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[Hanoverian]

First of all, I'd like to thank you guys for reading my rant. xD It is really nice to know that at least SOMEONE listens - my mom just tells me that life isn't fair. Which I know that it isn't - she doesn't need to tell me that.


@Smile: Glad to know that I'm not the only one. Feels like that sometimes.

@Rowdy: You don't seem snobby at all! Hm, I might just try that. (: Poor Willow has mild arthritis, but I plan on using some Christmas money to get her some supplements from Smartpack.

@Dolphin: That she is, often. She can be nice- but then again, she can be a spoiled brat. I REALLY want to beat her. xD I've never been competitive against anyone but myself, but I want to smush her rich little butt into the dust.
I'm glad that you had such a nice lesson! How big is Bubbles? I love bounces. <3 Bending lines can be difficult, I understand that. Don't feel bad if one thing goes wrong - so many other things have gone RIGHT (I honestly need to keep that as my montra - unfortunately, I'm not good at my own confidence xD). Yay! I love getting compliments, and you must as well, haha.

@Horse_Girl: Thanks. C: I'm sorry to hear that you haven't been able to see the Lemon Man for so long! Are you still sick? D: I hope that you feel better soon. Maybe this illness is just horse withdraw - one trip to the barn and you will be all better!

@Yankee: I know that I don't, and my sensible side doesn't want to, but my angry, competitive, resentful side wants to whip their butts. I'm so confused right now, thinking is hard. They do know how devoted I am, but I think... oh, I don't even know anymore.
Oh, those people sound horrible. >< I hate it when people judge.
I know, this is so strange for me - I'm usually never competitive/assertive... I let people have their way, and therefor, I'm used as a doormat a lot. I just can't TAKE it anymore - I'm tired of being taken advantage of. ><
But your advice is great - you should totally be a motivational speaker. I need to relax and stop being so hard on myself - my trainer even says that that holds me back sometimes. ><

@Scene: Hm, that is a good idea, but that really doesn't work around here. At my barn, everyone rides their own horse, and no one else.. I ride most of the lesson horses, Willow mostly, though. I would love to find some free rides, but honestly, that isn't really possible around here. xD

@Rain: Thanks, but I'm not sure if I can win. D: Yeah, I don't think that she could deal with my little Willis and all of her antics. >< Yes, you ARE lucky. xD I love that feeling, of being equal to the people that have more experience. You seem like such a devoted person in your riding, so I'm sure that you'll progress fast. <3 I can give you some tips on slowing down - Willow has taught me quite a few, even though I'm still working out the kinks. Awww, thanks. <3

@Sam Sam: Haha, sorry, it was kind of rambly... Oh, good - finally someone gets that sometimes an 'oldie' can give you more crap than a greenie. I used to ride a 6 year old who gave me a lot less trouble than Willow does (I love her to death, though.)

Aww, I wish that you knew her! xD

Oh no problem, I am glad that we made you feel better Because I know that if I was feeling that down I would apperciate if just even one person read my rant~

Well at least she can be nice -- occasionally. She really seems like the typical spoiled brat though. I totally understand why you want to beat her in the show. Just don't get overly competitive because sometimes it sets you up for failure (not that you would fail ;D). What I mean is that you should just be happy to show, and hope for the best -- if that means coming home with no ribbons or even one. I try to tell myself that it doesn't matter if I come with ribbons before shows, so I won't get really upset if I really don't bring any home. Once again though, I get your point
Thank you very much Me too, I know we all enjoy having good lessons. What I liked about this lesson though was that it was more challenging than usual. Hmm...I want to say maybe 15.3 hh or bigger. Yep bounces are really fun. Yeah sometimes they can, this one especially since it was between jumps and in an akward place xD Also since the horses were all excited after jumping. Aww thank you <33 That made me feel a lot better. It's just that I am a perfectionist, especially in riding so it bugs me when I do even one thing badly. Which I know is not really a good thing Haha we are very similar!

Sometimes I honestly feel like you and I, Hano, that we can be like the same person. After discussing how we are at the same level or beyond some people older than us, transferring stables since we weren't being challenged/not doing enough at our other stable, both riding hunters, and jumping aroung the same height xDD A lot in common <333

Yup, it is nice to know that she can be a decent person occasionally, haha. I'll try not to, thanks for the advice! C: I love showing, though, and I'll be happy if I walk away empty handed - after all, this is my first BIG show. It will be a lot different than what I'm used to - the ring is like 5 times bigger than ours. o.O

