Bitless buddies

Well, a few tries on the bitless and I can't say I can tell a difference (which is great), except maybe a more relaxed and happier horse. I recommend giving it a go. Who needs bits anyway? I guess the horse could easily run off and do silly things with a bit in his mouth. In fact, it is said, they tend to relax with bitless and, for example, as our first reaction in a surprising situation is to yank at their mouth (however inadvertently), having a bit in actually makes it worse. The escape reaction in a horse, that is. When there's no bit, there's no pain. The horse may spook but as the spook isn't made worse by a jab in the mouth from the rider, perhaps they calm down quicker.

This picture was taken after our first ride in the bitless last week... It absolutely started hammering down, so didn't ride very long. But it was good.

Today, I decided to ride in the bitless in a 'normal' way, so did all the same work and exercises what I'd normally practise when riding Rainbow (no more test riding per se). I had a very calm and happily moving horse underneath me. She takes long to warm up so I wasn't pushing her into collection or anything, just made sure she was moving off the leg promptly and bending in corners (both our bug bears). I changed direction frequently, as Rainbow seems to get more interested in working the less she can predict what next, and took focal points around the arena to ride as accurate routes as possible. I concentrated on myself and on the clarity of my aids. I also paid special attention to having my hands closed around the reins (not holding with my hand slightly open, which is another bug bear of mine) and keeping a constant contact, giving from the elbow. Then, I concentrated on just riding and sitting as Rainbow moved forwards, working on keeping my leg aids short and succinct. If e.g. a squeeze of the leg didn't produce the desired 'jolt' forwards instantly, I followed with a tap of the whip a couple of times, reminding Rainbow. She knows it, but I am aware I have developed the tendency to pump and she just doesn't listen to my leg always as well as she should, so we both need to become 'more accurate'. This is why, and I totally hold my hands up here, we still are working on these fairly basic ground rules...

But, hey presto, as I relaxed, kept my leg aids and other aids (e.g. not hanging on the inside rein, just using it for guidance in bends and keeping outside rein 'solid') as clear as possible and remembered relaxed shoulders and 'gave in' from the elbow (not fingers!). Rainbow collected herself and moved with an even pace around the school. Both in walk and trot. I had cantered during the warm up but didn't attempt cantering too much as the school was quite mushy from the wet weather we've been having. 

All this achieved and without an instructor! I must be learning something. 

As soon as Rainbow went well and we managed to produce circles and around the school a couple of times, on both reins, I decided to reward Rainbow very swiftly by giving her a pat and a treat, jumped off and loosened the girth, to say well done and thank you very much. We did our cool down walk around the school together, walking side by side – or me slightly leading and Rainbow walking at my shoulder, in the 'sweet spot', as per Mr Monty Roberts' teachings...  :)

Fun times

On Sunday, a group of six riders and horses went on a Summer Hack to our local vintage car and rally hall of fame museum, Mobilia, which is about 5km (as crow flies) from our yard. The aim was not to go on a museum tour with the horses, but it was a good distance away from the yard and gave us a focal point. And they do lovely donuts* (*munkki in Finnish)!

We wandered through the forest, through Wääksy manor, past Pohtiolampi riding centre and wound up onto a grassy patch next to the museum building and a lake. Rainbow had never seen a lake, as I haven't managed to take her to one yet, so she was a bit dubious of the boats and the large 'white' expanse in front of us. Soon, she calmed down as none of the Finnish horses took notice of the lake. 

Rainbow also slightly missed the point of this picnic trip, as about 25 min into us hanging on the grass, she began to be a bit restless and started scooping the ground with her hoof... Madam. It seemed that no quantity of treats or other horses, who were quite happy to graze on the grass, made her think otherwise... And I never put her down as the impatient sort!

On the way back we cantered a bit more than on the way out. I noticed that around 10-km mark, in the final stages of our little trip, Rainbow finally 'warmed up' and actually started cantering/galloping with purpose. Could finally feel the hinds working too...! A bit slow to warm up or what...

Trimming hooves ... by myself!

I have mentioned a couple of times that I went on a course where I learned to trim hooves. I have wanted to learn it for a while now, as I feel by knowing more about the (internal) structure of the hoof and being able to 'help' it by knowing how to trim it regularly (however it must be again point out that the best 'help' for any hoof is diet, correct environment and regular exercise/movement), makes me a better owner for Rainbow. Also the density of professional hoof trimmers in Finland is a bit less than in England, so I feel some self-sufficiency is required just as a 'back-up'. 

My aim is still to get a hoof trimmer to come and see my handiwork a few times a year, as a support for the regular maintenance I do. This ensures I am on the right track as well as helps me ask any questions or show any issues we might have to a professional trimmer. 

Jiri, from Vainikan Aitta, has been to see us twice now. First, when we were 'fresh off the boat' in June and now in August. I took the course at Vainikan Aitta at the end of June, so I have been working on Rainbow's feet since. The first lesson at the course was: don't attempt to trim all four in one sitting, as it's hard work for the uninitiated. It is! So, I have been concentrating in turn on hinds and fronts over the past month and a bit. 

I am not very quick at it and I am grateful for owning such a patient horse. She is almost as easy to trim as those cadaver hooves on the course... Just less smelly! 

