Mittwoch, 29. Dezember 2010

Back on Track

I think we're finally back on track. After not working Crispin for months and then retraining him during the last few weeks, I feel like we are finally progressing to new things.

I wasn't sure if or what kind of training aid to use on the lunge. Quite a while ago I had tried side reins for about two seconds, awful! So I started to think. Maybe vienna reins, maybe something else. I was intrigued by the pessoa system. Quite a contraption. I did a search on the net saw a few videos of it used on youtube and bought it online for 30€.

It took Crispin quite a while to get used to the part that runs around his haunches. I think I had to hand walk him while he was wearing it about 5 times before I could even think about lunging him in it. Once he got used to the part around his haunches it was very easy to introduce him to the rest. To be honest it also took me a while to figure out how to handle the thing, too.

I have lunged him in it twice now and I think I really like it!  The version I'm using is the cheep one from Harry's Horse. The aid is very light and everything is in motion in a good way. The horse can't lean on it but is also doesn't become too loose. There is always a slight contact to the bit. Crispin seemed to be comfortable with it from the start. The aid seems to lead the horse into the chosen position without pulling it into it.


The picture isn't the best. It was too dark in the indoor. He went better when I was not trying to handle pony, lunge and whip in one and the camera withe the other hand. ;-)

What else is there to report?! Oh, yes. Snow. We are having tons of snow! And I, of course have tons of pictures of Crispin in the snow!

At first, the best thing about snow: white feet! It is ridiculous but I just adore Crispin's clean white hooves. Usually they are never this clean.


And one or two just for fun. Crispin and the gang molesting a log. Poor things, they never get enough food!


Mittwoch, 15. Dezember 2010

Not much to report

Even though there isn't really much to report I will give a quick update on things.

The leg is looking alright (maybe I should take some pictures today). The pressure sores are healing pretty good and the swelling hasn't become as big again as I feared it would. Still, there is quite a bit of it left.

Before
Now


Pressure Sore
The yellow stuff on the sore is just a little iodine. It really does look pretty good so far.

I decided to work Crispin a little again. Just a bit in hand work and a little bit of lunging. Whenever I'm working him I put on the bridle and surcingle/pad now, even though I'm still working him off the bit, just to get him used to the equipment.

I really think I need to start him in side reins or any other kind of lunging aid. But as long as I'm only working him so little I don't feel he's quite ready for it. Well, maybe next time, next week, at least in hand.

Oh, and don't tell Santa, I already got Crispin his first Christmas gift:


Doesn't he look dashing?!

It's the Rambo Newmarket fleece cooler from Horseware in navy/cream/baby blue. Just his colors. It is soooo nice! The fleece is very thick and so cosy. Plus, I bought it on ebay and it was a very good deal. He doesn't really need a cooler like that yet and it is a little big but I think it will be very usefull in the future.

Sonntag, 5. Dezember 2010

From frustration to becoming slightly bipolar...

Lately, I'm suffering from serious horse related mood swings. Not fun. Of course this is all about the leg. I talked to the vet again, he had some ideas, I've tried. They didn't really work. Up, down, up, down.

A couple of days ago Crispin, for the first time, didn't want to be caught. He walked away from me and hid in one of  the feeding stalls. Of course he did let me catch him, but I sure got the massage: "Leave me alone!" Big bummer. Poor little New Welsh.

The swelling?! It does look much better. The procedure seemed to have worked BUT will it be ok without a bandage to put pressure on for a little while longer until it is really all gone?

The pressure sores look ugly but are healing fine so far. They should be without a rubbing bandage! The weather is nice too for healing. Cold, no mud or flies.

My bigger concern still is the swelling. And I'm going from all is good to all is ruined in an instant all the time. I guess only time will tell, because right now it seems there isn't much I can do. *sigh*

Mittwoch, 1. Dezember 2010

so much for optimism

I think I have hit rock-bottom for the fist time since I got Crispin. I'm officially and thoroughly frustrated!!!

I don't think I'll get rid of that stupid swelling any time soon, which means I will not be able to start him under saddle anytime soon. Plus I have not found any good solution for the closing of the Offenstall either.

