Pickle's 2nd week at Holiday's

[Tots N Dots]

Well the main week itself was pretty uneventfull, Holiday was mainly building on what Pickle knew, getting him more used to stuff etc, Holiday was also quite busy as her stallion qualified for Trailblazers which was 2 days.
Pickle had a little rest, on his first time out in the paddocks there he had to be brought in a bit smartish cause he made the kids that go to Holiday's yard cry :eek: he kind of does an impression of a torpedo rocket with no brakes, he will stop dead inches from the fence with no warning that he is likely to stop, lol, and the kids thought he was going to hurt himself, i think Aunty Holiday thought so too so he came back in, he had the next day off and settled after his initial bomb about, (he is just the same at home :rolleyes: )
Friday afternoon my back started to play up and all the muscles went into spasm, I have been expecting it as it was bound to happen as we are moving house and I had a lesson booked, so I dosed myself on my prescription pain killers as I was determined I was riding :D
I went to visit on Saturday afternoon and had a lesson with Penny, mainly to get me more relaxed before I get on Pickle, I was really proud of myself, no wibbling, got on a pony who I didnt know and cantered :D
I have no idea if my back hurts today as my inner thighs and backside hurt more lol,
Holiday waited till I had gone to work Pickle, if things did go pear shaped she didnt want me to worry, but Holiday and Pickle have done very well, extra pics on the signature link as usual, :D

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/totsndots/Pickle/Pickle%20goes%20to%20Holidays/5-8aa.jpg
oh someone has a camera says Pickle
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/totsndots/Pickle/Pickle%20goes%20to%20Holidays/5-8cc.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/totsndots/Pickle/Pickle%20goes%20to%20Holidays/5-8hh.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/totsndots/Pickle/Pickle%20goes%20to%20Holidays/th_5-8backing.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/totsndots/Pickle/Pickle%20goes%20to%20Holidays/?action=view&current=5-8backing.flv)

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/totsndots/Pickle/Pickle%20goes%20to%20Holidays/th_5-8riden.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c34/totsndots/Pickle/Pickle%20goes%20to%20Holidays/?action=view&current=5-8riden.flv)

all done on camera phone for me bless them, so please excuse the choppiness of them

[vimto92]

Thats fantastic!

Ive been waiting for this!

[holiday]

Pickle has been a really good boy. He is quite happy for me to be sat on him he had a little "whats that" when i first sat astride him and threw his head up then was absolutely fine.

The pictures are as we sat on him my friend stood back and kept taking them so that is the first we have sat on him in the video!!!!!

He is is quite happy for me to put my leg on him without having a fit, which is always a big bonus, as of course the first thing you do normally is send them forward with the leg if you have a problem but not all babies appreciate this!!!!!!!!!!

We thought we would wait until Tots n dots had gone home only as if things had gone pear shaped we wouldnt put mummy into a panic. I always get on in the yard, which some would disagree with but thats my way!!! If they panic and take off round the school you have a much greater chance of upsetting them completly as they cant do corners etc. but at least in the yard it is limited where they can go!!!!!!

I usually then ride out of the yard and onto the drive and up and down there before going in the school. I will then ride in and out of the school rather than being shut in for a few times then ride back to the stables to get off, as i use the stable block as the horses "safety zone" where they feel safe. Some youngsters have an issue with you getting off so if they are used to you getting on and off somewhere enclosed they are more settled and "helpful" theres nothing worse than a baby who suddenly decides they wont let you off!!!!!!! Then in a few days they will happily work in the school and i then mount and dismount in there!!

This obviously doesnt work for everyone but it does for me!!! I will keep you informed of his progress!!!!

Tots n Dots rode Tommy lovely and we were really proud she came and got on without a murmur - she had asked me not to be fierce - dont know where she got that idea from!!!!

[Whatanejit]

Ickle Pickle is such a wonderful chap by the looks of things. V. intelligent boy - T&D you'll have a lot to do to amuse him when you get him back.

Well done all - really enjoying the updates - I don't know much about backing apart from watching Monty Roberts and Richard Maxwell on T.V;) so this is an education.

