I had a great lesson yesterday. A good ride Saturday too. I need to take some durn pictures/video.
Anyways, that realization... so I got to thinking about Gator and our trail rides. I talked to his previous owner about it. I thought back to everything I'd ever been told about him. I remembered our first rides. I flipped through my memory. I realized no one ever told me he'd been trail ridden very MUCH, only that he really liked it. I remembered no one saying they had done more than a walk on the trail.
I realized I may have been expecting a lot from a horse who to be honest, was relatively green on the trails. Especially doing anything more than plodding along. I took his 'experience' for granted as being a 'been there done that' horse - but really that was only in the show ring. That's a WHOLE different world.
That's scary and encouraging all at the same time. He's been quite good when I think of things that way - especially since I was a very timid rider when I started out on him alone on the trails. He's done his best to take care of me when we were both unsure. I need to break things down for him so they're clear out there. I need to help him make the connection between what he knows in the ring and how to apply it on the trail. Apparently, alone we've done pretty well - without me even knowing we were doing something that was newish to him. Though I see some things that need work. In a group I'm shocked he was so good now. I bet that was THE first time he'd ever cantered on the trail with a rider and other horses. I feel pretty confident I can actually break it down and show him what I want with the right buddies. He just has to learn that the cues are the same and yeah, it's exciting but he needs to be just as responsive on the trail as in the ring, buddies or not. I know he can be, else things would have gone South long ago. And that's pretty cool.
Anyhow, after my lesson Sunday my instructor had a few things to say about us since our last lesson:
1) My lower leg was VERY solid.
2) My upper body position had improved drastically, she was very impressed with my progress there. I do still occasionally collapse my shoulders at the canter but it's getting better.
3) Similarly, when cantering I need to think LIGHT SEAT and keep my shoulders , but much improved.
4) The new saddle may fix several position issues - she can tell I'm always fighting to keep my legs back underneath me.
Now she also hopped on Gator after I did. Her main points/exclamations...
1) He does have my number with a few things. (Yeah, I knew that.)
2) 'Good Lord he's squirrely!' - he may have my number but if you don't catch him FAST he's already done what he shouldn't. (No news to me ... I'd never been on a horse SO 'quick' before him.)
3) She understood my position issues - he really throws you forward. (No kiddin'?) If he hollows out it's really pretty tough to keep your seat.
4) He really is incredibly sensitive.
She very much admitted he isn't as push button as he looks... but he's definitely a fun ride. It was really fun to see him ridden... boy he's cute.
Oh, the new wider saddle should be here Thursday. The Thinline pad must at least be making him FEEL better with the saddle on though it doesn't fix the pressure points. He was rounding up very nicely but then also over flexing like mad, even in the warm up on a loose rein. On occasion it was bit avoidance but mostly you could tell that is how he thinks he's expected/supposed to go and felt as though he could. My poor boy... he was surely Anky-fied in his previous days.
Also, my instructor suggested that perhaps draw reins would help with the stopping issue on the trail. I'm mulling it over. It would keep him from avoiding the bit. I don't like them though, but for a couple rides it wouldn't hurt. Except I'm not entirely comfortable using them - only have a time or two. On the trail it makes me a little nervous to use them... She also pointed out as extensively as they have been used on him he may simply try nothing as he KNOWS the limits with draw reins on. I dunno... maybe he just needs me to break things down a bit more step by step as I was saying before. I'm not really in a hurry, not that I think it will take long if I'm consistent. Thoughts?
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I don't see how draw reins would help. You'd most-likely end up with a tense ball of muscle. I think that practicing walk-stop endlessly in the arena and then take it out on the trail would be a better bet. Get him use to circling as cue to stop first.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm confused about the draw-reins. Does he put his head up on the trail when he stops?
ReplyDeleteMaybe let your coach ride him in draw-reins, show you what she means/wants. No need for them to be tight. Why not a standing martingale? Keep his head from going into the sky, without hitting his mouth.
I'm half awake, thoughts are mostly thrilled with how well you're thinking him through.
He probably never HAS cantered on a trail with others!
