A cold night and no tea worked wonders with Ace today. He was a lovely quiet boy. We got some good work done even though we stayed by the edge of the arena by the barrels.
His reverse is coming along nicely. He will now go backwards easily but he is not staying straight. To correct that I put him next to the boards. Up til now that would have been too much of a challenge, but it worked well, especially since it is always the right that he swings to. Of course I simply put him on the left rein and the boards blocked him from moving right. We did some medium trot then, and again he lengthened without running or attempting to canter or pulling at my hands. He really is easy to teach!
We also did canter simple changes, and I finished with a try at flying changes. His counter canter is far too good, and he finds it far too easy to stay in counter canter and not change. I should have taught him flying changes first, but it's too late now! He is trying to understand, though, and he does change in front most times but is late behind. What is best about them is that he does not panic or fight, he either does or doesn't do the change, but that's all. He is so much easier to ride than Jazz was.
So let's hope that's the end of spring nonsense, but I doubt it :-) We haven't even had a day above 8 degrees yet. When it gets to 10 and above and we get some rain the grass is going to go wild.
I'm not riding Radar unless I really feel like it at the moment. And since there was once again ice on the sugar beet bucket this morning, and the wind is strong and sharp, I did not get the urge :-)
C
Oops, did not comment on the green poo...guess I don't have to. Your silly boy seems to have settled down a bit after a menu adjustment. I remember once feeding my Russell corn and having a few days of explosions under me. Switched him off and back to a less energetic alternative and he was fine.
ReplyDeleteTucker is also too comfortable with counter canter. Wonder if the shorter back has something to do with it. He sees no need to change. But most experts say you need to establish the counter canter solidly before you ask for flying changes. I'm coming to think that with some horses that's not the easiest way to do it.
Warming up almost too much here. But it's better than winter. Hope you get some Radar weather soon so you can enjoy him too.
Ace is extremely sensitive to food, and he only eats half what I would expect a horse of his size to need. I wonder sometimes if he will turn out to be early cushings
ReplyDeleteC
Tucker is like that too. He practically "lives on air." Could be metabolic syndrome as being an "easy keeper" is a symptom.
ReplyDeleteMy vet said the Cushings horses tend to be thin...Toby is as he gets older.
Regardless, if he is metabolic, you are doing all the right things. I have my guys on a low carb/low starch feed too.
i wrap sugar beet buckets in an old rug, works a treat...
ReplyDeleteGood idea!
ReplyDeleteC.