All The Kings' Horses

 I took Gia (and several other horses and riders from Castle Farm) on a trail ride at a local nature preserve yesterday.  We went out pretty early, but it was still fairly hot out.  Gia was pretty patient in, and tied to, the trailer, while I attended to everyone else - there were 7 other horses and riders there.  We were out on the trail itself for probably about 2 hours, and for me, Gia was great!  However, she immediately decided to wage war on a visiting horse we had.  One of my clients had brought her own horse from her home to meet us and ride with us.  As soon as Gia was in a close proximity, and any other time Gia was within reach, she made a beeline for Panda with a snaked neck, ears pinned and tail swishing.  Poor Panda didn't even do anything.  Unfortunately, I had my hands full with some other more important issues, so I wasn't really able to address Gia's issues.  I just had to keep her away from Panda, as much as I could....

 Monday 6/16/25 -  I worked with Gia on her flatwork.  I had her do transitions between walk and halt, then walk and trot.  Throughout the transition work, I also asked her to keep her poll up, and helped her work on staying straight, as well as changing bend.  Things were going really well, and she was really obedient, so I decided to try adding trot to canter transitions.  Before I cantered, I made sure that I had her straight and that we had done a few up and down transitions correctly and obediently first.  When I asked for the canter, she was delayed at first, then blasted forward, so I brought her back to trot, which was too fast, so then back to walk.  I had her go back to trot again, and I played with the straightness and the tempo of the trot, back-and-forth, until I had what I wanted, then asked for canter again.  Same answer.  Rinse, repeat.  This went on, several repetitions, until she started to anticipate that I was go...

 I took Gia out to the field to jump some of the stadium jumps today.  I had a couple of volunteers helping out today, so I was able to get some help setting the jumps a bit higher today (more than just small crossrails and 18" verticals).  I started out warming her up with the same stuff we have been working on in our flatwork - transitions between halt, walk and trot, bending, and changes of bend.  She felt pretty responsive and obedient.  She did get a little quick and unbalanced a few times, and she thought about getting upset a couple of times, but she quickly got herself together, and relaxed, and got back to work.  As I started to point her at jumps, she mostly stayed at the trot, but sometimes picked up the canter.  She would usually come back to the trot, as she is still struggling with her balance at the canter, especially on the turns and down hills.  She trotted the jumps at first, and when she trotted her first big one, and knocked i...

 Ashley, one of Gia's grooms, wrote Wednesday's blog: " I had the privilege of doing Gia's work today. Well, I guess it depends on how you look at it. When I went to get Gia out of the field this morning to groom her and tack her up for Heather to ride, she exhibited behaviors that I have never seen Gia do. Maybe others have but I haven’t. Normally she’s a doll for me but it’s taken a long time for us to get that way. She charged at me with her mouth opened, ready to take a chunk out of me. She kept turning her booty towards me and pinned her ears back. After stepping away, yea I know I let her beat me, and texting Danielle and Heather, I went back and she let me put the halter on and walk up nicely. Until she tried biting me several times when we got to the gate. Danielle asked Heather if she could work with me with Gia and that be her work for the day. Heather agreed so Danielle, Gia and I went and into the arena.  Danielle let Gia loose in the arena and walked me th...

 I did much of the same flatwork with Gia today that I have been doing.  I worked with her on walk, halt and trot transitions, while asking her to change bend, stay straight, and keep her poll up.  I also worked with her on transitions between her medium walk and free walk.  She was very obedient.  I focused on our rhythm at and between all gaits.  I focused on my position and aids as well.   Most of what I am working on is refining each little tiny request.  My goal is to be able to ask for something from my seat aid, and get the response.  It doesn't always happen, so then I have to go to my leg aids.  If that doesn't work, I go to a stronger leg aid or kick, and then a tap of the whip.  In reverse, I will ask for something with my seat aid, very softly.  If that doesn't work, then I add my abs or core.  Next, I can tighten my knees and thighs, and finally, lean back and wait until I get a reaction.  I continue...

 I worked with Gia on her jumping and her flatwork last week.   On Wednesday, I took her out in the field.  I warmed her up with some work keeping her poll up at the walk and trot, as well as asking her to flex left and right.  She was not resistant or fussy at all.  I started pointing her at a variety of jumps, and she was very willing and obedient all around!  I even got her to walk and trot over the "mattress" jump!  She was anxious about it at first, so I just had her stand in front of it, and check it out, but with no pressure to go forward.  She just wasn't allowed to go around it.  Eventually, she got brave enough to go over it, and once she went over it the first time, the successive times were easier! On Friday I worked with Gia on her flatwork in the arena.  I asked for a lot of transitions between halt, walk and trot.  I also asked for a lot of changes in bend, and I worked with her on her straightness.  The str...