OK, the swollen knee. It's not too bad but It's not looking like it's almost gone either. And to add insult to injury: The bandage seemed to have helped BUT there is a huge pressure sore on the back of the knee now. I was so carefull with each bandage and to be honest, I think the sore already started with the second bandage the vet put on and only got progressively worse from day to day.

What now?!

I have left off the bandage the last two days and even though it isn't too bad, there is already some fluid back. Granted, it isn't much yet but I'm pretty certain it will become more soon.

So, what to do now? Without the bandage I'll be back at square one in no time. With a bandage there will be huge, huge sore that puts Crispin in pain and might develope into a bigger problem sooner or latter.

That's what's most frustrating, having no real option and not really seeing the light at the end of the tunnel either.

Dienstag, 23. November 2010

Cautiously optimistic

After changing the bandage again yesterday I felt a little optimism creep in. In the past, once the cut closed the swelling became bigger again, bandage or not. That's what I was afraid of when I changed the bandage on saturday. Yesterday, it really looked like the swelling was smaller than it had been two days earlier. Maybe, just maybe...

Oh, and Crispin was very well behaved again too!

Samstag, 20. November 2010

Good Boy!

Today I had to change the bandage and guess what, Crispin was perfectly well behaved. Such a good boy. The wound is looking good the swelling could be better. Will see if it needs to be cut and  drained once again during the week. But for now everything looks fine. Here's the poor thing with his brand new bandage:

Freitag, 19. November 2010

Update on the knee

Well, it is different this time. Hard to tell if it worked or not (and I really hope it did/will work!).

On monday Crispin was miserable. He was in a lot of pain, would hardly put any weight on the leg and ran a pretty high temperature. I talked to the vet and put him one bute. Thankfully he was much, MUCH better the next day. No fever anymore and almost no lameness. On tuesday the vet came out to pull the drainage. The wound looked infected and there was a little pus. Vet said that, since we were aimimg for infection, this much infection was ok but it should not get any worse. He put Crispin on antibiotics.

From now on I'm on my own. I'm supposed to change the bandage whenever it needs changing which is about every other day.

Thursday was the first day I had to do a bandage change. I was very nervous about it. Not because of the bandage but because of Crispin. The Vet had to sedate him both times he worked on him and so had the dentist last week. After the fuss he had made with the leeches I was really worried that he would start to put up a fight and that the fighting would get worse with every time I'd have to do a bandage change.

I made plans to have a friend out at the barn to help me but started out to try alone first (I wanted to at least get the old bandage of by myself). He started to be fussy at first, tying to get a way not holding still,  until he knocked over my box with grooming suplies (which didn't really stand anywhere near him). The crash scared him so much that he decided from that moment on to be a perfect little boy and he let me change the dressing without any more trouble. He got lots of praise for that of course. What a good boy. I was so relieved! I hope the changing of the dressing will not be a problem anymore. It would be horrible if I had to fight with him over this every other day.

The wound looked OK. The vet had told me to open up the cut and to try and drain the swelling. So I did or tried to. The cut looked healed but I could open it by pulling the sides apart, thanks to a little bit of pus left. There was some swelling but not the kind I could drain by massaging the fluid out of it. So, things are definitely different this time, that's for sure. I just really, really hope that it is the right kind of different.

Montag, 15. November 2010

This is where we try again...

Even though the leeches did a decent job they are just not up to the challange. The swelling is very big, the weather not ideal for the bloodsuckers, it's too cold and Crispin doesn't enjoy the procedure too much either and is starting to put up a fight each time we are try to treat him.

Since I can not leave things the was they are I took the chance and let the vet try again. The procedure is a little different now and I really hope it will work this time.

The plan was to open up the swelling again, drain it again, clean it out very thoroughly and then leave a drainage in for a couple of days . The idea was to get a little inflamation into the wound so it will heal better. The dressing is also different this time. Much smaller. This time I will be able to change it myself plus he will be able to go out with too.

Mittwoch, 3. November 2010

Well, that was a waste of time (and money!)

