Recent content by IGWLC

Hi, looking for some advice on judging at an unaffiliated dressage competition today. Test was p4 and the judge was pleased with the horse's movement, relaxation e.t.c. My second test was with a different judge and was p13 and the judge said the horse didn't look sound... Other judge hadn't said...

So true. Dressage work is the basis to everything you do with your horse. Practice, practice, practice! Integrate plenty of canter-trot-canter into your schooling session, this will help with the changing of leads, without the need for flying changes at this level.

Yet most people seem to think that backing involves hard, fast work the minute they get on. Good for you taking it nice and slow with your horse.

Interesting. Do you do all the ground work e.t.c with all horses before backing? And before starting fast work do you lightly hack and do basic dressage with them for a year or so? IMO, too little importance is placed on slowly bringing young horses into work. If they have short working lives...

Half the livery for the month, maybe? Depends how much they're doing with the horse, if a lot then maybe just ask sharer to pay the entire livery. Or could pay farrier, vet bills e.t.c for you.

Oh she's beautiful!! How lovely.

You're right about all the different 'dressage' movements that horses naturally do in a herd. However, this does not mean that they can execute the same movements properly under saddle. Many novice riders will see a their horse do a piaffe, for example, in the field and assume 'teaching' the...

Really! Wow, that's strange- mine are fab. Are yours the old or the new type? Mine are the old sort I think.

Have hacked mine in a dressage saddle before many times, even done some small jumps when GP hasn't been available. It's fine really- not totally ideal for jumping but for hacking I should think it'll be just fine. As long as you're not rampaging around the countryside at full speed they're...

I so agree! They're hammered on the race track too young and then get sold once they develop problems later on in life and stop making money. It's ridiculous.

Dublin river boots (I think that's what they're called). Have had mine 2 years and they're still going great, even after having been dragged through knee deep mud every single day for two winters whilst getting the horse out. Didnt say in product description that they're waterproof but I've...

Sounds like you're doing a really good job with him. I'm sure he'll turn out great and you'll get a lot out of him. Best of luck!

Very nice horse. Dressage should be a good way of getting going. I know someone with an ex-racer which has been retrained for dressage- it's turned out great for them. It's a great way of getting horse's muscles up before starting faster work. Good luck!

Don't worry! It's completely normal, I know many people who'll do whatever with their own horse but get very nervous with other people's. Like me! I have jumped some big courses with my horsey- and he jumps BIG!! Yet when I went to ride a friend's horse I really didn't want to do more than like...

That's lovely. So nice to see a group of youngsters out together! Wow, he'll feel great when he starts being ridden. Pony always feels incredible after having spent a couple of days with his little herd of mares- so much muscle, power and athleticism! Good luck with yours!