Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Good Grief!!

Weather Riddles

Got up early to work Tucker before the predicted rain. It was already kind of showery, but I managed a half hour of mostly trotting. He stopped dead twice and put up a little tantrum, but some gentle taps of the whip behind the girth assured him going forward was the best option.

Self-satisfied at my noble effort, I cleaned the stalls and headed inside, ready to wait out the nasty weather.....which never REALLY came.

It did rain, but not as originally predicted and as the afternoon approached, little streams of sunlight kept filtering through the clouds. By noon, I was able to turn Tucker out and convince the other two Boys to join him in the ring and pasture.

But, I had committed myself to some indoor work, so I finished grading all the papers I'd been forced to neglect during my illness. I teach five classes a day, and each class has anywhere from 20-27 students in it, so if each student had completed all the assignments, I had a pile of perhaps 400-500 papers to grade. Yeeeech!

Fortunately, years of practice at grading allows me to look for key features in most assignments, making it not too complicated--though still time consuming--a job evaluating papers. Once graded, I had to record all the grades in my grade book which I will then later transfer to my computer spreadsheet. I also had to decide which student were in danger of failing for the marking level, so I can send notices to parents as soon as we get back in session tomorrow.

So, as you can tell, the better part of the day was consumed with paperwork.

Now as evening begins to drop in, I may go out to long line Chance as he really does need a few sessions.

Or, I may not.

My knees are aching, and it is New Year's Day.

Speaking of which, Happy New Year, Everyone!!

Addendum: 6 PM
I did long line Chance. He was really good. He is the kind of horse that would benefit from draw reins--used very carefully--so he could learn how to give to the bit. I would worry, though, that he would also be the kind that could easily over bend and learn to go behind the bit.

Even on the lines, which I am using "veed" through the top turrets, through the bit, and back to a lower ring on the surcingle, I have to be VERY careful to give and be light when he overbends. What I want him to do is learn to stretch forward to the bit, lowering his neck as he does so without any kind of training rig to encourage it.

It's going to take time, I think.

3 comments:

  1. Happy New Year !

    Oh wouldnt like all that marking to do..my job's becoming more paperwork heavy &i hate it. Trouble is your not given any extra time to do it so its usually done late at night when the kids have gone to bed..not ideal.

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  2. How old are the kids you teach Jean?

    Chance sounds like a bit of a puzzle - would he respond (rather than overbend) to something really soft like an unvulcanised rubber bit? I've also had several horses that went forward better to a straight bar than a joint.

    C

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  3. Chance goes forward with his head up in the air--preferred method for him. When he does drop down, he feels good, but I think his balance is so erratic he just can't keep the frame and feel secure.

    So far the KK three piece bit with the cheek pieces (fulmer) is fine. He just needs to gain the confidence of carrying me and himself.

    If I were to do a lot of lining, I might have to go to a softer bit as he would overbend very easily.

    I teach High School. Grades 9-12: 14-18 year olds.

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