...nothing has changed! The swelling is just as big as ever (well, maybe it's a little smaller than before). I did everything like I was told to. Left the bandage on till monday. The vet had said to leave it on until the weekend or as long as possible. Once I took it off I could see that it had slipped more than it looked like from the outside. There was a little swelling about half the original size but bigger than it had been monday.

I had to leave Crispin without a bandage overnight and the next day all the fluid had run back and the swelling was just like it was 17 days ago. Bummer. No need to tell you just how upset I was. Not only did I already spend a fortune on the treatment, this also means that I would probably have continue with putting Crispin in the Robert- Jones for weeks and weeks, spending a lot of money and worst of all confine Crispin to weeks on end of stall rest. Not really an option.

I talked to the vet. He told me that, if I was willing to do most of the work myself, he'd be willing to cut open the leg once more. He'd go a little deeper this time to cause a little more inflamation and  he would show me how to put on the bandage and how to continue with the treatment. I would of course have to pay for the material used, but he'd work for free. It's an option.

The second option is giving the leeches a chance. The vet will not be able to do the procedure before the middle of november. In the meantime I'll give the leeches a try and see how that will turn out...

*sight*

Freitag, 29. Oktober 2010

I almost forgot: HE'S HOME!!!

Actually he's been home since monday.

During the weekend I decided that I want him home. Period. I called the clinic in the morning telling them that I wanted to be present when they changed his dressing and that I was going to take Crispin home with me afterwards.

The leg looked pretty good. Much better than I had expected. The cut where the vet had opened the haematoma was tiny and basically healed and there was very little swelling. Still, the vet put on another dressing (Robert-Jones-Bandage is what this thing is called) to put pressure on the swelling and to keep fluid from running back into it.

After that we loaded Crispin and took him home.

Another thing I almost forgot: Another three months have gone by. Time for pictures!

These are sure going to be awful. Crispin's is still wearing the bandage and it has been on since monday. It sure sure looks worse for wear. The big bloodstain is from when we used the leeches for the first time on the other leg (on the small haematoma there,  which is looking pretty good after two treatments with the little bloodsuckers).

But here we go, Crispin at 3 and 1/2 years old:

Freitag, 22. Oktober 2010

...not home yet...

Almost a week has passed and Crispin is still at the clinic. The dressing was changed for the first time on tuesday. Unfortunately some of the fluid had come back so the vet had to open and rinse the wound once more. The dressing was changed again today (friday) with pretty much the same result.

Crispin is on stall rest and coping ok. He's relaxed enough but still I really want him home!

Montag, 18. Oktober 2010

First BIG vet bill *sigh*

At least It took a little over a year before it came to this. Crispin's first big vet bill is coming my way.

I don't know If I have mentioned this on here before. A while ago Crispin started to get little swellings just above his knees on his front legs. Little bruises it looked like. I figured they were self-inflicted. He seems to hit his knees in the feeding stall. No other horse seems to have that issue, it's just him, he seems to be just the right size. It got worse with the flies over the summer. I guess every time he pulled up his front legs to shake off flies he hit his knees.

There was never lameness, heat or tenderness. I treated the bruises with Compagel without much success. 
One swelling stayed small and even went away over time the other became bigger and during the last 3-4 weeks really big. It looked like a big jucy orange all squishy and soft. Still no pain or lamness but of course I became worried and scheduled an appointment with the vet for x-rays and ultra sound.


Good news, it really is only a bruise just under the skin. The bad news, it won't just go away by itself.

So, two days ago I packed up Crispin and left for the Clinic next door. It almost broke my heart to leave him there. He looked so incredulous when I left him there in one of the tiny box stalls and didn't take him back home.

They cut open and drained the bruise. All went well so far and now Crispin is recovering. I was very glad to see that he seemed quite happy and contend when I went to visit yesterday. He's wrapped up to the chin and has to stay a few more days until he can come home. Hopefully he'll recover nice and quick without any complications so I can take im back home soon.

Sonntag, 3. Oktober 2010

Hello Handsome

Guess what, it (almost) fits! I can not belive it but Amy's old jumping saddle almost fits Crispin. It is a little too wide, but that could mean he'll grow into it sometime. I would just love that since I really like that saddle.