Gotta work, I'll try to be more helpful later..
bhm - Yeah... I think we just need repetitions. I think I need to practice more ON the trail when he's already tired or at least not EXCITED. He'll stop on an exhale in the ring. I'm just not big on the draw reins idea.
ReplyDeleteGL - Oh yes, if he's REALLY wanting to go - head/nose to the sky with a smidge of shaking and hollowed out back. OR he'll collect, over flex and avoid the bit that way(ie when he trotted in place or practically). He'll also drop his shoulder and duck out from where I'm asking him to go - usually when circling him back.
ReplyDeleteWell, actually now that I think of it the standing martingale was her 1st suggestion. I only have access to draw reins.
I should clarify, she didn't MEAN for them to ever be tight. She was saying that I could have light contact with the draws so he couldn't avoid the bit. She's not a big proponent of that sort of stuff either. It was only a thought.
Heh, as far as the 'thinking him through'... It was quite a shock when I realized there is a very good chance I have put the majority of the trail miles on him. Especially anything other than a walk. It blew my mind a little. I'd have been scared to death to KNOW that a year or more ago. I'm glad I never realized it before.
Easy way with draw reins is to "mark" them, in such a way, that they are never over tight. You know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteLike with a knot, or something, a dab of paint. So you can be confident that it isn't you asking for the over-flexion.
Ride him forward and through, which is what you did.
Kudos!!
You did great to ride it through, and to stay cool. And way cool with your improvements!
awesome!
It's got to be hard to sit him.
A wiggly table.
Applause, AB!
Standing O!
Oh Awesome AB,
ReplyDelete(finally time to gaze around at your excellent blog)
Gator sounds a little like the dunster, just more sensible :D I have never ridden in draw reins, so I'm not 100% sure what my opinion here is-I just dont like the IDEA Of them.
I have found with the dun that the more I weigh him down with junk-running martingale-kimberwick bit instead of snaffle-the more uppity and fidgety he gets. He prefers patience and practice over devices. Which is also funny becuase he is still a wanker sometimes :D
Yay for successes! And isnt it awesome when you can SEE your horse GO? (when your coach rides...:D)
Nicely - OMG it was so fun to see him being ridden by someone else! He also gave her a little trouble which I silently enjoyed. :) Somethign he hasn't done to me in FOREVER. He'll run backwards and it's hard to make him stop. :) hehehehe
ReplyDeleteYeah I've ridden him in draw reins... maybe twice? That was loooooooong ago. He's painfully used to them - and doesn't fight them. That though is the exact reason why I say he doesn't need them - he knows to keep his head down, I'm not tying it there. Draws annoy ME to be honest or maybe I'm not the coordinated wtih my hands to have two sets of reins yet... I'm leaning toward repetition but if that doesn't work I'll consider the draws on, not tight, then.
Honestly, I think Gator is so willing for me because I do let him enjoy himself and I don't care to make him afraid of me so that he'll work better. He's been known to send professionals into a cursing fits after a class that he totally blew, because he had no intention of doing what they asked. Then carry a 12 year old ammy to reserve champion in the very next class. I have an opinionated horse with and a major sense of humor to contend with - luckily though he is very willing for me. We just have to have balance between respect/attention and him having his fun. Especially oot and aboot.
The dun buckles right down as soon as coach is in the room.
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA
When she rides him she says things like "he is so SENSITIVE this is so GOOD" and stuff like that. He gets a bit hoity toity on her sometimes (which I then silently think "he never does THAT with me...") but man she can get him going like a freakign dressage horse.
I was never really a fan of other people riding him, but she seems to enjoy giving the tune ups on occasion.
SHe says things like "give him to me for two minutes" and on she climbs and off they go.
THen she MAKES me get back on and do the same thing and will not leave until we have done it properly.
fun times.
Ah le sigh. Latest lesson was ground driving. Helps the dun quite a bit akshully.
Hmmmm...
ReplyDeleteDoes the dun have your number, as the Gator pants has mine?
That was the 2nd thing my instructor said when on him... :) She's right though. He still gave her grief, just over different things. He and the Dunster are mysteries...