Today was such a bad day with Oryan. He was heavy in my hand, incredibly tense going to the right, and just felt blah. One of the worst rides we've ever had...
And then just like that, I suddenly had THE best day with Oryan! He hadn't been ridden in three weeks! It took me 15 minutes to get on! We trotted on day one! It was one of the best worst rides you could ask for!
My dreams of galloping this boy down the beach and long rides through the forest are getting closer and closer!
Now if this rain could just GO AWAY!
Some memories are so painfully bitter-sweet. I've never shared this little video, though I made it a few years ago.
My soul brother, who I miss so excruciatingly. If you met him, you know why he can't be spoken about. I literally lost a piece of my soul when this boy said goodbye, and even typing this, I'm tearing up, but for some reason sharing him tonight felt the right thing to do.
Miss you my brother x
Well, I said there'd be more Oryan updates...never in several lifetimes would I have imagined our first ride away from home would be at the beach. I absolutely felt like the 9 year old girl who got her first ever horse. Just love this horse. Just love him. For anyone wondering why they're still peristing with their own horse. I promise, it's worth it. Just keep going. Good days, bad days, no days, you WILL get there!
A big boy needs a big flag! The beautiful Lurch, standing a mere 18 hands! This gentle soul came in with minimal handling, and it's been a slow process, but man, was it worth it. This boy is engaging more and more every day, and we're getting closer and closer to getting under saddle.cant wait to get on!
Following on from yesterday's post, thought I'd share some little snippets from today with Oryan. It's been about 2.5 mo the since our last ride. Probably getting closer to 3.
We need to do something everyday, as missing even one day, well, we may as well have turned him out for 6 months.
A couple of months ago I showed a video of the progress Oryan had made getting saddled up. I was so proud of how far he'd come. He's had a few months off as I haven't been able to be consistent...so as we journey on, I am again so proud of him today. I feel it's important to show these first few moments. Still nowhere near what last year looked like, and never could I have imagined that within days into ridden prep he'd be in the long reins.
To give you an idea, I generally allow about 3 weeks to get him into a working routine before I expect to be able to school in the long reins. Today I think is day 5 or 6, and he's had 3 days in the long reins.
The little exercise I do on the mounting block, where I get him to turn away from me, absolutely the most 'relaxed he's been able to do that. And he is absolutely not relaxed as he does it.
But we're not looking for perfection - we're looking for progress. And progress we're making.
Oryan being an absolute legend today...
Marvellous Miley goes home this weekend. Can't wait to hear about all the adventures her and her mum go on when they hit the trails!
Same same. But different. Three horses at three completely different stages. Can anyone guess who is on day 1?
Super sweet Miley is here to be started under saddle, isn’t she cute!! State of mind is the most important thing here at Daniels Equestrian, ensure your horse learns how to learn, as opposed to just having things happen to them. Thoroughly enjoying working with this girl, her confidence is growing every week!
We’re getting there!! Some days it feels like we’re going in leaps and bounds, others it feels like one cm.
The further we get from where we were, the easier it is to get greedy and ask for more, want more, dream of more. The things I want to do with Oryan, man we could have some fun. But it’s his book to write, one sentence at a time - and he’s only just learning to spell.
Oryan’s journey to ridden under saddle continues. There have been so many layers to peel through, dissect and piece back together with this boy, and slower than I ever could have foreseen, we are getting there.
I read earlier this morning trust is built with consistency, and it was rather fitting for our journey so far. Consistently clogging up the days and hours with reassurance. The one thing I’ve let Oryan do, is make mistakes, let him be uncomfortable, let him get things wrong. There’s no punishment, no louder question, another question or the same question a different way.
I’ve been there for him in the simplest way. Consistently. Just have a go. Try and answer the question. I get that you’re uncomfortable but you’ll feel way better in a second if you just trust what I’m asking.
I really wish I’d filmed so much more of the earlier days - his reactions could be so violent to the simplest thing, some days it’s even hard to remember what this time last year looked like.
So as our ridden journey continues… or continues to start at least, here’s a look at one more piece of his story.
Powerful Peppa!!
This phenomenal Riverside mare is just Devine to work with! Bringing her on for her owner has been an absolute delight. It’s so important to remember with these big babies to focus on one thing at a time. There’s a lot of horse to bring together over time, so never be in a hurry to gloss over the fundamentals.
Peppa doesn’t actually spend that much time in the arena, lots of hill work and straight lines to develop strength and tempo!
Polly Pocket!! This little sweetheart has come to be brought back into work and prepare for her first competition. Preparing your horse for their first competition isn’t only about strong transitions and keeping a steady tempo. Being confident and trusting the rider is paramount to a successful, stress free day out.
For those who are following along, a look at the week that was with Oryan. Such a long way to go, but we have come twice as far!
Well it’s been a little while since I’ve been able to play with Oryan, but today was a day. In fact it was THE day. A very long way to go, and just because he was ok today doesn’t mean he’ll be ok tomorrow, but man, so proud of how much this kid tries his heart out every time.
Halter training with little Oscar. The handling of your young stock is setting them up for the future, and at their most impressionable age, take the opportunity to TEACH them. At their most impressionable age, teach them to learn.
Today Oscar learnt about pressure and release…as well as getting a halter on for the first time!
I think this video sums up Oryan perfectly. You can not only see, but hear how worried he is - yet still he is trying so hard. Our journey to getting under saddle is a slow slow slow trip. There are days for sure where I think to myself ‘within the next fortnight, I want to be on’. But it really isn’t up to me. Everything I’m doing is to try and help him feel ok, and most of all, I want him to know that when things aren’t ok, I can help him get through it.
He has to be allowed to feel uncomfortable. He has to be allowed to react in ways we might not consider desirable, without fear of repercussion, in order for us to move forward together.
I absolutely adore this little horse, and he definitely is keeping me in check and always having me ask ‘how much more can I break it down?’
For those interested, a little follow up video on Oryan. Coming along leaps and bounds as this boy tries so hard to please.
Let your horse make the mistake. Let him be uncomfortable, let him get the answer wrong, let him bugger up. As long as he’s trying, let him try without fear. Fear of what’s to come, that gives him a reason to be worried.
Oryan. Where do I even start with this horse? I’d say it was instant love between us, but actually it was more like I just really wanted the cool kid to like me. Incredibly sensitive, hyper reactive, and a known mounting issue, we slowly slowly slowly inch our way forward.
Months and months of just hanging out, liberty work, learning how to use his body when he’s uncomfortable, letting him know he can be scared and uncomfortable and not sure without any consequence. We would just try again.
It was pure luck that I had my phone in my pocket, and on a whim, because I’ve so wanted to document his journey, I thought I better film.
What a day to get on camera!! This is the perfect example of letting a horse make the mistake, and just not making a big deal of the wrong answer, and trying again.
There was a time when I couldn’t even stand on the mounting block - look at us now!!!
This little sweetheart is Joey, an off the track Standardbred who is here learning to canter under saddle. Still very early days but ever so slowly he’s finding both his legs and balance.
Getting out of the saddle allows him to find his coordination and balance without me on his back, as I’m wanting to make it as easy as possible. This gorgeous boy is such a gentleman and tries his heart out every single ride!
