Hey! Progress :-) First day in ages I've only seen my breakfast tea once . Wow.
And I rode two, in succession. OK I was shattered at the end but I did it.
Ace was so pleased when he saw his tack brought out. It's very clear from his face that he was welcoming the work and the attention. He was bounding along the road feeling quite explosive, but doing nothing silly. I thought "ooh, err what's going to happen here?". And then I realised, nothing, and that he was simply being a wonderfully behaved, fit, underexercised six year old who I had jumped on and taken out for hack. he is such a good boy these days. We did practically the entire ride completely relaxed on a long rein. Just exactly what I needed today :-)
I took Woody out, even though he worked yesterday afternoon, because I wanted the timing to mean that I could do a bit on Thursday before he hunts on Saturday. And my goodness what a breakthrough! He actually spent a fair porportion of the time, more than half, with a relaxed back. Once that was achieved he was also pushing on into the contact, and when I released the reins he followed the contact out and down. MARVELLOUS!
He has a funny little habit I don't think I have mentioned. Sometimes when he is anxious he clacks his teeth together. A bit like those joke false teeth you can get? It's much better than tooth grinding, I really hate that.
So, everything, horses and me and SH, finally moving in the right direction. Good.
C
Great accomplishment with Ace to have him so happy out on a hack. Considering your condition, he WAS exactly what you needed.
ReplyDeleteGreat progress with Woody too, beginning to establish a more consistent "on the bit" feel. Everything else will come along quickly once that becomes his habit.
Interesting teeth habit, there. Reminds me of a cat "chattering" at the window when a bird or other prey appears outside, out of reach. Bit of frustration, I guess.
Very much like a chattering cat, Jean. It's not a habit I've come across before but I loathe tooth grinding, so I'm quite relaxed about it.
ReplyDeleteC
Read up a little on it. Apparently, some foals will do it to indicate their submission to older horses, so it may be a throwback to childhood when he does it. It would make sense that in an eager to please horse, it could be a signal of anxiety when he's not quite sure he's doing it right. Wonder if a nice pat and a "good boy" might make him stop? Worth and experiment, I'd think.
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