Well he's a baby, so there's a lot to change yet, but he is VERY different from Jazz. He is naturally uphill, and it's not just that his wither is high, he actually feels like he is climbing stairs every time he takes a trot and canter stride. I find myself leaning forwards to compensate and I have to make myself sit up straight. He has perfect natural cadence in both trot and canter, and both paces really cover the ground. He is very forward, he loves to move, and in fact the only problem I've had with him was a bit of light bucking when I did not let him move off quickly enough.
He's extraordinarily quick to learn. He was refusing to let me get on, swinging away from the mounting block, and I cured that in just one lesson. I'm being very careful not to let him learn the wrong lessons, because they stick so quick!
His mouth is going to be delightful. When he is going forwards and in balance, he rests his mouth on the bit, a French link fulmer. Not his neck, not even his head, just his mouth. He pokes his nose when he loses his balance, but that's just because he's a baby. When he is working forward to the contact he is wonderful.
We are working on the basics at the moment, 20m circles and basic transitions. Once we have that solid, I will be taking him to Stephen Clarke to ask where we go from here. It's an exciting prospect :-)
C
I have to admit, I'l always wondered what it was like to ride a horse with the true talent and balance for dressage. Most of what is "work" on an average horse would, I should think, just be natural. The rest of the training would be quite similar...as you note, you still have to be careful not to make mistakes that might stick...but what a joy to have it all come so easily!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you, a bit jealous, perhaps, but happy. Then again, I no longer really have aspirations for the show arena, so I will just have to share yours.
This is really quite exciting, and the prospect of working with an upper level trainer who thinks your horse has such potential should be a blast. I am really eager to see how it all goes.
Hmmmmm still no pictures!
ReplyDeleteI haven't actually got any of him yet, Mandeigh! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a very different feeling, Jean, riding one that was breaqd purely for dressage. Jazz is a fabulous athlete but of course he was bred to showjump. His whole nature is to curl up and collect and people will remember me having a discussion with Cassie who told me I should ride him in a long outline when he simply did not want to do that. Ace is all "up and out" and it is both wonderful and a bit frightening at the same time!
c