Judith raised an interesting point in a comment, and one which nearly prevented me from buying Ace at all. I did have to be pushed into it by Allan at the time, I was quite reluctant, because I was afraid that Ace would overshadow Jazz and that it would leave him with no purpose.
In the end, the exact opposite has happened. Ace is such a baby to ride, that getting on Jazz with his power and balance, not to mention flying changes, canter to halt, half pass, etc is an absolute joy and contrast. And of course now he has a BD point as well, then there is suddenly every "point" in having Jazz around. I began schooling for Medium 64 (in three weeks time) today and had such fun. Shoulder-in in collected trot into 10m half circle with half pass back to the corner and an immediate 10m circle on the other rein from the half pass. Wow, that's tough! But he did it three times, better each time as he understood what was coming next.
It is very intriguing how much I have improved how I ride Jazz from having a naturally forward and uphill horse like Ace. Ace will not (cannot? same effect whichever one it is) balance unless he is sent forwards into it. Any attempt to slow him down to balance him simply makes him kick up his back end - sort of half a buck, head up. Today Jazz was setting to the right in the left rein in trot, so I sent him on as I would Ace. First it unbalanced him more, then he clicked and got it. I know that a year ago I could not have done that and stayed in control, but things are different now and the Ace techniques are really following through into riding Jazz.
Ace is definitely coming up for five :-) He is full of oomph every time I get on, and you have to let him work off some steam - today he was doing the half-bucks in trot and in canter as we warmed up. There is nothing whatever malicious about them, he's just a young man feeling well. I was concerned about a strong wind upsetting him, but he was really no different from normal, which is very good for a young horse on our wild hillside.
I worked on walk-trot transitions when he had settled and discovered that he does not like too much pressure from the leg. If I put both legs on together too strong, he bucks again, even into the trot transition. What I was trying to do was to get him to flow forwards into trot. At the moment, what he does is kick up his front end with quite a jerk into the first trot stride. But he finds it too difficult right now to stay forward into the transition, I think, hence the objection to a strong leg. I am making very sure that I don't restrict him in front and I'm sure this is just a baby balance issue at the moment.
I don't hold him tight together like Shelley did (you can see it on the video) because I want him to learn how to hold himself and I don't need him to look flash to sell him. I give him a contact to work to, but I do not "hold him up" at all. Am I doing the right thing, do you think?
C
Really pleased to hear about Jazz's point. I bet that was a great feeling, after all the years of ups and downs.
ReplyDeleteMy comment about Jazz was that I wondered if he had done something to himself or was otherwise not available, which is why you had got Ace.
But when you have a younger unschooled horse, it is so nice to get back on one which is schooled and you can enjoy yourself more.
In fact, it sounds as though Jazz has realised there is some competition and it is about time he buckled down and has come up trumps.
You've asked a controversial question here. There are many trainers who advocate lots of support and rein even with the young horses so they never learn to go in any way other than a frame...and a more upper level frame at that. From the start, youngsters get started in fairly snug side reins.
ReplyDeleteI have always felt it was important for a young horse to learn to carry himself, then work into a round, long contact, and then elevate into a frame. My only problem has been that I've never really had a horse that has enough natural balance and "uprightness" to make the final step into an elevated frame easy.
Judith the idea of Ace was just to have some fun schooling a horse who was made for the job mentally as well as physically. Jazz was very difficult for the second half of last year and it was all too much "work" and not enough "play", so A wanted to see me on something that would be fun. It's been a great move.
ReplyDeleteJean I know what you mean. A friend of mine trains with Ferdi Eilberg and he has her start every session with her mare, of the same age and stamp, on the lunge in what I think are disgustingly short side reins. It's not the sort of thing I am prepared to do to Ace whether it works or not.
C
I agree most definately dont prop him up - when you go to the higher levels he has to carry himself or he may stuggle with 'self carriage'. Start as you mean to go on it may be slower in the interim but you will get a much better outcome long term. As you say this one is for keeps so take your time there is no such thing as a quick fix
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