Summer Camp with the O'Connors, Part Two

9:50pm
Still catching up...today (Tuesday) was more humid than Monday, but clouds kept it cooler and at times it threatened to rain. As of now it still hasn't--the ground is very hard. This morning we tried a saddle--designed by Karen--on the "bull". I didn't get much time to enjoy it because we went right into galloping, balance, jump and drop positions, courtesy of my fellow students providing the "gallop". I've spent a good bit of time in my jump saddle these past few days, and although the seat isn't particularly cushy it does seem to suit me and it fits Gwen well. I'll pass on another saddle for now.

David gave an impromptu trailer loading lesson to a young TB who was so keyed up he couldn't be loaded. He began a "squeeze play" type of scenario where the horse was kept circling between him and the trailer. Gradually the space between became smaller and after 15 minutes the horse was more than happy to get on the trailer, if only to escape the pestering. Never once did David lose his cool or do more than tap the horse's rump, and he would instantly release or "go into neutral" whenever the horse would offer even a bit of the correct response.

This, he says, is also how they teach ditches and water. No thrashing the horses with whips, which (as I have learned from unhappy experience from other "experts") only serves to make the horse MORE nervous and gives them very good reason to worry about ditches or whatever. In fact, never once in jumping has any of this group recommended even using a crop.

We did some dressage "patterns" to end the morning. Gwen was strong and fresh so it was hard to do much with her, but I can use the patterns at home. I can already see how much differently I'm going to work with my two-year-old Bonnie, who is pretty much a "blank slate" still. I also hope I can apply it in a practical way with Gwen, who obviously is a lot more set in her ways.

Not much of a lunch break today, and it was off to do some ditch schooling and other XC stuff. It was a long hack out, with rain still threatening, but much cooler. We started doing ditches with David, and wound up going almost last in our group. We did the "squeeze play" again, circling between him and the ditch and getting closer all the time as the horses got more confident. Gwen was certainly tense (we hadn't jumped a single fence yet) but obediently got close on our circles and jumped over well the first time I sent her towards it.

This type of thing will be good to do with Gwen now and then--it certainly went a lot better than trotting up to a ditch "cold" did. By giving the horse an "escape route" at first with a spooky jump, you take much of the fear away. You must never present the horse TO the jump, however, unless/until you're committed to jumping it. If you "show" a fence to a horse, it should always be done by circling PAST it at first. The yields also have to be firmly in place--your "space" must be so inviolable that the horse chooses to go closer to the "monster" rather than invade it.

We then did some banks and drops with Karen and Gwen was so keen by then it was hard to keep her still. The complex we were using turns out to be the very same "huge" water (now dry) jump I remembered from the Spring Ha'Penny Horse Trials with Bonnie's mother Kelly so many years ago. Today it looked small and quite simple. The passage of time really changes one's perspective. We did fine, although I still need to remember to keep my hands down and my feet forward. Gwen is wonderfully brave and powerful and I hardly ever think about stops any more.

Unfortunately, I think the hard work and Gwen's gung-ho attitude may have backfired a bit--she's sore on her left hind tonight, although she walked back from the course feeling fine. Karen and Rebecca and Clark all checked her and were very helpful and generous with advice. I gave her some bute and put a big poultice on--hope she's OK tomorrow.

Here come the thunderstorms at last!

July 16, 8:20pm
Gwennie's OK! I had the farrier check her first thing and her feet were fine. I think the ground was so hard that my old, dull grass studs couldn't bite in and she had her ankle a little twisted. She was 100% fine this morning and gobbled up her breakfast so I know she feels OK. Nevertheless, I decided to make it a very easy day since she's been working so hard.

Riding the bull is getting to be very easy indeed, and it really serves as a good reminder that keeping your lower leg forward is almost always the right instinct. We've gotten some really nice "goodies" every morning: vitamin samples, water buckets, T-shirtsÑa nice bonus. Karen and David try and spend time answering all manner of questions each morning, and they are clearly good at delegating since there is so much planning going on. It all has gone really very smoothly.

While everyone else got ready for a stadium lesson, I did a little bit of ground work with Gwen and then did a few errands. Turns out I missed a chance to ride Olympic gold medalist Custom Made in a lesson, which I'm really going to regret. They are letting people ride him and Giltedge and both horses are just wonderful movers and perfect gentlemen. I need to at least get a picture of them!

I caught the last part of the stadium sessionsÑthey were working on related distances, jumping off turns and angled jumps. I'm sorry I missed it but these horses are working VERY hard and I'm just going to have to rely on Gwen's good manners in stadium once again this weekend.

After lunch was "water and banks". The weather is not quite as humid but the sun is still very hot and the few clouds that gathered by afternoon were welcome. Gwen was just fine heading out, and she trotted happily into the water with the rest of the herd. Karen suggested a "low impact" water school so we wound up just cantering through a few times then doing a small vertical in the center of the water. We did it only twice and then I put Gwen out to graze.

Although the session was short I did learn that Gwen can actually go quite fast and yet have little impulsion. If she's pulling to a jumpÑparticularly a "back off" type fence such as waterÑI can't just pull back and hope to keep her engaged. I must keep the leg on and keep the engine going while balancing her. Yes, she'll still go, but it's actually harder work for her and not as safe when she's all flat and strung out. The good thing is that she's very willing to be adjusted, but I mustn't mistake slowing down (by just pulling on her face) for a good, balanced approach. I must remember the "downshifting" analogy, and to keep my hands DOWN.

I actually think Gwen missed her two hard workouts today. I'm glad she got a good long turnout while everyone else was schooling the banks and water; she'll no doubt be very fresh tomorrow for our dressage test "run through". I had planned to give her Friday off, but if she's still feeling good tomorrow I may hack around the Horse Park a little. Can't wait to head over there, and although I'm having a great time here, I miss my little boy and am itching to do some ground work with Bonnie. In other words, I'm a little homesick!