Getting Chezabee fit again...

[Lottii]

Well as of today my number of equines has decreased from three, to two. Midget Gem has gone to a lovely home with one of the kindest people I know as a companion/first ridden and she has a massive big field where she will be in heaven

However, this leaves me without the excuse "but three horses take up all my time" and I must determinedly get Chez fit again for the upcoming Polocrosse training season. So, I shall keep you all updated (and, in doing so, give myself an extra reason to keep working!) and also ask for any tips or hints you can give me.

Chezabee has been basically turned away since October time... so here's to all the bucks and rears I'll be sitting through as a result of not keeping her ticking over. Cheers! xD

Oh, for this to be the world as I see it again ;

[Cara]

My advice. Lunging, lots and lots of lunging before you ride... well, not lots as you don't want her completely worn out before you get on her, but I find that lunging establishes that first control (getting the horse to listen to you) and allows the horse to release any pent up energy before you get on. It also allows you to look at how they are moving as well.

Love the photo!!

[Lottii]

Thanks, she can be difficult to lunge though, and it isn't one of my own strengths per say. I will (once or twice a week) be able to have my friend's mum who will hopefully be able to help me out with that! It makes sense how lunging can help before I get on!

Thanks, I do a lot of photography like that, even a few videos whilst galloping too I've broken several cameras doing so, but they weren't expensive ones thank goodness

Whilst I was at work today, my boss/mum's friend suggested that I take Chez over to hers after work (her daughter is eleven and had a pony, she also had a pony/horse). They have a massive 16 acre field to ride in (it was heaven!). Chezabee was very silly to start with, on her toes, wouldn't walk just did that bouncy trot. We walked for about fifteen minutes or so, and then tried a trot. Chez was excellent! Following behind Brandy -nice calm and sane!- she trotted beautifully and we varied walking and trotting for about half an hour round this lovely field. The field also has hundreds of saplings all in rows, still protected by the little white/grey things around them, so we spent a while doing bending too. I cantered twice, one by accident and once intentionally. The first time, Brandy was behind us cantering to catch up and he got spooked and cantered passed us. Chez was trotting at the time then cantered perhaps ten/fifteen strides to catch up with him but once she reached him she listened to me and came back to a trot. The second time me and her daughter were having a 'trotting race' up and down the lanes made by the rows of saplings, and we got to the end and she just looked at me with a big grin and said 'Shall we canter back?' Of course I couldn't resist that! We cantered perhaps twenty/thirty strides back and Chez was a little difficult to stop - ie throwing her head about and throwing a little buck. When we first went into canter that time we had just turned to head back to Brandy, and Chez managed to sneak in a quick gallop stride and all four feet in the air mad moment, but I just rode her forwards and then we had the nice canter. All in all I think that was a pretty good introduction back into work for her! She had a little sweat around her girth line which I sponged off, but by the time we had walked back from the field she wasn't puffing at all Chez then spent a very happy fourty-five minutes in a nice grassy paddock alongside Brandy's paddock. I think she officially has a new boyfriend!

[Cara]

That's awesome Lottii, and bringing her back into work with other horses was a brilliant idea as she had someone else to follow and to keep her sensible (and it would have kept you focused too).

[Lottii]

Yeah, she was paying more attention to Brandy and Smokey than to how exciting it was, and I was too busy talking to get nervous and make her worse!