Is this Winter?

So much has happened this week that I'm really looking forward to spring...in a good way, which isn't always the case. With this crazy Michigan weather, I was able to find a good break from the snow to work Paxton. We started slow just to make sure that we were OK with going back to some sort of a routine workout schedule and so that when we do start working harder, I won't feel that I'm apart of the rodeo.

Starting with lunging which is basically having a long rope, maybe about 25 feet to allow the horse to go in a circle around you. Making them walk, trot, and canter, lunging is a great way to help build up stamina, endurance, muscle mass, just a little bit of everything. Having Paxton start with lunging, or any young horse for that matter, is also a good way for them to get all their silliness out too. He'd start off at a nice easy going walk and when I would kiss or cluck to him, he'd take that as 'time to go crazy all at once.' I do need to catch this on video sometime, but he'd hop off all fours, buck, jump, and go in all sorts of directions. It's quite comical to watch and good for both of us, he does listen when it's time to stop. Lunging's also a great way, at least for me, to see how the footing is. I don't have an arena to work in, but I do have a flat patch of our hay field that I use until I get something put together hopefully come spring. Anyway, we spend about 10 to 15 minutes just lunging before we get into anything more.

I also spent sometime long lining or as some people may refer it as ground driving, a great way for me to break in my new lines. With long lining, it's similar to lunging, the horse still goes in a circle around you at a walk, trot and canter depending on which commands are given. Unlike lunging, where you can use just a halter and a lunge line, I use a surcingle, long lines, and the headstall of a bridle. A surcingle is a band that goes around the horse's back and belly like a belt and has multiple rings to attach or funnel through your long lines, which allows you to collect the horse up and make them work a little bit harder and be more focused When I use a headstall, it's a portion of the bridle that, well, goes on the horse's head, but no reins to attach to the bit to steer the horse around, that's where the long lines come in. I take one of the lines and slide it through a ring in the surcingle, through the ring in the bit and clip it back to the surcingle, and I do the same for the other line on the other side. This is a more advanced version of long lining so I wouldn't suggest going with this type of set up unless you have done it before or have some help, but this helps the horse become more comfortable moving into pressure as well as working on their collection and drive. I'll work on making Paxton do a little bit more than just going around in a circle, there's a little bit more to it than that. I'll have him bend his body either toward or away from me stretching muscles that he may not be used to moving and moving his shoulders around so he's comfortable going around corners when we get to the show pen. Another tool to make things easier later down the road.

Going back, I spent a good portion of the time lunging and long lining, but because it was so nice out, I was also able to ride! First ride of the year and it's outside, in Michigan, in January, and for this coming 5 year old, Paxton did very well. For the most part, he just toted me around, but he did a very good job doing it that you wouldn't think he was that young. I'm hoping within the next couple of weeks that we'll be able to continue working with the break in weather that we have and get geared up for the first show of the season. Less than 4 months away!!

In other news, I was able to get a new schedule at the office so I'm now able to work 'normal' office hours! So I'll be able to have some extra time after work going into spring to work the ponies too! Life is grand, God is Good :)