I had a lovely hack on Radar this morning before taking Jazz off to my friend. He was wonderful and I only needed the draw reins three times for 1 minute, 1 minute and 3 minutes. The rest of the time he was swinging along loose and free and really fun.
I let my friend ride Jazz after warming him up. She rides about as well as me but she is at least 6 inches shorter, with short legs, so they came only 2/3 of the way down his sides. But my goodness, did he look spectacular or what! He seemed enormous, full of presence, huge elevation, submission, forward and as sound as a pound. Not only that, but it is a loooong time since I have seen him take such big strides with his back legs and he was overtracking easily in walk, which he does not normally do. I think the MSM has done him no end of good, and if the effects carry on then he certainly does not need the steroid jabs yet and may never.
The last time I took him to my friend she would not even get on him, his behaviour was so unsafe with me riding him :-0 He has come into his own in a big, big way this year. I can hardly wait to compete him again but he must wait his turn, Ace has P4 and P7 (both level 1 Jean/ML) to do tomorrow.
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Great news about Radar. I was hoping that once he discovered that "round" was actually more comfortable and efficient, he'd prefer it. A little more practice and I suspect it will become an established habit.
ReplyDeleteSide note here--My PJ was an ex-race horse, but when I got him he had no real idea about how to gallop. He was slow. I taught him to use his back and after that, I never rode with a horse that could remotely keep up with him when he cantered, let alone galloped.
Three more cheers for Jazz, the grown up. It's taken time and effort, but he certainly has come into his own. Hope that MSM keeps on working.
And Ace...fun, fun. Eager to hear how it goes.
Sound as a pound - I like that expression.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to watch someone else ride your horse? You never see it cause you're the one that's on. Sounds like Radar has got the idea now, though the next fence he sees it will probably go right out of his head.
Tetley is on MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin. I have him on ground flaxseed now too - supposed to be anti inflammatory.
Good luck tomorrow! Remember to look up!
It is interesting how many "racehorses" have never actually learned how to use their backs, isn't it Jean? There are more and more trainers in this country who are having their horses schooled in an arena now, so they are getting the message that even racehorses can benefit from being taught how to hold themselves.
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I looked up but his brain wasn't in ML :-)
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