Challenges are always fun! Especially knowing that your trainer trusts you to do those harder things. Bubbles sounds lovely. <3 I asked what size because we used to have a little pony gelding at our barn named Bubbles. xD He was about 11.2 hands, the cutest little "Palomino" (I don't really know what to call it - he was pretty much just tan all over. xD Not the golden palomino color, not gray, not dun.... tan. Like... sand color. All over, mane and tail too xD). The trainers just sent him to a retirement farm, though. His poor joints were hurting him, and he had cushings. :C So he looked like a wooly mammoth all the time, no matter how often we clipped him. xD
Oh my gosh, that sounds just like me. xD My trainer is always telling me to let myself make mistakes and not try to be perfect all the time... but it is SO HARD. I want to do things RIGHT and I want to do them right RIGHT AWAY. xD

I know! Maybe we are actually twins that were separated at birth, teehee. Arg, I wish that I knew you! That would be so awesome. xD Same for pretty much all of you guys - you should all ride at my barn with me. <3


@Raindrop: Here goes! (: These tips work well for me:
.When a horse is going too fast, out instinct is often to get a death grip on the reins and tense up. This actually makes the horse go faster - they push against your hands and can take control over your body if it is as stiff and tense as a board. Now, this doesn't mean to let go of all contact; you still want to have a nice contact, but not constant PULLPULLPULL, if you know what I mean.
.So, relating to ^, if you want your horse to slow down, what works best is to RELAX. Don't be against the motion, just relax into the horse, sitting bit deeper than usual, and letting all your tension out. This doesn't mean to let your position to slip, but you should be more "movable". You can have a bit of contact, but I like to let some of the rein out. All of this really helps to slow the horse down.
.Always do take, take, give with the reins, so pull for two strides, and release for a stride, etc. etc... if you are constantly TAKING, Winne can just push right through you.
.Keep your hip and shoulder firm when asking her to slow! Your hips are really one of the most essential parts in riding - they have to stay relaxed, yet firm... so Winne shouldn't be able to really "move" them when you want to slow down. If you don't let them wiggle around, then Winnie will have a harder time getting away from you. Winne can have your arms and hands, but she CAN'T have your shoulders. Keep them back and don't let her pull your balance forward! :3
.You said that your main problem is slowing her down while cantering? If it is, then when you are warming up at the walk and trot, I would do a LOT of transitions - walk to halt, walk to trot, trot to walk, halt to trot, etc... Practice the above tips at the walk and trot, and see what responses you get. Also, I would try a lot of extending and collecting - collecting in the corners, and extending on the long sides. Lots of serpentines, spirals, and figure eights will also help, because she'll be listening more.

Often when a horse starts going fast is because you are making them work hard and they don't want to do it - Does Winne use her back legs to power up, or is she wimpy with the back and speedy with the front? xD If it's the latter, I have a TON more tips for you, haha!

I hope that these help, they certainly helped me with Willow.

[Horse-girl123]

Hano:
I'm actually finally better....
I think...
My luck I'll go to the barn and get sick again.
*Sigh*

I hope you do good at your upcoming show.
You try so hard and you're such a great rider.
Just remember that we believe in you.....

[mazel1999]

I have to get surgey on my big toe... I'll be out from riding for 2 MONTES!! urgg not looking forward to this D:

[Hanoverian]

Hano:
I'm actually finally better....
I think...
My luck I'll go to the barn and get sick again.
*Sigh*

I hope you do good at your upcoming show.
You try so hard and you're such a great rider.
Just remember that we believe in you.....

D: What do you have? Feel better! *gives chicken soup* Give Lemon a hug for me!

Aww, thanks. C: I'm nervous, but I'm going to try my hardest and try to have a good time.
It's nice to know that someone does, haha.

[Hoofbeats]

@Raindrop
I have tips too!!
What I do with Sully who is impossible to slow down when cantering, First off start doing this about a quarter to the end of the line.
So turn him into the fence, than give him a half halt to slow him a bit more down.
Than squeeze with your leg muscle and lean back a bit ( Don't lay down in the saddle through, it will make you loose your balance ), pull on the reins nice and firmly don't start doing this: PANIC PANIC, SCREAM SCREAM, PULL PULL PULL.
You probably you knew that already, but that will make your horse tense up and go faster.
Hope this helps.

[Horse-girl123]

Hano:
I'm actually finally better....
I think...
My luck I'll go to the barn and get sick again.
*Sigh*

I hope you do good at your upcoming show.
You try so hard and you're such a great rider.
Just remember that we believe in you.....

D: What do you have? Feel better! *gives chicken soup* Give Lemon a hug for me!

Aww, thanks. C: I'm nervous, but I'm going to try my hardest and try to have a good time.
It's nice to know that someone does, haha.

Nothing....
It was my asthma acting up horribly.
Nothing like having three doctors tell you they can't do anything for you
I will next time I see him.
Hopefully that will be soon....

[Toppyrocks]

So, I have a few things to say, and a coupla questions, too.

