I have taken a deposit on Buttie and he will be leaving on Sunday to live at the livery yard with the little girl that I told you about yesterday. Life is going to be such fun for him with her but I am going to miss him a lot at first.
I rode all three big boys today.
Ace was a bit stiff after our hack yesterday, which was the hardest one he has ever done. I finally realised that I was trying to conquer his stiffness by using too much rein, and started to ride him with my body weight instead, and he began to bend and work nicely.
Jazz did extended trot. That was my only objective for him today. He can do it much more easily along the sides than he can on the diagonal. I don't have any fences, just boards a foot high, but even that is clearly giving him some sort of support and making it easier for him. Across the middle he tips forward and runs, but along the side he sits back and punches. I did get a couple of good diagonals in by slowing everything right down, so it was a good session.
I couldn't be bothered to scrape enough of the mud off Radar to make him fit to be seen out in public, so we schooled again, which was what I felt like doing anyway. He was quite the best he has ever been. He was still overkeen to go faster than I wanted, but he did some good calm walk, some calm trot serpentines - which normally drive him frantic with the constant changes of direction - and some really good, slow, rythmic canter - which is very, very hard work for a horse of his size.
Hunting looks at risk again! The forecast is rain and the meet is not a good one and the cap will be £40. I'm not going unless the rain stays away, which will leave only 3 more possible hunts this season :-(
C
Good news about Buttie...I think when you see him with his new little girl, you will feel a lot better. I know you will miss him--he is such a dear--but keep remembering how much he did to get rid of that muzzle and how much of an outcast he is with the big boys. Then, think of his being cuddled and brushed and adored by a little girl all of his own.
ReplyDeleteAce continues to be a "work in progress" as you figure out all the best ways to get good work out of him. He is definitely not a "packer" but rather one of those horses that needs a good rider on his back.
Now Jazz is striving to be the dressage packer, from the sound of it. Each ride just gets better and better. You need to make your reins and legs the "wall" on that diagonal. Little issues like that just accent some of the small holes in the training we need to work on. Your supporting him and slowing him down was an excellent solution.
And Radar? Who cares if he's muddy when he cooperates like that in the arena? He too is really coming along.
Bummer about the hunt. You've missed quite a few outings this winter. No fun at all. Maybe the weather will change its mind--heaven knows how many times it's already done that this year. *sigh*
Recent, I have discovered that Tetley bends easier with leg rather than rein. Kathleen advises me to try leg and/or seat first and if that isn't enough than add rein. Now to remember that in the saddle...
ReplyDeleteI am sure I put the "ly" on recently. Where did it go?
ReplyDeleteHiya, bye bye Buttie, on to pastures new with a fun new owner, bon voyage.
ReplyDeleteGlad things are going well with you Caroline, I have been working on extended trot with my 2nd horse, she's very expressive, but I identify with the sit back/lift/punch you describe, I found it last week and it was much more refined than the lower carriage one we've been getting previously. My new dressage saddle is being put to the test :-)
Fingers crossed for the hunt.
Tracey B