I rode all three today.
A long hack on Radar, testing the Liverpool driving bit. It seemded to work quite well but he was a total dork on the way home, pulling and jumping about because I would not let him stomp home faster than I wanting while thumping up my spine like a jackhammer. I kept turning him away from home again (which made him REALLY mad!) to show him that he would not get home at all until he did it sensibly. It worked, but it took us about 70 minutes to do a 35 minute journey. He needed the exercise so I didn't care, but he did!
Ace was a bad boy again. He walked off nicely around the arena and I was just congratulating myself, because he is normally tense in walk to start. Then I asked for trot and he exploded, trying to buck and spin. I send him on hard and made him work and then he settled and did some really great canter. I am struggling to understand him. I think this must just be feisty five behaviour, otherwise surely canter would set him off if it was pain somewhere? I am still considering ulcers, and I have bought ranitidine from Tesco to test him with over the next few days. But I keep remembering how in the video before I bougth him he thrashed his tail and I thought at the time, and ignored it, "he has a temper!".
I have to say in his defence that he is doing some great work and that his contact on the bit is superb. I have never had a horse who would work forward into the contact like he does before. He is not pulling or leaning, but I am very aware of weight in my hands and of the two of us being one unit, not just of me giving direction, but him also seeking it.
Jazz was an angel after Ace :-) We tried the canter from our test on Wednesday and he got it quite well. It is trot at A, canter at the corner marker, 10m circle at the next marker only 10m away, half pass to the centre line, up the centre line continue on the same leg for a 10m bend at C. I had to practise canter/trot/canter for a while otherwise the changes were too quick and he was too slow to pick up canter to get the 10m circle in time. His medium trot is also getting sharper off the aid, and bigger in stride, though we might not get it in the ring. The half pass is most definitely improving, though again I don't know if we will get it in the test.
More discipline for Ace tomorrow. I don't know whether to wait until he is not doing stupid things at home before I go out with him in public again, or take him anyway, what do you think? I'm thinking that I could wait and then he might still be silly in public, and I might as well crack both things at once. But will that just make him worse? Answers on a postcard please.
C
ps where is everyone? I'm missing your comments folks!
You "weren't here" when I checked earlier.
ReplyDeleteI would not be surprised if treating Ace with your ulcer test meds will show some difference. I am very suspicious about that behavior. Still, the disciplined riding is important regardless. He does have an "attitude" that needs correction.
Taking him out all depends on whether you mind spending the time and money in a potentially fruitless venture. What he needs is a good lesson away from home where he is made to work, even if it means really messing up a test. We used to have schooling shows or "fix a test" shows intended for just that purpose. Don't know what your competitions are like, but it would be good if you could go somewhere where the judge and your score were fully accepting and aware that you were just there to train Ace to behave at a show.
As for Jazz, I still have to giggle a bit that he is now the "angel." Tell him that and his ego will be decidedly inflated. And...he deserves it! *G*
I think it is still worth going out with him, like Jean says, to teach him that he needs to behave out and about. I don't think you'll make him worse by doing so.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear Jazz continues to be a star :-)
I didn't mean you or ML Jean, you are great commenters and I love hearing from you.
ReplyDeleteI enter green horse classes and I start by asking the judge to let me continue no matter what happens so as not to reward him for misbehaving. They always agree though some of them fear for my safety!
It's always worth going, it's a nice day out with a super, and cheap, cafe with a proper coffee machine and freshly made sarnies :-)
Thanks Sarah, your thoughts are the same as mine.
This time last year I was almost reachign a stage where I thought Jazz would have to go, he was such a monster. A bit of ulcer treatment, three months of heavy discipline not allowing him to take a step under saddle unless I said so, Ace to take the pressure off and finally growing up have changed him completely. His mouth will never please the judges but it's just him. He was like it when I bought him and he will always be like it whenever he is under pressure, but I can forgive him that when he tries his best.
C
I agree with the others, to continue to take Ace out and about, because what is important is how he behaves at a show. It is no good doing fantastic work at home if he can't do it when out and I think it is just a case of keep taking him.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbour used to produce young event horses and she said that if she had one that was a dork, she used to get up early in the morning and work it for an hour at home before the event.
Phew, she must have had lots of energy, plus an indoor school, but it was the same thing of plenty of work!
I also agree that checking for ulcers would be a good idea.
I have a question too. Why would my 13 year old who has been to shows since the age of 2 suddenly decided to get excited and buck in the ring, which he has never done before? This is after 2 dressage tests and an in hand class, and then in the riding class he was a complete prat.
Jury is firmly on the side of continued outings, so that's what we'll do. I'm about to ride him, if he has ulcers again then the ranitidine should have kicked in by today. (unfortunate expression but it works so I'll leave it!)
ReplyDeleteWhat bizarre behaviour Judith! I don't think I can help at all on that one, I've never heard of anything like it before. I hope you stayed on?
C
udith, several factors could be involved. Certainly ulcers is one. Another could be a chiropractic issue. This would not be a lameness per se, but rather a soreness in the sacroilliac or hocks. Could have been a bug bite, or something on a saddle pad. Has your saddle fit been checked recently? And...My first horse started playing up in classes because he was bored with the show ring. (Not the most likely scenario...but always a possibility.)
ReplyDeleteCaroline, another thought generated by Judith's answer. With PJ, I always got the best performance if I got to the show early. I'd do a proper, longish warm up. Then I'd put him back in the trailer and take a break. About 10-15 minutes before my ride time, I'd be back in the saddle just doing a little stretching and on the bit stuff to supple him. In we'd go and he'd be a much calmer, cooperative ride. Just another idea.
ReplyDeleteWhoops...what happened to "Judith's" "J" in the post above????
ReplyDeleteBack again....Jazz grinds his teeth and is not quiet in his mouth. There is a product that's supposed to help. Gumbits. Here is info:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shophorsesdaily.com/products/try-gumbits-for-25-in-this-exclusive-dressagedaily-offer
He doesn't grind his teeth Jean he just opens his mouth all the time. I can't tie it shut in a double bridle and I can't control him in a snaffle.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of the warm-up-and-wait method and it used to work well for horse I owned years ago. I hadn't thought to try it on Ace. Since his tension builds and builds, that might be a good idea to try next Wednesday.
C
I think you should go out again soon as well, if nothing else it gives us good pictures to look at :)
ReplyDelete