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I naturally took a boatload of videos, which I'm uploading to Photobucket even as we speak, on the hopeful theory that they might load to that platform a little bit faster than they do to YouTube or Google Videos. I also took some pictures (a few with my camera and a bunch with Lease Girl's--if she send me copies I'll certainly post them!)
Lease Girl hadn't ridden since last November, and (hilariously) she and Coach Girl kept congratulating each other on how much fun it is for Lease Girl to have "a sane horse!" to ride, so she could pay attention to her own riding too instead of only trying to slow the horse down. And this is with Mitzi gawking a bit, and spooking a couple of times, and being highly suspicious of Coach Girl's coffee cup as it sat on a jump standard, minding its own business.
Lease Girl had been riding TeePee. Apparently he's more of a handful than I thought!
Things Mitzi should be congratulated on: She picked up a nice even trot and maintained it quite well. She didn't object to her new tack (she's never worn a noseband before, but she does longe with a halter over her bridle so that must have gotten her used to pressure over her nose.) (Okay, I would not expect her to object to the tinytiny saddle, but she also didn't mind feeling Lease Girl's leg so clearly either.) She didn't object to two-point, which was totally new, and in fact she motored around the ring like a champ and gave Lease Girl the chance to remind herself how it's done. I was really kinda proud of her there. She also gave some nice prompt transitions once she and Lease Girl got used to one another.
Things to work on: gawking, big-time (although as the lesson went on she got to listening better and Lease Girl got more comfortable calling Mitzi's mind back to her.) (I understand that when I stepped away to get new camera batteries Mitzi really looked around, which was wrong of her even though I admit it was kind of flattering. I can appreciate my horse liking me as long as I don't undermine the lesson, and I honestly did keep my mouth shut.) (Not that I had much inclination to butt in, since Coach Girl "gets" Mitzi perfectly well, thanks.)
But I digress: things to work on: gawking, putting her head up--which should improve when Lease Girl takes a bit more of a hold of her--and she was pretty careless over trot poles which is not like her. Coach Girl uses those a lot to give the student and the horse something else to think about, and Mitzi generally watches her feet pretty well. Coach Girl did remark that Mitzi has a really big stride for such a small horse, though, so maybe she just hadn't placed them where they'd have been last fall.
Or, of course, maybe Mitzi was just being careless with her feet. Regardless, she was goodnatured and cooperative and I was really, really proud of her and very glad she has such nice girls to work with while her old mother is gimpy.
So, photos:
Walk
Trot
Two-point
Discussion
Coolout
Videos
Sitting trot to canter
Canter circles
Canter circles
Trot-walk transition
Trot poles
More trot poles
As I say--not as much fun as getting to ride myself, but it was a lot of fun to watch them together!
- Mood:
delighted
Comments
As Lease Girl gets to know her, she'll be able to ride a bit more proactively. She has a few things to grow into yet, but I really liked how well Mitzi accepts the bit, and the even, elastic trot she shows. (I think the canter would have been even better if she hadn't been left alone so much, but even so, it shows a horse with good natural balance and a good temperament.
I hope your leg improves so you can get back into the saddle soon.
And another good'un in the rider. I agree with
Do you think that saddle could stand to come back a hair? It looks a little up on her shoulder some of the time, to me?
I will look forward to not-too-distant-future video of
I think Lease Girl and Mitzi will be a good match--they both have things to work on but neither is too green and they both seem to respond to Coach Girl's style.
I hope to be in a position to get video of Mitzi and me soon, but the bad ones will be ruthlessly suppressed until I get my act together!!
I won't be around for Lease Girl's next lesson late Tuesday afternoon, and that should help her concentrate. She did well for a first ride on a new horse with the owner right there, but she'll probably concentrate better without me!
She's exactly my kind of horse and not entirely unlike my Rhodri in looks -- which is not altogether surprising as his mum was a registered spotted pony.
She was going very nicely and I think she and Lease Girl will do well together.
I envy you your facilities and coach. I used to keep ponies on a shoestring, something I'd never do again.
Is that Rhodri in your icon? His face looks a bit Arab-y--which would be another point of similarity with Mitzi, who is part-Arab.
His mum apparently came from Ireland and was supposed to be half Arab half... well, I don't know what the other half was, but that must be where the spots came from! Donna was a few spot pony, but had a couple of leopard spot foals before I acquired her. I never saw Rhodri's dad, but he was probably a Welsh Section B or possibly a Welsh cob. Donna (still with her previous owners at that time) managed to escape for a secret tryst with a stallion that ran loose on the mountain. Of course there's also a fair bit of Arab in the Welsh breeds, though quite a way back now.
I'd love to see more pics of Rhodri if they turn up. He's really cute!
I'd be all over that camera too, really.
Um, yeah. Proud mama here.