an hour and a half, just walking in the wash. It's that deep sand so it was still a work out, but I think it helped her clear her mind and just to have fun.

She has today and tomorrow off since I had a lot of errands to do so, we'll see how she goes on Friday.

Bah Humbug

I think G-Licious needs a few days off; seems that she's starting to get bored. I have to constantly try and "wake her up" during schooling, it's like she's sleeping or in la-la-land! I think I may have to decrease her magnesium intake, lol. It's having too good of an affect on her, haha!

We're still having a rough time with the correct lead at the canter on her hard side. I'll admit, I was way too frustrated the other day, and she probably was too. The heat certainly doesn't help, no matter how early I get out there. It's like she was too tired to really pick it up and then hold it when she would get it. Poor girl needs a break. I think I'll go and turn her out tomorrow, if the arena is open. Our barn is under construction (getting our large arena covered, wooo hoo!) so we are limited on turnout and work space. It'll be worth it in the long run though! I think giving her a 3 day weekend with one 15-20min turnout to run around will help make her feel better instead of just work-work-work every other day. She's still young and I want her mind kept as fresh as possible.

No matter what, I'm still so proud of her! Even the Western trainer at my barn recently had some very nice things to say about her. It's too bad she can't be registered PB with either ApHC or APHA; she'd kick butt in the PB shows!

Some pictures hubby took yesterday: