First Radar, although he was ridden second. I lost track of how long it took him to settle to a nice flexible and rhythmic walk figure of eight. More than an hour, anyway! He tried everything - marching to start with, quickly followed by mincing when that didn't work. Promptly pursued by setting on both hands with the intermittent variation of setting on the left only. A bit of diversity introduced by dashing for the exit, refusing to change the bend, refusing to halt. Finally he did a big snort and dropped into a lovely swinging walk with a change of bend in outline and we called it a day.
Why does he give himself such a hard time? He surely realises by now that when he goes on the arena he is not out for a gallop and that he will not be allowed to go back in until he has walked nicely?
Ace is progressing well with his more adult approach to life. I took him out for a hack and applied the same rules as he now has to accept in a dressage arena. This time last year, making him walk right over patches of road would have made him spin and rear. Now, he will do it whenever he is told to. He will also shoulder in past stuff on the verge, and I can also keep him in front of my leg for the whole ride. All this is new, and very pleasing progress indeed.
I wish we could compete again this week but there's a very big birthday in our house this Wednesday, so it will have to wait a week.
C
Big birthdays are more important than a show. Wonder whose it is?
ReplyDeleteAs for Radar, some horses just have strong opinions and personalities. Wonder if there is some other kind of reward he might get for going well that would inspire him to try sooner?
Also, just a thought. I used to warm PJ up with small circles right and left, with a leg yield into the new outside rein with each change of bend. Very small circles at the walk. You may well have tried something like that--don't remember--but it's hard for the horse to hold his back against you with that kind of suppling.
As for Ace...good news indeed. Changing behavior out of the arena is perhaps even better than success in it. The distractions on a hack are far more stimulating.
Well it's not mine:-)
DeleteHow did I end up married to an old man??????? Not that anyone believes it, looking at him . .
C
29? The very funny and much missed physics technician at the school where I worked in England turned 29 every year. (I think he is 65 now.)
ReplyDeleteRadar has quite the repertoire and uses it skillfully. I suppose you have tried this - a gallop before schooling? Probably winds him up even more.
He's terrible if I even trot:-)
DeleteHe doesn't need to be too fit in summer so I'm spending it trying to get him to understand that he must relax in walk before he's allowed to go any faster. He never gets to go any faster because it takes him an hour to do that.
C