With a little extra padding (and without the weight of a rider) the saddle will do just fine for now.


Like always Crispin was pretty unfazed by the idea of wearing a saddle. He was just a little tense when I first put it on but after a couple of tries (and cookies) he was fine. I took him for a walk with the saddle and he could not have cared less. Good Boy!

Montag, 27. September 2010

First year summary

How time flies when you're having fun! I can't belive it has been a whole year already since Crispin came into my life. Time for a quick review and summary of our first year together.

It was a great year. Crispin was the perfect little pony quite literally from the first second and has been ever since.We're a perfect match I think. He's curious, smart, people oriented and cuddlly. He's very food motivated (which, I think, is a good and very heplful thing) not very herdbound (another good thing). Easy to handle and eager to please. Just perfect!

The first year's training was basically basic stuff:

  • Crispin now knows that haltering is a fun thing and is very easy to catch no matter if he's out on pasture or just in the paddock. (Something I couldn't dream of doing before he came to Münster.)
  • He leads like a true gentleman (walk or trot, halt, over poles, little jumps, tarp, bridges, in the ring or on the trails). He stops and leg yields in hand too and will do a TOF and TOH.
  • He loads (well, Christina achived that but I haven't undone the training ;-) )
  • He lunges (walk and trot, canter on the lunge doesn't work as well yet).
  • He knows bit and bridle, saddle pad and surcingle and blanketing.
  • He ties well and stands very well when tied. 
  • He stands for farrier and vet and for grooming (of course).
There are a million other little things he has learned this year and of course he has grown up a lot physically and mentally too. The next steps are more lunging and, finally, backing. And I'm sure the next year will be just as fun than the first! (Or even better!)

Donnerstag, 23. September 2010

Action shots

Yesterday I made the effort to set up a paddock in the old outdoor ring behind the indoor to let Crispin play run out there and hopefully get some nice action shots of him.

Well, he did run and play but the sun wasn't on my side (quite literally) but against me. Unfortunately this resulted in some poor to mediocre pictures. But still, here they are:

Wheeeee:
 A couple of trot shots:

And the only shot that's a decent quality, tired and ready to call it a day:


Montag, 13. September 2010

Preliminary Decisions...

After two weeks of checking out barns, driving from one barn to the next, each one worse than the one before, I've made a decision for now. Until the Offenstall is finally gone, Crispin is going to stay where he is. I'm still hoping to find a decent Offenstall by then but chances are slim to none.

There were two barns that were sort of alright. At one of them the barn owner is going to build a second Offenstall till spring and another barn has some really big, BIG box stalls. Both barns aren't perfect but the only choices I have so far.

Of course all this too has consequences for Crispin's training. It means that I really need to start him under saddle until spring, before I might have to move him to another barn. I know, that was the plan anyways but now I feel a little pressured to stick with it too.

Like I said before: Damn! ;-)


Dienstag, 7. September 2010

Damn!

it's been a very depressing and frustrating week.

No, no, not Crispin. He is the same good little pony he always is. He's not so happy with himself right now because he's teething again but besides that he's alright.

No, it's the barn. Ina told me last week that they are closing the "Offenstall" down! *ugh* The "Offenstall" will be closed down after the winter (feb./mar.) and box stalls will be put up instead. Of course we are all welcome to stay and put our horses into one of the new stalls but right now I'm pretty sure that a box stall is no option for Crispin yet. The problem is, that this is pretty much leaving me with no option at all.

There are plenty of barns around who have decent box stalls but there are next to none that offer decent 24/7 turnout the way I need and want it.

The last week we spend looking up adresses and checking out barns and so far: NOTHING, one barn is worse than the next. Very frustrating!

Today we will be looking at some more barns but I do doubt that any of them will fit our needs even remotely.

Dienstag, 24. August 2010

Back to basics






After concentrating on the "Bundesschau" for the last month I'm now back to intoducing Crispin to bit, bridle and surcingle.

