Realizing my responsibility

I've never taken my responsiblity as a rider so serious as I have lately.  In all my years of riding, it's just never occurred to me how important what I do while in the saddle is to the ride itself.  I know the obvious, that I should ride correctly, but I know I need to do more than that.  I need to be a thinking rider, always thinking.  Thinking before I ask for a change of gait, thinking before asking for that correct lead, thinking as I go into a turn, thinking about my posture, legs, back, seat, hands.  I want all of this to be a part of who I am as a rider so that I can get from "Kramer" all that he is as a horse.  He's such a naturally beautiful and correct mover without me on his back that I don't want to hinder, but instead help him be that beautiful mover while I'm riding him. 

I worked hard to be a balance, quiet and correct rider today as I expected Kramer to be the same.  After the first disconnected 10 mins of riding where I let K just trot w/o making any demands until he warmed up; things began to get better.
It was when we were trotting and I tried to be as light as possible in the saddle while keeping my legs on the horse and making sure he was on the bit that I got the most wonderful trot.  It truly felt like we weren't hitting the ground.  It was a lovely feeling!
After our ride:

This is a picture of the elusive "bag monster" that blew close to the gate as we rode by.  K-face looked at it, but only once.  I assured him it wasn't "look worthy" :

Allie, you know how you told me the Clinton Anderson quote about to get to a horse's mind, you have to go through his lungs?  Well, Kramer got to me brain as well today:

I know I was using my lungs, chee!
K-face saying:  "I'm not going to do anything"...

"It's just that this is soooo tempting"!

"I can't resist it"!

And that's Kramer.

From recreational, to serious

That's my latest revelation regarding my riding.  After so many years of riding Mickey & enjoying his slow and steady way to where I could easily daydream while riding, I now posess an animal who would walk right off a cliff while looking at an interesting bird.  Because of that, I've realized the only way to get good, productive rides is to be in charge and stay focused the entire ride.  That's never been an easy task for me as I've always been inclined to watch interesting birds!
Kramer getting ready for our session:

BTW, I did use a girth!   Next shot is AFTER our ride:

My eyes do not like the dust!

Took off saddle in preparation for a nice, warm rinse-off:

Some days there are scary, invisible shower stall monsters waiting to bite K-face's feet!

He relaxed once the warm water bath started....

Moved from shower stall as other's needed it and now finished with coat conditoner hoof treatment, fly spray and ready for some grass time!
These are when everything's done and K goes into his stall for a little snack and hay.  Had to turn on the fan today as it was just a little warm.

Such a happy boy!

Armani is wondering where his treats are, lol!Of course, I had to give him a bit of carrot........

Not a bad ride...

We "all" know that blogs aren't as interesting without pictures, but I feel my pictures are so repetitive!  How many times can you look at Kramer in the crossties, lol!  Since I don't have a professional photographer following me around while riding, etc. this is pretty much all I can do.  I literally was out at the barn by myself today as Donna & Paul in sep vehicles left at separate times.  I guess if I fell off & was unconscience, Leonardo would happen upon me!

But I digress....
Kramer & I got some things accomplished today.  We both didn't feel energetic but we were brave & cheerful and powered through our lethargy.  I lunged him at the trot for 10 mins and then posting trotted for a solid 10 mins letting him hold his head wherever until after 8 mins.  That's when I started asking him to go correctly on the bit and use himself behind.  He did that pretty well-except when the scary big black butterfly flew by his head!  He was like: "WTF?"  but again, he was brave and didn't let it upset him, lol!
We cantered a few rounds both ways which was nice.  But I still need to really work on him taking his left lead from the walk and/or trot.  He's def right-handed (or right-hooved as the case may be)and will willingly & easily take the right lead even if it's a counter canter.  What I really have to do when we're in the big long trot and may be asked for a canter from that gait is gather him up and sit deep before asking for the canter.  The trot from canter is perfect as is the walk from canter/trot.

Kramer air drying after his rinse off, conditioning, fly spraying, MSG-ing, hoof conditioning....no wonder he's always ready to go into his stall once our ride is over!  ; )

This is my funny random picture.  I took this from inside the kitchen window at "CC" snoozing on Faj's car.  She looks so comfortable!

An easy day

Took it easy today; my ol' back is still being testy doing things like the trot.  At the canter, it was fine.  Who knows?  Anyway, after about 10 mins lungeing, I rode Kramer and did about 15 mins of posting trot.  While not asking him to be correct because it was part of his warm-up, he started powering from behind the longer we went and dropped his neck....interesting.

Picture taken after our ride:

He was getting so sleepy, it was funny.
Waiting for snacks and other good things:

Well, he really doesn't consider taking off wraps, brushing and fly spraying "other good things", but I do.

