I took Jazz onto the hilltop to try my 5m circle technique with half pass. It didn't work. There was just too much space and no reference points and we ended up circling all over the field! I tried another technique then. I put him in full pass in walk and checked how much he could cross. Tons. Absolutely perfect. So I figure that there is no physical reason why he should not half pass in trot, just that he can't work out how.
Now, in theory, I should be keeping the forward movement going, but if I do then he loses the bend. So I got him to jog, did a 5 m circle, kept the bend and pushed him sideways in the jog while holding him out in front of me with my thighs. When he stopped jogging and walked, I put him straight into full pass walk, which was even harder than half pass trot. First of all, he dropped it straight away, then as I tried each successive time he got more and more strides, until he did me a really decent cross for two or three and I let him have a nice canter around the field as a reward. It sounds easier than it was, he was bucking and kicking out to evade having to do it, but we got there with persistence and I refused to get riled by him and kept calm.
Earlier this evening I took Ace out for his first hack in a while and he was probably the best he has ever been. He was also absolutely rock stomping on my test carpark, and that is completely new since the grass came through. He has never been that good on it before, he did not seem to even notice the stones. His feet don't chip any more and he has tight white line in all four. At last we have foot to the floor which he has grown while he has been with me and on a proper diet (32 weeks) and it is making all the difference. I am not yet happy about the height of the heels on his hinds, they are still too weak, but getting better.
I am looking forward to finding out how he behaves at our competition on Wednesday. It seems too much to hope for that he will be quiet and calm, but he is so different at home that I think it may actually be possible.
C
Jazz will get it. The balance is different at the trot than the walk and requires a different kind of coordination to move sideways. Sooner or later the light bulb will blink "on" and he will be fine.
ReplyDeleteI too will be curious to hear what happens Wednesday. I am predicting a completely different horse at the show...but that's just me.
My guess is the same Jean. We'll see. Anyone for a bet???
ReplyDeleteC