I am shortly going to have to describe Radar as "consistent" in his schooling, if he just does this a few more times in a row.
I only rode him because I was bored, and to see whether he was stiff from falling on Saturday. Stiff? Certainly not! Relaxed, swinging, happy. 20 minutes of real quality work! I plan now to introduce lengthening and shortening within the pace, which I could not do before because it frazzled his brain. I'll also be able to start some much smaller circles than he has been able to balance with so far.
If he gets that, then there really will be no reason whatsoever why we should not to some elementary dressage in a double bridle next year when he is not hunting. I think that will be terrific fun, because he does have huge presence and he really can move! I wouldn't actually be surprised if he scored higher than Ace, his paces are so loose and fluid.
Ace is still resting, of course, until Sunday when I hope that he will have hardened off the splint. It isn't going to be much of a blemish, if at all. It starts very high up and blends back into his leg in a smooth line, so there is no obvious lump. You can feel that it is thicker than the other leg, but only just. I don't really care anyway, as long as he comes sound. He's not a show horse :-)
I must get you a photo of his feet. The event line from the antibiotics disrupting his gut flora is quite marked!
C.
Go Radar Go - what a turnaround?
ReplyDeleteI've got one client horse who had steroids for a shoulder muscle injury, and the white line just stretched like never before within a couple of weeks. I blooming hate steroids in horses, I'd only use them in a life or death situation myself.
Cheers
Well it's only taken three years Tracey, he's a quick learner - not!
DeleteSteroids are well known for causing lami, I wouldn't ever want them used on Ace, he's too high risk as he is.
C
Yay, Radar!! I had high hopes he would change and so far, it seems those hopes are being realized. Not sure he is a slow "mental" learner, but it just may be he is a slow "physical" learner. As I recall you found him essentially unschooled in a field so all of this "training stuff" was completely alien to his body. Those muscles needed a lot of tuning and educating.
ReplyDeleteBy the by, how old is he now? Maybe he's finally done growing. *G*
Glad Ace's splint doesn't seem too bad. He should be fine soon.