Jazz has either twisted his hock or kicked the great big lump on the inside of it having a wild time in the field. The three of them have gone bananas the last two evenings - rearing, bolting, mouth-jousting and generally creating mayhem :-) He was dragging his toe on the road yesterday and wore it off across the front. Today he seemed a lot better and I gave him a short session on the arena just to check. He seemed fine.
Ace's new exercise blanket has arrived. A thermocell one to keep him warm (like a Thermatex but a third of the price :-) He is definitely different in a rug. He was hyper when he came in though - snorting at the rug in the corner of his stable where I had left it with two other rugs that are normally there and have never caused him any issues. He wouldn't eat - unheard of!!! - and he was very unsettled.
I nearly didn't ride, and then I thought, no, this is good experience for him when he is upset away from home. He's allowed to be upset, he's not allowed to be dangerous.
To my surprise, he responded quite well to the same kind of discipline as I started to use with him yesterday. No, you may not pull at my hands. No, you may not go up to trot when I have not asked you to. Yes, you will go forward into my contact on a straight line. Yes, you will take the correct bend on the corner, or you won't be allowed to go around the corner. I've also started chopping and changing pace and direction very quickly, much as I had to with Jazz 18 months ago, to get it through to him that he has to listen to me and then he won't be shocked when I ask for a transition.
I discovered from watching the video of the weekend what is setting him off in the canter transition - my outside leg is moving too far back in my attempt to stop him swinging his quarters out and I am touching him quite near his stifle because he is close coupled. I made a point today of keeping my outside leg much further forward and his transitions were very good. I found out that it also stabilises my seat, which is a bonus.
I was very unhappy with him yesterday, because he seemed terribly unsettled still after Saturday, but today I am less concerned and think I am finding a way to get him to work with me, bit by bit.
C
In so many ways, Ace does sound a lot like Tucker-at least in his younger days. Not sure Tucker has actually grown up mentally, but considering your experience with Jazz, I certainly think Ace will--eventually.
ReplyDeleteWhat is frustrating right now is the Jekyll/Hyde personality he's showing. Is does seem, however, that you are sorting out the issues one by one.
Tucker is very short coupled as well and that leg too far back can really bother him. Good you figured it out. Seems you have to have "pinpoint" accuracy for all your aids with your big boy. Well, just think what a great rider he is going to make of you. *G*
"Well, just think what a great rider he is going to make of you."
ReplyDeleteSH and I were saying the same yesterday Jean. I must say it's a joy to find that life still holds a lot of learning opportunities at my age :-)
Edward Gal is my riding idol at the moment. He rides like a dream - so still, so flexible and yet so much in control. If Ace teaches me to ride more like him, and he is, then I will be very happy no matter what he achieves in a dressage arena.
C