After Fall, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. The weather here around this time never really gets unbearable. In fact, Sudi got a bath last night, and I didn’t even have to blanket him as the barn temp was a very comfortable 70 degrees!
The barn is getting semi-decorated for Christmas. All the stalls have stockings hanging from the doors – and some even have presents! (I wonder what yummy treats Santa is bringing this year?)
Sudi has decided that candy cane is a definite favorite of his, although Kehbir has decidedly different opinions. Despite my efforts to actually KEEP the candy in his mouth, Kehbir ALWAYS finds a way to adamantly SPIT IT OUT. Which is sad. Not even the goats like it then. So – I gave his candy canes to Sudi. No point in wasting!
Today we’re getting ready to start our Winter holiday by heading up to Southern Pines, NC. We’re going to be spending a, hopefully non-rainy, weekend with Will Faudree! I’m not entirely sure what to expect yet – but I hope he can give me some good ideas to get Sudi’s jumping career off the ground. (yippee!)
Last week, we had a dressage lesson with Susan Selvey, and she gave me some VERY good ideas of how to get Sudi using his core/abdomen muscles better so that he lifts his back more correctly. What a DIFFERENCE this has made! I feel like all the past work I’ve done has simply been band-aids to getting a headset rather than having him really powering through from behind. He’s moving SO much better, and I think he’s understanding as this type of movement comes so much more naturally (and WILLINGLY!) to him.
I’ve figured out that he’s quite a bit weaker on his left hind end than his right – and you can even see this some in his muscle development. I’ve had Amelia (my Horsey Chiro/Massage Therapist) out too check him out, and she thinks he must have damaged his SI joint as some point in his childhood. However, as he’s not in any pain right now, we’re simply trying to help him develop more correctly by forcing him to use that side of his haunches and working him correctly. When I finally get some light to use (I am relegating to riding in the dark for now), I’ll be working him over more trot poles and cavalettis. Interestingly enough, my farrier ALSO noticed yesterday that he wasn’t using his left end as much as his frog is not centered in the hoof. I find this all terribly fascinating and helpful as I structure his work plans and try to better his learning.
Well I’m packed and ready to fly out the door for our trip. Hopefully I’ll have some good videos and pics to load from our trip up north! Happy Holidays!
No comments:
Post a Comment