I'm ridiculously happy and impressed whenever he is wearing his bit and bridle or any other kind of tack. He looks so "grown up" then . :-D

He does not like the bit, he thinks it's annoying but he also can't resist the delicious paste I always smear on it (cough drops dissolved in water, very sticky and sweet). It's funny to watch.

Today, for the first time he wore "his" saddle pad. I bought it last year, it's in his color and has his name embroidered on the side. So far I haven't used it because it was too stiff and new. I used an old pad, a less scarry pad.

I think he looks so good in his new "outfit" all grown up, I just had to take a picture (it was his first time wearing bridle AND surcingle too).

Montag, 16. August 2010

Show report

OK, here it goes, our first show report: The good, the bad and... ...no, let me phrase that differently

...the good, the stupid and the very good that the stupid turned out to be...

At first let me say, I can not tell you just how nervous I was. It was ridiculous! I was sick to my stomach the whole morning before I left for the barn. I'm NEVER this nervous! I do not have a problem with show nerves. Never had. Maybe sometimes just a ride or two before I had to enter the ring in a jumper class I would get a little nervous (heck, you can break your neck in a jumper class). But usually I'm just very excited and nervous in a positive way.

I think it was the unknown that drove me crazy. With Amy I always knew what was coming. She was fun at shows. No matter if she went well or not, she loaded/unloaded well and rode basically like she did at home. With Crispin I had NO idea what was coming.

Well, he was a star! And I still think he was a star even though we didn't place (or even finished our course, for that matter)!

The Good: he loaded well at home and good enough after the show. (After the show he took his time to decide if he was ready to get into the trailer or if the whole "show thing" was just way to interesting to leave just yet. It took him about 10 minutes and a couple of carrots to decide that the trailer it was the right choice.)

The stupid: I knew that we couldn't/wouldn't do the rocker. So, before the class I went to the judge to ask him if I had to try and tackle each obstacle or if I could just take the penalty and continue to the next. He said I could just pass. Obviously he didn't know his class!

We went through the first obstacle (the gate and umbrella) and passed the second only to be disqualified. Very embarassing! Obviously it didn't matter If a team failed each and every obstacle, they could always continue to the next but they had to at least fake and attempt to try. That was exactly the my question from the start. Well, the judge was very nice and I think he didn't know himself (it is an unusual class) he seemed to feel bad and promised I could try again after the class had finished. That turned out be the very good!

Crispin was a very good boy all through out the whole event. He was a little nervous and didn't know where to look first but I think he was just as excited as I was and not scared at all. The audience, clapping, music, announcements, all the other horses, it wasn't a big deal. The biggest problem was to get him to focus on me at first. But after we had waited for the class to end and our turn came to try again he had calmed down enough to focus on me enough to try the simple obstacles again, the ones I knew he could do well.

And here's our "Second try": (I know, my ground work skills are far from perfect yet. Keep in mind, this was my first in hand class as well as his.)



After all, this second try was a great chance to make the whole thing a positive experience for us both. I cold break down each task and make sure he did it right. All in all it was a very good day. Proof again (as if I would need any) that he is the perfect horse for me!

Samstag, 14. August 2010

Today is the day...

...and in about an hour I'll be off.

The class will start at around 12.45 am and it looks like Crispin is going to be the first horse to go. Not ideal, I would have liked it if he would have had the chance to watch a few horses before his turn, well, nothing to do about it.

The last two trainings at home went really well but that doesn't mean anything, everything will be new and different at the show.

I'm confident that he'll load just fine but still I'm VERY nervous and excited! I'm so courious about his reactions to all the new and exciting things that are going to happen to him today!

I'll just hope I'll get my nerves under control in time.

Dienstag, 10. August 2010

Busy week ahead

The Bundesschau is only 4 days away and it is going to be a busy week for us.

I have not done as much in hand training as I should have during the last month. On friday the confirmation for the show arrived including the setup for the "Gehorsamsprüfung". It's almost exactly like last year (the video). The only difference is that this time it will be an umbrella that has to be carried (instead of a bucket) while going through the gate. Unfortunately there will also be the "Teeter Totter" included again, like last year. Already one obstacle we will fail (or better not even attempt to try) because I can't train for it at home.

