This is what the judge meant when she wrote " I take my hat off to you" :-) SH has been describing this as "just a little kick out" - I'd hate to see what he thinks a big one is.
But when he stops messing about, this is what we get, below. I do not ride him to get this, I do not ask for an outline or for anything except straightness and forward movement. What happens then, this, is entirely natural and he cannot help himself but do this. He does it all the time and I could have frame grabbed a hundred frames just like these. And he has only been in training for a few months, what will he look like this time next year?
I think that is why people who know their stuff reckon that he is a special horse. Having seen these photos, I can hardly believe that we managed to get a horse of this quality for the budget we had to spend. I know he cost and arm and a leg, but really he should have cost both arms and both legs. I feel very lucky.
I did school him this morning because I wanted him to start learning that he is here to work and cannot choose what he wants to do. I thought I had made a really strong start on that yesterday and that I could possibly consolidate that, with luck. Today I had a brainwave - start on the rein he finds difficult. If he's tired and wanting to stop, he will work OK to start with. If he's still in pain, he'll mess around. He worked well. One very small nap to the gate, just a deviation in his line really. Then walk trot and canter with none of the above shenanigans at all. Ten minutes work and we stopped.
C
Oh my, you are getting some "air time" in that pic! It's one of Tucker's skills too and I hate it...unlike you, I don't have the seat anymore to feel competent to ride it out....well, I ride it out, but it certainly shakes my confidence. Nothing like that kind of evasion on an athletic horse.
ReplyDeleteGood psychology working the hard side first. And then stopping when he worked well. Right now, I'd suspect it's mind game with him, and the actual young horse rebellion phase. It gets a little hard and he says, "No."
Hang in there...or is it, hang on, there? *S*
More pics up since you posted Jean - I managed to get one at the absolute top of the kickout and it's a good foot higher than the one you saw :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of the other pictures??
C
"just a little kick out", hahaha. I'd been envisioning the kind of things that Tyler does, which certainly never achieve anything nearing that height.
ReplyDeleteAs for the other photos, wow. If all you're asking from him there is to be straight and forward then exciting times are certainly ahead.
:-)
He looks fabulous! So light and forward and naturally uphill. He's going to be a star I think!
ReplyDeleteFabulous. Seeing those pics and reading your comments have now affirmed something I've suspected all along--that a horse bred for dressage is much easier to ride as a dressage horse. Every quality we strive for in the dressage arena is just there naturally. Goes to show that riding and training do not have to be a struggle.
ReplyDeleteSure, you'll still have the "bad boy" moments, but the talent to do it right is so infused in the horse's body he just can't help himself. You are indeed lucky to have Ace and I am delighted for you.
As his training progresses, I will be very interested to hear if my theory is right when it comes to learning the upper level movements. Looking at him now, I have a feeling that's going to come more quickly than we might expect.
What a special horse. *G*
ooh I like him...nice bitof lift in his frame....and a nice bit of lift in the back legs too... :-0
ReplyDeleteJean has it. It is really a piece of cake to ride Ace, because he cannot help himself but be uphill, rythmic and in self carriage. He was born like it. All you have to do is have the balance and feel to stay with him. I too believe that he is going to find lateral work, extension and collection very easy. He is already throwing flying changes as an evasion, with complete ease. We just have to wait for him to grow up (he is terribly weak and backward for a nearly five year old!) and get enough strength to do what he was born to do.
ReplyDeleteLets see what another list 1 dressage judge says about him at our lesson tomorrow.
C
Spectacular photos when he is behaving and not!! Stunning horse and you dont look too bad yourself Mrs T.
ReplyDeleteWell sat by the way lol