Does anyone know of a camera that takes good photos in a barn setting? As in, indoor arenas that have crappy light and little colour, without flash? It's so hard to take nice pictures at the barn, and my two cameras are really starting to frustrate me because I see something that would be beautiful as a picture, and I try, and it just doesn't work- not matter what I do with the settings and functions, they don't turn out well.

Also, I worked with Danyna yesterday, just to give her something to do while she's on her break and get the jellybeans out. I let her loose in the arena, no halter or anything. She rolled, and after that, I know her well enough that I know she'll just stand and watch you. So I tried something I've never tried before, really. Kind of more Natural Horsemanship.
I figured out how to get her to turn on her forehand and on her haunches with a simple touch, and back up without touching her, but I don't think I'm doing it right. I got a dressage whip as well, (not to hit or anything, don't worry) just to guide her. I saw Pat Parelli on tv and he used one as if it was an extension of your arm, to make your reach the same length as a horse's reach, and I also watched how the horses played together when they were out in the arena loose in pairs. I tried to copy some of that body language, but I would only get so far before she would turn and run off. Does anyone have any tips? I understand horse body language and the concepts, but I'd love to learn more, especially as I'm taking more time to play with Jesse in his paddock. The owner of the stable- Mrs.M. told one of the other girls who is kinda new ish to the barn that she should watch me! So I guess Mrs.M. thinks that I am a good example.

After that, I rode the pretty pony bareback. One of the ladies that works/rides at the stable asked if she could watch, I said yes, and at the end she said I inspired her, and she was complimenting me the whole time on my bareback

As well, I've really taken to playing with Jesse in his paddock. He follows me, and I can get him to kind of chase me until I turn and face him and he will stop right away. If I turn away and don't look at him, after a few seconds he'll walk up and sniff my back and play with my hood. He also knows how to grab the zipper of my jacket and zip and unzip my coat, he's so funny.

Mrs.M. is looking at a new show horse (half arab) to try out. She went Monday morning to see the horse, likes it, but A, her daughter and also the main trainer at the stables, thinks she should take someone to try the horse with her. Mrs.M asked me to go with her and ride the horse! Hopefully I can, she'd rather go sooner then later, but I can't go till Friday. She'll call if she wants me to go. That made me really happy, it means that she thinks I'm good enough she can trust me with a strange horse that is owned by someone we don't know, and that I would be able to help decide whether or not it's a good horse to buy.

[classi]

0.0 Hano... YOU NEED TO BE AN INSTRUCTOR. 0.0
What you just said is exactly what my instructor told me! And my instructor's kids usually win the shows. You are epicness. *Hugs*
My instructor also tells me to relax, which I have a hard time doing. When Winnie speeds up, my first instinct is to freak out and pull as hard as I can. Which doesn't work and makes her go faster.
I've been doing better with relaxing, although I still fail at it. She canters, I get her at a nice slow canter, and then my instructor asks me to trot. I actually get her back to the trot, but it's a very fast trot, and then she JUMPS back into the canter. I know it's because I'm stiff and not relaxed at all. Lately I've gotten her to go from the canter to the fast trot. Then I get her to go to a good trot. When jumping, though, it's very hard to get her into a trot from the canter because I'm in half seat. If I'm cantering, I can get her to go nice and slow, but trotting, most of it's a mess.
Thank you for the tips, both of you. I have horseback tomorrow, so I'll see if I can do it. Maybe I can get some pictures, too!

Hano, do you have a youtube account? Do any of you guys have one?

[Hoofbeats]

@Raindrop
I have tips too!!
What I do with Sully who is impossible to slow down when cantering, First off start doing this about a quarter to the end of the line.
So turn him into the fence, than give him a half halt to slow him a bit more down.
Than squeeze with your leg muscle and lean back a bit ( Don't lay down in the saddle through, it will make you loose your balance ), pull on the reins nice and firmly don't start doing this: PANIC PANIC, SCREAM SCREAM, PULL PULL PULL.
You probably you knew that already, but that will make your horse tense up and go faster.
Hope this helps.

[classi]

@Raindrop
I have tips too!!
What I do with Sully who is impossible to slow down when cantering, First off start doing this about a quarter to the end of the line.
So turn him into the fence, than give him a half halt to slow him a bit more down.
Than squeeze with your leg muscle and lean back a bit ( Don't lay down in the saddle through, it will make you loose your balance ), pull on the reins nice and firmly don't start doing this: PANIC PANIC, SCREAM SCREAM, PULL PULL PULL.
You probably you knew that already, but that will make your horse tense up and go faster.
Hope this helps.

Thanks! I'll def use those tips when I ride tomorrow.

I have to go. Now I have a 2 hour limit on the computer on school days. D: It sucks.
I'm dreading athletics tomorrow, they nearly killed me today. I don't want to be too sore for HB!
Byez!