Crispin has not been near a trailer since his arrival almost a year ago. Needless to say that I was very curious about his reaction to it when we did a bit of loading training on sunday and monday. No big deal. We made everything very inviting. He went up and down the ramp a few times (and I let him) and then went in. We loaded and unloaded a couple of times and all went well. Good boy. Obviously Chistina's loading training from last year still sticks.

Today for the first time I set up more or less the whole trail. Crispin was a Star! I think he's never been as good and focused before as he has been today. Since this wasn't the dress rehearsal I'm going to take it as a good omen.

Freitag, 30. Juli 2010

Dentist and an anniversary of sorts

Two days ago the equine dentist was here again. Nothing much to report. Everything is just the way it's supposed to be at Crispins current age. The caps of two more molars are off, two more to come this year.

It was also time again to take pictures. The pictures were taken july 29th 2010. Crispin is 3 years and 3 months now (AND one year ago I went to see him at Christina's for the first time, that's an anniversary ;) ).

It's the first time that I actually think he is starting to look a a little more grown up:

My favorite from the session:

29 Juli 2010

And the comparison from last year to now:

Conforight290710 zwei

conforigt

Confoleft 290710

confoleft 07/27/09

Samstag, 17. Juli 2010

There is something about the outside of a horse...

...that is good for the inside of a man. ~Winston Churchill~

Today I had an experience that once again showed just how true this statement is and how little it sometimes take to leave me smiling to myself the rest of the day.

I was a the barn little early today, the horses were still outside in the pasture so I went to get them in.

They were in the back so I went half way down the pasture before they saw me. I called them in and they were willing enough cantering past me up into the lower and then into the upper paddock where they disappeared around the corner.

But not all of them.

Crispin only cantered 10 meters into the lower padock, stopped turned around, let the others get out of sight and waited all by himself just for me! He waited until I arrived at his side and then we went up together, side by side.

A tiny act but still, it made my day! So it must be true. There IS something about the outside of a horse...

Dienstag, 13. Juli 2010

Short term goal

I did it! In a last minute maneuver I entered Crispin at his first Show. It's just one in hand class but still.

It took me quite a bit of time to decide which class to choose. There was a breed class and an in hand Trail class I could choose from. The breed class would have been easier for him but much more expensive to enter (more than 3 times of what entering the trail class cost). The trail class is of course more difficult for Crispin though not unmanageable. And this way I have a good reason to work more on the trail stuff at home which isn't at all a bad thing to do anyways.

Besides, I'm not taking Crispin to win but to show him something new. If he's going to be too nervous I'll just scratch the class and show him around the show grounds. No big deal.

Since you're probably as visual as I am, here is a video YouTube video from last year. Same show, same class. This, or something like this is what we have to expect in four weeks:



I doubt though, that Crispin is going to be as relaxed as this cute little pony!

P.S. Meike or Christina, If you read this, I know who the little guy is ;-)

Samstag, 26. Juni 2010

The lunge

Time for another little update. Like I'd planned I did start to lunge Crispin once a week. I started sometime in may and he picked up the concept quite quickly.

Never the less it took me sometime to be confident enough in his abilities to actually try to take some pictures of him on the lunge. He's very sensitive to my body language and I did not want to confuse him (being my physically chalenged self, handeling pony, lunge, whip and camera at the same time) ;-)

Here are some pictures:

Walk:

Longe Schritt 3

Trot:

Longe Trab 1

Sporting his new (well borrowed but new to him) attire:

After work

Mittwoch, 2. Juni 2010

Fun and Games

Most of his time Crispin spends with his herd. Today I give you the chance to take a look at how he spends his free time without me:

Playing rough!

The little guy he's playing with is Imber a Camargue horse. Poor guy has to put up with a lot because Chrispin does not get tired of this game, ever...

Knapps 1

Hopp

Happ2

Happ3

Schulterknipps

Samstag, 15. Mai 2010

Measured and weighed

Once a year the barn owner invites to have the horses weighed and measured.

Sunday was the day. After a little bit of hesitation Crispin bravely went on the scale and got weighed:

445 Kg. More than I though.

And they measured him too. 156 cm. I'm not quite sure I want belive that, even though they mesured him twice (he didn't like the lady with the measuring stick too much).

