Keeping it interesting!

So after all my deep pondering about why Kramer was acting out the way he did during our ride on Tues., I (& Allie had some good suggestions as well)came up with the idea that since Kramer seemed bored with our routine to "shake things up".  So today after lunging, I decided to just keep him busy.  No set routine, just trotting all over the place.  Figure 8's, half circles, full arena, cut across the arena...whatever.  Then with some poles on the ground (caveletties)set where Donna helped me place them for Kramer's trot, I took him over them.  He seemed to enjoy this little challenge:

My leg is really far back here (no excuse for that toe position, OMG!)as I was trying to keep him from going to the left so much.

Look at that espression on his face!  This was AFTER riding for an hour!
Love this next picture!

Uh huh!  That's what I'm talkin' about!
Kramer's favorite gait:

LOL!

A rainy, "Kramer-less" day

Hi there!  Even tho' I didn't go out to ride, etc. today, I thought I'd share.  Frank & I ran to Wal-mart for some "supplies" & I've been doing chores around the house.  Actually, I'm taking a break from ironing to do this.  I said I wouldn't take a picture of me w/o make-up, and I did it again!  I look like I have no eyelashes; I do, I swear!
I didn't ride Kramer today, but he's been on my mind often.  I've been thinking about yesterday & how I can avoid days like that.  Do I need to change up the routine, try to be a quiet rider, give him different challenges to break the monotony?  All of those things?  Given that he's an intelligent animal, could be his misbehavior is a way of telling me he's bored to death.  See? I've been doing some thinking. Let me know what you think (about Kramer, not about my not wearing enough make-up for pictures).

A good hoof report

New shoes....well, I should say "re-set" shoes.  But Kramer's hooves have all been trimmed and I'm sure he feel's much better.  He was beginning to stumble every now and then. Mitch felt like Kramer's feet were healthy and pliable.  He recommended that he stay on whatever program I have him on(namely Farrier's Formula).  He was going to charge the regular amt for a re-set but when I asked him "How much do you charge since you used the same shoes?" He took off a mere $5.  After he left and I mentioned this to the three ladies riding; they said "Is that all he charged? Horseshoers normally charge the same for a re-set as they do when they use new shoes, but is $95 all he charges?"  Who the heck do they use?! So I guess Mitch made a statement when he took off 5 bucks for the destitute lady......me.
Our ride was very challenging; Kramer did not want to do anything correctly that
I asked and/or there were much more interesting things around the arena to pay attention to instead of the rider on his back.  I had to correct him many times with small circles, pulling his head around lots of trots.  I wouldn't canter him until he felt "right" which took over an hour of riding to get to that point.  I ended our session on a quiet not with backing, turn on the haunches and just standing still.  I thought the pics would show that he was sweaty under the saddle even though it was breezy & cold, but it doesn't really show up.  A long, tough session with the guy!

Does this picture make my butt look big?

Self lungeing

This is Kramer's "crunchy hair" once it began to dry.  He was actually very wet when I first took off his blanket from his running around in his round pen when his buddies were taken in and he was left alone in the world!  About the time I drove in, Martha was puttin Armani out so Kramer was all good; but when I took Kramer in, Armani started having fits and running all around...spoiled boys.....
I had what I call a "maintainence ride".  Didn't really get anything accomplished, but a good exercise for the two of us. Not a bad ride, just not as consistent as I'd have liked.  Tuesday will be a serious ride AFTER Kramer gets his new shoes.
This next post is of my old vintage (lol) trophies:

Do these bring back memories, Allie?  Geez.....I kept the really big/tall ones.  They're in the attic.  These will go to the trphy store for recycling; if they do that.

The Gauntlet is dented.

So, I tried a new trick of my own today.  After lungeing the Krame and then mounting up, I walked him around a bit & the one time I pushed with my seat & did a couple baby kics to go trot, Kramer threw his head up (not dramatically, but there was a moment of resistance that with him can become a statement quite quickly).  I turned him abruptly so he didn't get a chance to do anything & I quietly rode over to where Martha & Donna were both sitting on the bench.  I asked Martha if she would hand me the 3' dressage whip, she said "Happily!".  Now, properly armed & extremely dangerous, I proceeded to nicely ask Kramer to trot off.  He said "no" in only the way he can. That's when he felt what it's like to be smacked on the rear by an invisible force.  And lo and behold, off we went.  I rode with the whip our entire ride and used it for reinforcement only a couple other times.  At the end of our ride, I did several transisitions upward and downward & he did very well.
Donna had a clinician from Dallas at Wildwood for several women to take a lesson from.  He was there last month too.  Nice fellow.  Anyway, while he was waiting for Donna to mount up, he apparantly was watching Kramer and mentioned twice as I went by what a nice mover he was.  It was great that it only took just a few mins into our ride that Kramer was going as nice as he did yesterday after 45 minutes!

I didn't ride more than 30 minutes today & then played around with shwmnshp.  Afterwards did a bit of mane pulling. NOT his favorite thing, but you know what?  About 5 or so minutes in doing the mane pulling the way Lynn Palm suggested, he really relaxed and only shook his neck a couple of times. The mane that Kramer shortened by eating grass through the rails is growing in nicely.   Now for some butt pictures:

I feel that he's filled out behind since this treatment.  Martha noticed yesterday (w/o prompting) that he looked bigger behind.  In that he has a bigger behind, lol!