Eating a carrot before going in to his stall. He looks pretty content at this point, lol!

If only grazing were a competitive event!  Kramer would be a World Champion & it's something he'd love to compete in...day after day!
These are just pictures of our "day off" yesterday.  Kramer got his "grazy time" and I groomed him & cleaned up the trailer a bit.

He had to take a moment to check what "Thomas" was doing in his pasture.

Then he had to visit with "Hershey" as he grazed by:

Head shot!

After Kramer was put up, I had to take a couple of pics of "Tyrone" in his show braids.  Looking good!

He looks a bit like "Mickey" doesn't he?
That was pretty much our day yesterday.

A cold but successful horseshow!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Allie!!  With your keen observations and solutions Kramer and I had a pretty good show.  All I had to do, was follow your advice.  Not always easy, but usually always effective.
Your banding "job" was very pretty on Kramer.  Do we even have any pictures of it?  This was all I had on my camera:

I was going to post the other pic of you banding, but it's no longer in the folder....?  Glad I got it posted on FB!
Friday night's ride was a little frustrating for me as I felt I had too much horse even after an hour of riding.  He felt too fast for what I knew the judges would be looking for.  But it turns out, feeling what I think is going on isn't neccessarily what actually is going on.  Just because I've got a wind burned face, doesn't mean Kramer is actually traveling fast underneath!
Pics from Friday's ride:

Krame after the ride:

A couple of random pics of Kramer playing with the water in his bucket while Allie banded and his nice, long, thick tail:

Even though the weather turned "freaky" cold Saturday and Kramer was feeling waaaaay too good, we managed pretty well I think.  We were able to keep Kramer warmed up (as it took all day to get to our english classes)without him being too tired to show nicely and keep him happy.  Once in the nice, warm pen, we had to do the same; keep him loose w/o tiring him out.  He had a couple of stubborn moments where he tested me and the first time, he was almost successful, but I overcame the challenge...eventually.  The 2nd challenge came to where he decided he didn't want to go into the arena; we just had to get our momentum going.  In both the Am Sel HUS & the Open HUS, we did have some shining moments and the judges who appreciate Kramer's talent (& either overlooked my errors or didn't see them)placed us well.  We picked up a half a point in Select and a point in Open. 
Couldn't have been that successful without Allie coaching me!

Merry Christmas to me!!

So I get home from a good day at the barn with Kramer and what do my eyes behold?

And what's inside this wonderfully large, brown box?

Be still, my heart!!

The pebble grain, zip up boots I ordered with my Christmas money (which I may or may not have already used up!)!

They fit my foot well

I love the style of this zipper!

And the rubber soles should last longer and be more comfortable than the leather type.

Awesome!!  Now, back to my good day at the barn...I dismiss the first 5 minutes of lungeing as total gotta stretch those muscles before things look normal time.  After a good 15 mins of lungeing, Kramer was ready to ride.  I trotted him a full 15 minutes non-stop & he felt really good (like his ouchy nail really was gone!)so I then cantered him 2 full times around the arena both ways.  It felt great!  I was so pleased, I got off-didn't want to ruin the moment!
I gave Krame the "spa treatment" and treated his hooves like I did yesterday.  Once he was dry, I put him in his stall with snack and alfalfa.  Sigh.......

Ready for stall time.  You can see Martha getting ready for her lesson, lol!

Nail be gone!

Got out to the barn about 20 mins before Mitch & he put the testers to Kramers foot.  The testing indicated that he was touchy around the middle nail, not the last nail as we thought.  So, Mitch pulled it out & I immediately poured tincture of iodine(thanks, meth-heads; we can no longer buy iodine or methiolate because of your disgusting life choice)into the empty hole.  I then went ahead and lunged Kramer while Mitch was still there.  He saw what I did; that Kramer would take an ouch step every 7-8 strides.  By the end of 20 mins, I tacked him up & rode for another 20 mins.  He seemed pretty sore on the foot the first 5 mins and then got much better.  I even cantered a bit. 
Kramer after our ride:

I took him to the crossties and re-cleaned the nail hole:

Got my trusty Drawing salve:

Which specifically states is for nails of horses and dogs (LOL).  Do they mean "hooves" of horses??

Anyway, then I did the turpentine treatment on the soles of his hooves and finally, a bit of conditioner on the coronary band and hoof.  Then poor, little Kramer got to eat grass for 20 mins before being put up with a snack, alfalfa & hay.  Oh, this is Kramer taking a carrot I offered him:

His pretty feet once I was thru; just wish he ( & I ) didn't have to deal with the soreness on the right hoof!