Freitag, 7. Mai 2010

Babysteps

Today I did it. The first little bit of lunging.

After six or more weeks of doing basically nothing but hand grazing I decided that it was time for the next step.

Unfortunately the outdoor ring was a muddy mess and in the indoor ring my trainer was giving an unscheduled lesson to one of the pony girls. Damn. But I was set on training so training it would be.

The problem with indroducing Crispin to lunge is that I have to use a different approach from what would be ideal. I could not start with free lunging him. We're not allowed to free lunge in the indoor, we don't have a round pen, and the outdoor ring is waaaaay to big. So I decided to try the T-Team approach by unsing diffent leading positions and go from there. I had done the "leading between both hands" and "leading from a distant" with Chrispin before, but had not done any in hand training for weeks. Plus my trainer was in the idoor watching and suddenly I was unaccountably very nervous. So Crispin decided that nervous was the way to be. he spooked when a horse passed him at canter and wasn't willing to concentrate on my. Great, now my Trainer robably thinks that we're set on disaster!

After a couple of minutes Crispin calmed down (like he ALWAYS does) and the first try to lunge him went really well. He got the concept after a minute or two. Good Boy!

We've worked on lunging two more times and he really got it now I think. He stops, walks, trots (only for 2-3 rounds each time) on both hands on the lunge and is really relaxed. Clockwise is his favourite direction.

Dienstag, 27. April 2010

...everybody sing...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

(actually I did make Meike sing for him, he didn't like it) ;-)

Today is Crispin's 3rd Birthday. A day to celebrate and to take some more pictures.

He did grow up since last fall, not only physically but mentally as well(or maybe it's due to the spring) but he's no baby anymore he's a teenager now. He knows everything is playing rough and is questioning me now and then (in his charming and easily controlable way) but still he has changed.

ConfoRigh 3rd BDay

Samstag, 17. April 2010

Third Freejumping

For the third and the last time (until fall at least) we did some freejumping on sunday. And once again Crispin did well. I asked him to do a little more this time and as always it was interesting to see him working things out.

At the beginning he seemed a little overmotivated and a little subchallenged. Once things got a little more challenging he was more carefull and not rushing as much. I really like the last round, because here for the first time he's keeping his rhythm, trusting the distance (two strides) of the combination.

Untitled from AmityBee on Vimeo.



Besides the freejumping there isn't much else to report. Things are nicely boring. We started to hand graze the horses about 10 days ago so pasture season should be on it's way.

Freitag, 26. März 2010

Tarps and Tapes

Another big thing on my to-do list is desensetizing/de-spooking Crispin, especially if I'm really going through with the plan of showing him in the "Gelassenheitsprüfung an der Hand" at the Bundeschau. Only problem?! I have no talent and even less motivation of doing so!

So... ...why not doing things a little differently and let the herd do my job!

On saturday I started to put up some "scarry" stuff in the paddock (I only put the stuff in as long as I'm there and take it out again before I leave). The first thing was a "Flattervorhang" made out of red and white barrier tape. Crispin was intrigued the rest of the herd could't care less. Perfect situation!

Crispin watched the other horses for while (they were walking through the tape or were ripping little pieces of tape off) and after they were done he inspected the tape himself, trying out everything he'd seen. Very cute! (Of course he was rewarded with cookies for that!)

A few days latter I added the tarp (well, actually it's a trash bag). I knotted it to the Flattervorhang, no big deal!

Folie h�ngend

Folie h�ngend2

Then I put in on the ground. It was scarry at first...

Am Boden1

...but then he went for the kill...

Am Boden3

...and shredded the thing into pieces!

Am Boden4

The next step was steping on the tarp. He needed a bit of encouragement at first.

Step on

Good Boy!

Step on2

Destruction!

Step on4

Donnerstag, 18. März 2010

a little note to self...

...153,5 cm!

FINALLY, today I managed to get the level and ruler from Burghard an measure Crispin. He' 153,5 cm tall today!

