A chilled Filly

Thursday 1 December 2016

Be careful what you wish for !

Be careful what you wish for !
I've continued to work on follow the rail. It's getting really really good. I find that being aware of the bend in Filly's body and correcting that early have been key. So it's not about pushing her shoulder to the rail but feeling her ribs bulge to the outside and pushing them to straight again before the shoulder moves off the line. So James was right about using outside leg isolations to keep her on the rail. It just took me a while to get the sensitivity needed to understand that. We can do whole laps without touching the reins now :)
So yesterday we were following the rail and decided to change rein. Hind quarters to the inside, step front end through. All going well. The school has a post and rail fence and they have fixed metal dressage letters to the top rail. But they hang below the top rail and as she stepped her fore quarters through my right knee got caught behind the edge of the metal marker. So my leg got left behind and I couldn't get it free. So I was pulled off the right side. So I grabbed the loop on the pad to help get upright again, desperate not to come off so close to the fence. This rotated the whole saddle around her. Now I have no choice but to come off, fortunately gently.
So this morning I have a very sore tendon in my left elbow and can't do the washing up :( ! Right hip just a little bruised but otherwise fine. Likewise with right knee.
Prior to this I had decided I would get a breast plate but the sarcoid prevents it at the moment. Definitely getting one though as soon as she is better and it won't rub her.
I'm very very proud of Filly. As I came off she hopped two steps away and then stood there very quietly with saddle hanging off her side and now very tight. Fortunately I use a packers knot on the girth, not the buckle. It was still difficult to undo the knot however. I buckle would have been impossible. Also fortunately I put the mecate end through my belt which pulled free as I fell off. If it had been tied to the saddle that would have really complicated things.
Through all my pulling and pushing at the saddle she did not move a muscle and then stood quietly as I put it all back on. Rode around a while longer after which Ritchie (Regina) had a ride on her.
Like I said I'm so proud she coped with all that :)