Keep up the good work.

xx

Dee

[raingodz]

Things are looking good :) He seems to be working very hard :)

[Tots N Dots]

T&D you'll have a lot to do to amuse him when you get him back.
umm I have a few books lined up to work through, I am determined when we move that I will at last own a bookcase, then they will all be to hand and not in the loft lol.

We thought we would wait until Tots n dots had gone home only as if things had gone pear shaped we wouldnt put mummy into a panic. I can quite understand as I am very prone to having a wibble, I will admit I didnt really see he would have much of a problem, Pickle likes to snooze alot laying down, I have been sitting on him (but not my weight on him) while he lays down and patting his sides with my arms, my idea being that he would get used to someone talking to him from that position and the feel of things on his back, (I had Pickle coloured hair on my bum before I rode Tommy as Pickle was laying down and we had cuddles while Holiday was busy ;) ), it must feel very different to him when he is stood up though. I have also been in the field at home with my hands on his back jumping up and down at the side of him, cause thats what people do when they get on :D locals here passing the field think I am a bit nutty ;)
Tots n Dots rode Tommy lovely and we were really proud she came and got on without a murmur - she had asked me not to be fierce - dont know where she got that idea from!!!!
my confidence has been going from strength to strength, Holiday saw 3 1st's from me, I rode without a body protector, 1st time in 8 years, very very naughty I know, but it was so hot I would have passed out with it on, I was so so so determined I was riding :D I got on a pony I had never riden before with no "wibble" what so ever and I cantered circles, before Sasha was diagnosed with bone spavin in her hocks, boy did she "motorbike" on corners, I always felt her legs were about to go from under her, there was a time in a training session when I didnt know they would be jumping, Sash popped the little poles lovely, but it took 3 times round the school to stop, I was sat over the girth buckles at one stage and I have since had problems if the horse I am riding leans on corners, Tommy was lovely and I trusted him (and of course Holiday to have my best interests at heart) right from the outset :D
as for fierce? have seen you teaching some kids ;) when Holiday commands stand, everyone on the yard including the dogs freeze :cool: :p (joke :D ) I felt anything but lovely though, I am quite aware I have been nowt but a happy hacker for too many years, I felt like a sack of spuds with too many bad habits, poor Tommy :D

[NoviceNic]

Bev - look at him being such a good boy. All grown up with a person on his back. What a beautiful picture. :)

[Rips]

:D Nice to see someone else with similar strange methods :p
Neighbours back there ponies in the stable aisle as well and walk them in and out. To me it seems incredibly dangerous (the possible head smacking of concrete factor!) but I've never seen it go badly.

[Tots N Dots]

To me it seems incredibly dangerous (the possible head smacking of concrete factor!)
must admit that was my 1st response, that and possibility of connecting with the top of a stable door lol, But since Holiday got me thinking about it, it makes sense :D less room for them to go nuts and the hard floor hurts their feet if they jump about :rolleyes:

[Tots N Dots]

Bev - look at him being such a good boy. All grown up with a person on his back. What a beautiful picture. :)
I know :D I was all choked up again :o I am such a nit lol

the first picture really made me giggle, he looks such a donkey :D second picture is as if he doesnt even notice Holiday up there, but he does like a camera, he tries to eat mine hee hee

[Dummer&Drummer]

he is so pretty, it looks as though he is having a lovely holiday x

[Werehorse]

Aww bless, hes doing really well! :D

[holiday]

Just an update on where we are at now..............

Pickle is now perfectly happy for me to get on and off without a thought, tonight i got straight on him without lunging and rode straight out of the yard and up and down the drive then took him in and out of the school.

I dont lock them in the school to start off with as the stables are the safety zone i use if i have any problems, as i can ride out of the school and take them back if need be, although that very rarely happens, its probually my safety zone more than theirs!!!!!!!!! Once they are confident to work in the school i mount them in there and dismount when ive finished.

He has worked quietly in the school just in walk and stand and i will introduce trotting probually tomorrow. He is struggling to concentrate in the wind as much as maybe he could, but isnt silly but uses it to his advantage, and of course we are at the top of a hill and it is always windy, but at the minute with proper wind we are getting blown away!!!!!!!!

Im really pleased with his progress and hopefully now he is more confident we will move on again quite quickly.

I will update again shortly!!!!!!!

[Whatanejit]

What a good boy!


xx

Dee