The Gauntlet

Yes, Kramer defintely threw down the gauntlet today and I responded the best I knew how.  After he was lunged for 20 mins and then ridden for another 30mins; he decided that when "molly" the little jack russell barked that he, Kramer should respond by several enthusiastic crow hops.  Of course, I'm riding in the english saddle...again!  This was unacceptable behavior for a well warmed up 6 yr old horse who has heard Molly bark many times.  I reacted by pulling his head around to the left to my knee while keeping him trotting in a very tight circle-then we did the same to the right-then we did it both ways again.  I then took him out on the rail at a big posting trot and we did this several times around eventually taking up the canter both ways, circles, etc.  I forgot to mention, that before the barking/bucking incident Kramer reared with me.  Yes, a full rear when I asked him to move out.  The above procedure was used that time too, only I was applying my eng. spur to his off side as we did our little circles.  Needless to say, Kramer fired up my evil side.  I felt like I dealth with both of his nonsense reactions fairly & firmly.  Our ride lasted longer than the usual 45 mins.  By the end, he got the point & only thought about reacting the next time Molly started barking.  Before I dismounted I had him trotting a fabulous trot to which Martha even remarked how pretty it was "too bad you had to ride him 45 minutes to get it"!  Actually, it was over an hour,lol!  He was brushed and hand-grazed a good 35 mins afterwards.  No hard feelings on my part...unless he does the same thing tomorrow!

Not sure if he's falling asleep or closing his eye when the camera's flash went off!

My new blanket

Since all of Kramer's blankets are hand-me-downs courtesy of Mickey's winning ways, I decided to buy him his very own medium weight turn-out.  The other reason for buying one now is that they were on sale!  I liked this Weathabeeta and the design seemed to fit Kramer's personality!

His size 81" fits well; I do have the straps pulled a little tight, but I'll fix that at some point.  This was bought as a relacement for the turnout he has now that he keeps tearing and I keep repairing.  Eventually, it will become irrepairable.  Being a good Girl Scout, I always like to be prepared.

A cool, windy Sunday

Had a very good session with Kramer on Sunday.  Somehow I've gotten into the habit of posting on my blog the day after.  Not sure how that happened.  But anyway, today is Monday & I posting Sunday's events.

Kramer seems to be more and more consistent (in a good way) with my last few rides.  It truly is rewarding to have all the hard work begin to show itself.  Kramers trots are better sooner in that he travels correctly in half the time as before.  His headset hasn't gotten as consistent as his gait, but it's improving.  He naturally wants to carry his head either too high or too low.  I'm working on keeping it level for a longer period of time.  He seems to do best when I keep more leg on him & contact on the bit.  My little fingers are getting callouses from keeping them closed on the reins!
Afterwards, I hand-grazed him for 30 mins before putting him up.  I had to laugh at his reaction to my tripping on a rolled up hose & as I went down on one knee; he did the "cutting horse pose" of splaying out his front feet with his head down (close to mine!)and he froze in that position for a few seconds before looking at me as if saying: "What was THAT all about?"  Wish I could've gotten that one camera!
Went home & enjoyed watching the SuperBowl with Garrett, Frank & Maureen.  We ate traditional dips/ chips and sloppy joes.  The game was a good one, and the commercials were ok.  I think the "non-SuperBowl" commercial not seen last night with the dogs camping out & upon hearing scary noises, they all jump back in the Nissan is much funnier than last night's ads. They've added some more scenarios & all are funny. 

Lungeing...both ways.

Yesterday was a good day with Kramer.  He needed a little extra lungeing time as it had rained hard overnight & the horses turned out in the morning were running around splashing in the water making my horse enthusiastic about joining in the fun!
After lungeing both ways at each end of the arena, I put the bridle on Kramer and mounted up.  He was a good boy; doing his transitions well and maintaining a consistent frame at the trot which has been an objective of mine.  I'm happy with the days accomplishments!

Kramer's other attribute

Besides my little reining horse that I had several years back, Kramer is the only horse I've owned that actually has a big, full tail.  Since reining horses never need to wear fake tails to enhance their show ring appearance, I don't count my reiners abundant tail.

That little grey spot on his tail right above his hock?  It's where a chunk of mud was when I brought him in from his paddock.  Apparently, even with brushing, it left a stain! 

Kramer basically tolerated me today as you can see by his expression; he didn't want to play. That was until I lunged him.  At first he pretended to be tired & could barely go faster than a slow jog...until the diesel truck drove past the arena.  Kramer then resembled some of his forefathers(or mothers)of thoroughbred decent.  He ran so hard & fast he was practically on his side.  I was thankful for the truck driver in that Kramer used up that ball of energy BEFORE I got on him! He lunged for about 20 mins and then I rode him for aprox 40.  He was much more consistent in maintaining frame at the trot; which has been a goal of mine.  We ended the ride on a positive note.

It was warm enough that Kramer worked up a little sweat and I must confess, so did I.
I hand grazed him for a good 40 mins so he could cool, plus it's good for him and then put him back into his stall in time for his evening feed.

Lovin' the 1/2 flake of alfalfa on top of his regular hay.  If he were a woman, he wouldn't like this shot; it makes him look fat!

Enjoyed our session!  Oh! and Kramer's other attribute besides his abundant tail?  That would be his amazing natural gaits.  He's a true Hot N Blazing.

Taking it easy...

Because I wasn't feeling all that great Sunday & Monday, I took it easy on me while working with Kramer yesterday.  I lunged him the usual amount of time, but I didn't do our trot for 20 minutes routine.  I trotted him half of that and then did a minimum amount of cantering.  It was more of an exercise routine than anything else.
These pics are of Kramer after our ride, waiting to go into his stall for a snack:

I took pictures of Kramer's bell boots.  As you can see, the rubber has held up great.  But the tabs are being ripped off when he catches them with his hind feet.  I wish there was a bell boot that had a better securing system!