Montag, 15. März 2010

The second time free jumping

Since I don't know how many more times we will organize a bit of free jumping before the summer, I took the chance to let Crispin jump again on sunday. Three weeks in between two sesions of 5 rounds should be OK for an almost 3 y/o I think.

This time I edited the video a little (the quality is worse than last time due to the editing). He was just as well behaved as last time. Good boy!

The line was towards the door this time and he had the tendency to rush through resulting in a little more "contact" to the poles than he strictly like at one time. Of course no big deal and probably very instructive for the little guy.

Untitled from AmityBee on Vimeo.

Samstag, 13. März 2010

...here's the plan!

Yesterday, I suddenly realized that I now do have a plan or rather a draft version of a plan for Crispin.

Of course it all really depends on him and his development over the next two years but so far this is what I'm planning to do:

For now, nothing. I'm sticking with groundwork and walks for now at least until he's really three. We have another appointment with the dentist planned for april and only after that, once he's turned three in the end of april, am I going to take the next step.

The next step (from may until the end of the year) would be to introduce him to bit, bridle, saddle and a little longing. If he seems ready, then I might try to sit on him for a few times by the end of the year.

I would give him the winter off and then, if things go according to plan, will start riding him next spring. I would love to start with taking him on trail rides to build strength and stamina. That shouldn't be a problem. We have some wonderful trails around here. Since we get a lot of horseflies here, he would get the summer off again and in the fall (Crispin will be 4 1/2 by then) I would start riding him in the ring or indoor.

Not the reinvention of the wheel but that would be my plan for the next 18-20 months...

...we will see...

Sonntag, 21. Februar 2010

First time free jumping

Finally, something new to write about!

Today Crispin took another step towards becoming a riding horse by freejumping for the first time!

OK, not much "real" jumping going on today and the whole thing was over after 5 minutes but I think he did pretty good anyways!

My goal today was to just getting him familiar with the concept of free jumping (and since we aren't allowed to free lunge in the indoor he had to get that concept as well).

At first I just hand walked him through the line a few times, then he went through by himself (over a ground pole) a couple of times and finally I made him pop over a tiny cross rail twice. No big deal.

A friend filmed the whole thing. Here's a link to the video. Plus, I'm afraid I have to warn you, I praise a lot and very loud, just can't help myself. It's a little embarrassing at times...

Untitled from AmityBee on Vimeo.

Sonntag, 31. Januar 2010

It's time again!

Another three months have gone by and it's time again for another set of confo pix. Crispin is 2 years and 9 month now to the day in the new pix (and looking like a hairy yak). I'll add the pictures from 6 month ago again for a comparison.

confoleft270110

confoleft 07/27/09

conforight270110

conforigt

Funny how he looks much smaller with all the hair. I'm really, really curious to see what he'll look like in another 3 month. 3 y/o and in a new coat!

Sonntag, 24. Januar 2010

What's the rush? Do I need a Plan too?!

Reading about others who currently own and train a 3 y/o it seems that most are already ready to be backed. Crispin on the other hand? Not so much. That's not really bothering me much, but still it got me wondering. Do I need a plan?!

Looking at the little guy I know that there will be plenty of time yet for his training plus I don't think there will be any riding before next year. But still, maybe I should sit down sometime and put together a plan.

So far I haven't introduced him to any kind of equipment but halter and lead. He leads really well, we do groundwork and he's fun to work with plus he now knows how to be tied and he knows the basics of free lunging, that's it so far.

Samstag, 2. Januar 2010

Officially three now!

Happy new year everyone!

It's 2010 now and Crispin officially a 3 y/o now.

Unfortunately the little idiot got himself kicked a day before New Year's Eve. Nothing too bad but he now has both hind legs a little swollen. The left one has a bruise and the right one a big superficial cut that is a little bit infected. *sight*

Wrapping is out of question. I don't think Crispin would tollerate a wrap yet, plus we have freezing temperatures. I don't think a Rivanol soaked wrap is any good when it's frozen solid.

Thankfully, Crispin doesn't seem to mind much, he doesn't seem to be in any pain and after 3 days of treatment the legs are starting to look much better.

Oh the joys of horsekeeping...