OK how did both Ace and Radar get their muzzles off without any of the straps being unbroken or unclipped?? The tip of plaiting the strap into the mane is coming into use tonight!
I had to ride Radar round the field because I only found one when I walked it. Then I tried to school him but he just would not settle. I finally changed the bit to a french link and stuck some draw reins on him and the difference was amazing - he did a beautiful relaxed walk and some lovely trot. I tried without holding the draw reins, but he just won't do it unless you make him. I worry a little that he has something wrong with him, but he was so brilliant in the draw reins, and so light in the mouth and forward and relaxed and bouncing that I really can't see it. I think he just hates schooling!
Ace, now he was brilliant. A little buck or two to start with, just from feeling well I think. And then some nice work, with some very, very pleasing feel on the reins. He does have a lovely mouth, I'm so relieved after Jazz and his gobby issues!
Then I took Jazz up the stony path again today. He wasn't quite rock-crunching but he wasn't pulling his feet sharply off any of the stones and I'd be happy to ride him on it again even if he stays where he is now.
So what changed?
I muzzled him overnight a week ago.
I put him on activated charcoal and Naf Haylage Balancer with live yeast in five days ago.
I don't know which of the three it is, but in another couple of days I will leave the muzzle off and see what happens. One things for sure and that's that it isn't having had less food, because he's been eating over ten kilos of haylage during the day when he's in! It is definitely the grass that's the issue.
I'm very relieved that he is almost back to normal, I really don't want to go back to a variable/untrustworthy supply of brewers yeast even if it is dead cheap (10p a day) in 25kg sacks.
C
Radar just wants to go hunting! He must feel great, though, when he's going nicely round and on the bit. Wonder if insisting on it with the draw reins for while might make him realize that it actually feels good? Hard to say, but most horses I've met actually prefer going correctly once they figure it out.
ReplyDeleteAs for the muzzles? Around here I'd suspect a raccoon accomplice or some other critter suborned into assisting for a share of grain or something. *G* Otherwise, it is a decided puzzle, but I do suspect the two of them discussed the process....
Wish the supplements we need were not so expensive. Every now and then, something is a good price, but too often the dollars just fly away.
Jeana seems able to get her muzzle off, totally intact, by rolling.
ReplyDeleteSome of them are just Houdine I guess Liz!
ReplyDeleteRadar could do a serious dressage test if he was allowed to do it in draw reins. His power is enormous and he is much more forward, in balance, than Jazz or even Ace. But he just won't do it to order, he has to be put in a situation where he can't help it. I am planning to hack him around in draw reins and a snaffle for a few days and see what happens.
With the muzzles, SH thinks that Buttie is getting onto their backs and pushing the strap forwards over their ears with his front feet. What do you reckon?
C
I reckon that's just the sort of thing Buttie would do ;-) Leo is the master of removing his muzzle & so is looking a very plump little Shetland at the moment.
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to get SH to get pics of Radar working in draw reins. You know how we love pics!
:-)
We need video evidence though Sarah, don't we? Now wouldn't that score some hits on youtube?
ReplyDeleteI know there are people who think draw reins are the work of the devil, but I use them only to stop him flicking his head up, not to pull it down and certainly not to winch it into his chest! And he moves beautifully in them, so how "wrong" can it be????
C