vallin
Well-Known Member
So those of you that have followed the whole horse buying saga will know that I purchased this gorgeous girl about 3 weeks ago now (how time flies!) so I thought I do an update!
After taking DP show jumping on the Wednesday I had a lesson on the Friday. I had planned to go horse-stuff shopping with A afterwards which somehow morphed into her being present for the lesson, cue minor meltdown and many failed attempts at getting her to disappear somewhere for half and hour
The lesson itself was largely unremarkable, but it did cement in my mind what needed to be worked on, largely, responses to aids. The one thing my instructor did say though was that I need to accept that for now, what I think of as 'active' and what is 'active' for the horse are two very different things. Consequently I need to recognize when she's putting in the effort and make sure I'm not pushing her out of her rhythm and balance in trying to get what I think of a 'activity'.
DP then got a new bridle which although a bit small, looks neat enough for now (though it turned out to be a bit hasty, read on and you will see why!)
Over the next few days my main aim was to get her out hacking on her own. Now this was not as simple as I hoped and is definitely a work in progress! The first thing I said when thinking about buying a new horse is 'It must hack on its own' (Frenchie was notoriously difficult to get out hacking on her own and it was not a pleasant experience!), so what have I done, brought another horse that is also c*** to hack on her own! *sigh* I am hoping that she wont be as difficult to get sorted as French was as where Frenchie is incredibly stubborn, sharp and opinionated, DP appears to just be having a complete meltdown when it comes to hacking. When she does have a meltdown its incredibly frustrating as she just stops and there is nothing I can do! Her response is either to just plant and nothing will move her, or to go backwards which has so far led to us ending up in a ditch...oh joy! At least she doesn't rear!
Anyway, more pleasant tales! Had another lesson the following week, this time doing some jumping. Yay, a horse that can leave the ground! I fear the novelty wont wear off for a while yet My instructor was pleased with the progress we'd made over the week, commenting on how much sharper her transitions were (yay!). We focused on maintaining the rhythm in trot on the approach and getting her forward and responsive after the jump. She also made sure that I wasn't letting her get away with anything whilst jumping that I wouldn't have if it had been a flatwork session. Overall all I was really pleased with her attitude and the instructor commented positively on my jumping position which is always nice to hear (though I can't take much credit for that as it was mainly due to being told so my times by A that I need to sit up on the approach and subsequently coming off when I didn't )
Pony was then spoiled rotten! In one week she got a new rug AND a new (well, new to us!) Ablion K2 Jump saddle
I hadn't planned on getting a new saddle...it just...sort of...happened... Oh well, there goes my trip to America 
And this is why my bridle was a bit premature...new saddle is brown... d'oh!
I then tried her is a muzzle but that didn't go well so we've scrapped that plan! Luckily all the dry weather is holding the grass growth a bay.
And finally (wont bore you with more tales of hacking disasters ) last Thursday we went off to Houghton Hall EC for a riding club clinic with my instructor. She loaded and traveled well but got off came off the box a little eyes-on-stalks. Luckily she contained it enough to be tied up so I could help my YO tack up her new horse who was *very* excited to be out! Once he was settled I go DP tacked up and we walked down to the arena. I will admit that by this time I was already sweating, and that the thought of going into the indoor school was not overly appealing, however DP tried her non-existent socks of and I could not have asked for me. She was fab. Fab, fab, fab. Unfortunately no working pics, but some standing around ones will at least divide up all this text!
Looking like a proper dressage horse in Frenchie's dressage saddle
Looking poooped and hot afterwards!
I was thinking about taking her to do a Peter Pan XC course at the weekend but given our recent hacking debacles and the fact that she was a bit
in the school tonight I have decided we will reroute to clear round SJ outing - I love having a YO with a box, such a novelty!
Anyway, hope you are all well and it wasn't too boring
V
After taking DP show jumping on the Wednesday I had a lesson on the Friday. I had planned to go horse-stuff shopping with A afterwards which somehow morphed into her being present for the lesson, cue minor meltdown and many failed attempts at getting her to disappear somewhere for half and hour
The lesson itself was largely unremarkable, but it did cement in my mind what needed to be worked on, largely, responses to aids. The one thing my instructor did say though was that I need to accept that for now, what I think of as 'active' and what is 'active' for the horse are two very different things. Consequently I need to recognize when she's putting in the effort and make sure I'm not pushing her out of her rhythm and balance in trying to get what I think of a 'activity'. DP then got a new bridle which although a bit small, looks neat enough for now (though it turned out to be a bit hasty, read on and you will see why!)
Over the next few days my main aim was to get her out hacking on her own. Now this was not as simple as I hoped and is definitely a work in progress! The first thing I said when thinking about buying a new horse is 'It must hack on its own' (Frenchie was notoriously difficult to get out hacking on her own and it was not a pleasant experience!), so what have I done, brought another horse that is also c*** to hack on her own! *sigh*
I am hoping that she wont be as difficult to get sorted as French was as where Frenchie is incredibly stubborn, sharp and opinionated, DP appears to just be having a complete meltdown when it comes to hacking. When she does have a meltdown its incredibly frustrating as she just stops and there is nothing I can do! Her response is either to just plant and nothing will move her, or to go backwards which has so far led to us ending up in a ditch...oh joy! At least she doesn't rear! Anyway, more pleasant tales! Had another lesson the following week, this time doing some jumping. Yay, a horse that can leave the ground! I fear the novelty wont wear off for a while yet
My instructor was pleased with the progress we'd made over the week, commenting on how much sharper her transitions were (yay!). We focused on maintaining the rhythm in trot on the approach and getting her forward and responsive after the jump. She also made sure that I wasn't letting her get away with anything whilst jumping that I wouldn't have if it had been a flatwork session. Overall all I was really pleased with her attitude and the instructor commented positively on my jumping position which is always nice to hear (though I can't take much credit for that as it was mainly due to being told so my times by A that I need to sit up on the approach and subsequently coming off when I didn't )
Pony was then spoiled rotten! In one week she got a new rug AND a new (well, new to us!) Ablion K2 Jump saddle
I hadn't planned on getting a new saddle...it just...sort of...happened... Oh well, there goes my trip to America And this is why my bridle was a bit premature...new saddle is brown... d'oh!
I then tried her is a muzzle but that didn't go well so we've scrapped that plan! Luckily all the dry weather is holding the grass growth a bay.
And finally (wont bore you with more tales of hacking disasters
) last Thursday we went off to Houghton Hall EC for a riding club clinic with my instructor. She loaded and traveled well but got off came off the box a little eyes-on-stalks. Luckily she contained it enough to be tied up so I could help my YO tack up her new horse who was *very* excited to be out! Once he was settled I go DP tacked up and we walked down to the arena. I will admit that by this time I was already sweating, and that the thought of going into the indoor school was not overly appealing, however DP tried her non-existent socks of and I could not have asked for me. She was fab. Fab, fab, fab. Unfortunately no working pics, but some standing around ones will at least divide up all this text!Looking like a proper dressage horse in Frenchie's dressage saddle
Looking poooped and hot afterwards!
I was thinking about taking her to do a Peter Pan XC course at the weekend but given our recent hacking debacles and the fact that she was a bit
in the school tonight I have decided we will reroute to clear round SJ outing - I love having a YO with a box, such a novelty!Anyway, hope you are all well and it wasn't too boring
V
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