But, even in about three times of taking the rasp and the knife in my hand, I have started to get a feel for it. And possibly a bit quicker too – not that speed is the requisite at all. The confidence from having practised on dead horse's hooves has definitely helped me understand the structure but also to learn how much to take off. Another Vainikan Aitta's motto for us students was: it's always better to take less off than too much, so do a little rasping and do it with a thought and consideration, then maybe go on a hack and see afterwards if any more needs done. Less is definitely more.

It's also interesting to see the 'rings' on Rainbow's hooves that have emerged from the coronet after three months of living in Finland. The change in environment and diet, and possibly the stress of traveling such a long way, are now showing in the freshly grown part of the hoof. In the picture below (take yesterday after Jiri's visit), you can see there's a distinct line about two-thirds up. The top bit, showing as darker in the picture, is all the hoof she has grown since May.



We can also see signs of distress, as that's that the rings essentially are; 'trauma' of any sort – change in gut bacteria through change of diet, diet-based problems, e.g. too much sugar in rich summer pasture... Rings like this can almost be called showing that she has had a degree of 'laminitis'. It has become a bit of a problem word of late, as it is used as a 'monster' that scares us all. The fact is that around 90% of horse have laminitic episodes in their lifetime (although this overwhelmingly high number doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to eradicate it). It's any kind of inflammation of the laminae in the hoof, which can come from a variety of reasons. The best thing is to be vigilant and not wait to act until it has got too bad (e.g. horse leaning back and not wanting to move – that's a life or death scenario). I think Rainbow's episode of being sensitive on certain surfaces in the early summer and me working on her such surfaces without protection from boots at first  – as I (stupidly) assumed she'd be OK without them in Finnish gravel roads, when we hadn't ever needed boots in England. There were very few gravel roads in England... And pretty much from the word go she was on pasture here, happily gorging on sugary grasses... Need I say more?

But you live and learn. I am ever more vigilant about any changes she has and I might even start a little diary where I can write it down if I notice something. Over time, if patterns emerge, there may be an easier way of identifying problems. I will also need to start formulating a plan for next summer. It's very difficult, though, to have a solution where both the owner and the horse would be happy, on a yard where the norm is to put horses out on the grass – in big herds, which horses, including Rainbow, love – no matter what. I am not yet in a position to have Rainbow at home on tracks, for I live in a flat with a stamp-sized garden! One can dream...

Here some of my handiwork of late (captions for clarification). Enjoy!

My first attempt at trimming hinds in early July. You can see some bruising on the sole too, which was healing by then but had probably been caused by working Rainbow on gravel roads (too much too soon)

The other hind in July.

All four after trimming on 15 Aug 2014. Fronts were tidied up and trimmed by Jiri and he inspected and advised on my trim of the hinds, which I had done too days earlier, prior to his visit.

Hind trim by moi!

Front-left done by Jiri - 15 Aug 2014 (apologies for blurriness)

Front-right done by Jiri - 15 Aug 2014

Hind-left done by me - 15 Aug 2014

Hind-righ done by me - 15 Aug 2014

Flatwork lesson No. 378, or something like that!

Lots of pics of us on today's lesson under instruction from Iitu.

It's a lovely feeling to finally get the horse working under you and bending as she should. Hard work, for I am not an expert, but oh so satisfying when it comes through... Probably one of those things that keep me hooked on riding!

Inspired by this blog post by Johanna as I set off to the yard this afternoon, I tried to remember nuggets of information she described in how to ride the horse and support it, and to imagine the horse going nicely and noticing they often do when you can first picture it.

It wasn't perfect but towards the end it started to come together. I have blatantly picked the best pictures, if nothing else then as a confidence boost. ;) Thank you to Tiina for coming with me today and first helping groom Rainbow and then sitting on the sidelines snapping a few pics for me.

hello...

I quite hadn't intended to have a month-long break from writing, but there you go... Blame it on the heat that has now been delighting us in Finland for over a month. It's been fab, although a little challenging, as can't work horses in the heat of the day. I have also learned that in hot countries people exercise their horses either really early in the morning or very late at night. 

Here in Finland, even though warm summers are a common occurrence, consistent temperatures in the high-20s or low-30s, for over a month, is not a common occurrence. Usually, heat waves are done within a two-week period or so... But I am not complaining. It's been great and horses have been super-chilled. 

Perhaps the reason I haven't written much is that our life has been a bit samey of late... In a good way, though. We have been hacking a lot, having some flatwork lessons and been jumping too. General life, I guess. I have also been trimming Rainbow's hooves myself! I do have a trimmer coming to see us this Friday to check my handiwork. Luckily R is so calm she has let me faff with her feet a fair amount... For I am not yet very quick at it! Also, it's been extra 'fun' to do it in the heat; weight loss guaranteed, sweat so much.

My next challenge, which I am sure I will find motivation to write about soon enough, is probably trying out bitless. I have been wanting to do it a long time but feel now it's the right time. 

i ordered an Orbitless bitless bridle for Rainbow upon a recommendation from a friend in the UK who uses it on her horse. I also bought a Monty Roberts Dually Halter finally, as feel it might be useful in teaching R the concept of bitless and also for other groundwork type working with her. 

Then I also purchased a riding pad for riding without a saddle. I have now tried bareback with Rainbow a couple of times but it's not super-comfortable trying, for example, trotting. So the pictured Best Friend riding pad was a godsend. I have tried it once and will try make working without a saddle a fairly regular thing for us. 

Images below are curtesy of Orbitless Bridle and Best Friend. Linked as above.