Luanne to the rescue: She came up with an interim plan to make my saddle work. The edges of the rear panels will be stuffed with foam, which is softer than wool. The wool stays in the other areas. The softer edges will relieve the pressure until we find a permanent solution.
While Remy's saddle is being worked on he has to wear his Big Brother's saddle (Remy: "What?? I have to wear his stuff??"). Saumur's saddle is a Schleese Wave with air panels, it was easily adjusted to Remy and we took it for a test drive -uh- ride.
Remy took to the Wave right away. Luanne commented how from the get go Remy was relaxed and his tail was swinging. For me it will be an adjustment, I haven't ridden "on air" in a while. The air panels were perfect for Saumur's very tight back, and the proof is that even at 23 years old Saumur's back looks awesome.
With Remy's more swingy gaits I'm not sure how I'll do - I do have this mental image of me popping off like on a trampoline while Remy happily continues doing his changes, thinking his brother's stuff is not so bad, after all!
Friday, March 24, 2017
Thursday, March 23, 2017
"You have to work smarter - not harder" - and Saumur has an all-nighter
It was "double the trouble" for Judy today: She had lessons with the one that's sometimes hard of listening (JP) and the one that sometimes has a hard time breathing (yours truly). I pre-emptively tried to ply her with her favorite Ritter Sport. Nothing like German chocolate to set the mood --
No worries, though, JP and Chambord had a very good lesson. It's so fun watch these two work. Chambord is trying hard to please, even if he'd rather just take off running and bucking. Remy had to question me in the beginning, as usual, but then we also had a super lesson. Judy's theme was "you have to work smarter - not harder". (She obviously doesn't want me to fall off Remy due to exhaustion). So we worked on getting Remy through in the walk, before moving on to trot and canter. If he didn't keep the thoroughness it was back to the lower gait.
Remy felt great, and I just loved the canter. When he is soft, supple, and yes, through, I feel like we could ride off into the sunset. And if I remember to keep his haunches straight the changes are clean. We started to work on the pre-cursor of canter pirouettes and that was a ton of fun. While cooling him out Andra mentioned "Remy just always looks so happy" - and that made me happy.
Speaking of working smarter... Saumur figured out last night how to open not just the latch but also the clip at his door and let himself out of his stall. His idea of working smarter: Why work hard at getting hay out of the feedbag when you can drag an entire bale into the middle of the barn? He obviously had an all-nighter (just he and the hay!), while the others enviously watched. Saumur probably thought "bien fait pour eux" ("serves them well"). He has to share with them all day long, so they might as well watch him eat for once!
No worries, though, JP and Chambord had a very good lesson. It's so fun watch these two work. Chambord is trying hard to please, even if he'd rather just take off running and bucking. Remy had to question me in the beginning, as usual, but then we also had a super lesson. Judy's theme was "you have to work smarter - not harder". (She obviously doesn't want me to fall off Remy due to exhaustion). So we worked on getting Remy through in the walk, before moving on to trot and canter. If he didn't keep the thoroughness it was back to the lower gait.
Remy felt great, and I just loved the canter. When he is soft, supple, and yes, through, I feel like we could ride off into the sunset. And if I remember to keep his haunches straight the changes are clean. We started to work on the pre-cursor of canter pirouettes and that was a ton of fun. While cooling him out Andra mentioned "Remy just always looks so happy" - and that made me happy.
Speaking of working smarter... Saumur figured out last night how to open not just the latch but also the clip at his door and let himself out of his stall. His idea of working smarter: Why work hard at getting hay out of the feedbag when you can drag an entire bale into the middle of the barn? He obviously had an all-nighter (just he and the hay!), while the others enviously watched. Saumur probably thought "bien fait pour eux" ("serves them well"). He has to share with them all day long, so they might as well watch him eat for once!
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| The aftermath of Saumur's All-Nighter |
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