Another spotty update

JanetGeorge

JanetGeorge

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www.horseandhound.co.uk
Some of you will remember lindsayH's threads about her spotty horse Clyde - see http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=360800

Clyde is 7 and had not been backed well first time around (picking the 'right' trainer to back your youngster can be fraught with dangers!!) and follow-on attempts hadn't been successful either.

Clyde has been here just over 2 weeks now and things are going according to plan. Monday was first day of rider on-board.

clyde.jpg


We take things from ALL angles! ;)

clyde1.jpg


And sitting up is usually the first problem - but not with Clyde!

clyde2.jpg


Progress is being made slowly - more of the same today with walking forward just a few strides, then dismount, remount, walk forward a few strides, repeat - ad nauseum! So far, no fireworks - it's all a matter of building up his confidence and avoiding frightening him. (Or killing my rider! :D)

Not planning on anything more exciting for a few days - just more of the same and a little more each time. But his response to date makes me pretty confident he WILL be backed in the not-too-distant future!
 
:) Interesting, thank you for those photos. I hope that you are going to keep us updated with his progress.
 
Tagging along...

I'm preparing my filly ready for being backed (next year) and have just highered the walkway around the stables so she can get used to people being above her :) It does seem to be the hardest thing for them to deal with...
 
That's my boy! Thanks Janet, it's wonderful seeing some pics and I was going to ask if I can post a couple. It's so weird seeing pics of your horse in a school you don't recognise! He looks so well, I don't think he'll want to come home. It looks like you've even sorted out his crazy mane?! I'm holding my breath for the next few days. Will breath again when he's trotting quietly round with a rider onboard. Can't let myself believe it quite yet... we've got this far before!
 
enfys said:
:) Interesting, thank you for those photos. I hope that you are going to keep us updated with his progress.
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Oh yes - Lindsay has kindly said she's happy for pics and update to be posted, so will keep you up to date.

I'm preparing my filly ready for being backed (next year) and have just highered the walkway around the stables so she can get used to people being above her It does seem to be the hardest thing for them to deal with...
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Without doubt! I always 'sit' on my foals by the time they're a week or two old (obviously no weight on the back - I do it while they're lying down and I half-stand and just let my bum touch their back. Makes it SO much easier later on ....

The most extreme horse I ever had never quite got over it anything being higher than him. If you climbed a stepladder outside his stable he would go from relaxed and happy, to a rearing/striking 'monster'! And he'd do a full day's hunting and then - while hacking home - would suddenly go vertical if someone came alongside him on a taller horse! :rolleyes:

I'm holding my breath for the next few days. Will breath again when he's trotting quietly round with a rider onboard. Can't let myself believe it quite yet... we've got this far before!
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Well you'll be no use to him if you don't breathe for a week! :D

I suspect you actually HAVEN'T got this far before - maybe to the apparent point - but the fact that his next step was always to buck his rider off suggests that the steps immediately before weren't properly established - to the point where he was TOTALLY relaxed about it. The biggest mistake even some professional trainers make is to rush these early stages - and brain overload occurs!! It's a case of repeating and repeating and repeating until the horse is TOTALLY happy, then taking the next small step. The actual riding part is easy once all the basics are VERY well established.
 
JanetGeorge said:
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Well you'll be no use to him if you don't breathe for a week! :D

I suspect you actually HAVEN'T got this far before - maybe to the apparent point - but the fact that his next step was always to buck his rider off suggests that the steps immediately before weren't properly established - to the point where he was TOTALLY relaxed about it.
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I know, I know, I will try and stop being such a drama queen! I do have faith, I'm just not ready to admit it yet! I'm very fond of the big lump and I'm acutely aware of how uncertain his future is if this doesn't come off. We've NEVER got to the stage where he was happy and relaxed with someone on his back and I know sitting on him from time to time over the last couple of years is not the same thing. I promise to breathe, although I'm not sure I'm much use to him anyway! Will try and stop thinking about how important the next few days are and let you get on with it...
 
lindsayH said:
We've NEVER got to the stage where he was happy and relaxed with someone on his back and I know sitting on him from time to time over the last couple of years is not the same thing. I promise to breathe, although I'm not sure I'm much use to him anyway!
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Of course you're of use to him! Plenty of owners would have flogged him off at the nearest unwarranted sale - and God only knows what would have happened to him!!

He is a nice, kind horse. He IS a bit sharp - and may always be a bit sharp - but LOTS of sharp horses are also very good rides for a confident rider.

Today went well. Started with lunging and repeating the jumping on and off from both sides. Then walking. He had a major spook at something NONE of us saw - shot forward fast! John just sat (holding the neck strap), O. brought him back quietly, and he was visibly confused (the world HADN'T ended!:D) After that he was more relaxed and walking calmly with O. about 10 feet from him on a long rein.

John and O. are both confident about the outcome - as am I. So relax!
 
fascinating to follow this story.... Good luck with the continuing progress JG (although I really suspect you dont need it as you sound one of the sanest people I have heard on here!)
 
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who's taken an ongoing interest in Clyde's progress and everyone who's left lovely comments. It really is much appreciated! Have now had a few glasses of wine and feel much better!
 
All the spotties seem to be sharp and not a little bolshie, from my experience with them it is mainly as a result of nerves, this can be difficult to see, as they come across very brash. The Old Appy was a nightmare for quite some time and bossy to boot. When we sussed it was anxiety and lack of education on her part we did much better. The current Appy was brought up much better, but has her moments (sideways walking on Sunday as some one had put a HOUSE at the side of a road we rarely ride, since the last time she was there! ) She has also been known to do a lovely hand canter on the road at times of stress. :)
 
Another good day today as he had his first couple of trots without incident - still on a long line in case he panics. He NEARLY did on the second trot - started to shoot off but when told 'WHOA' he stopped dead!:D (The importance of establishing voice commands cannot be over-emphasised!!)
 
JanetGeorge said:
when told 'WHOA' he stopped dead!:D (The importance of establishing voice commands cannot be over-emphasised!!)
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Aww, what a good boy! Did he do his confused face again? :D

Trotting, gosh!
I guess the fact he's had a couple of minor 'moments' is a good thing. It would appear to show that his bronking instinct isn't too ingrained as you've managed to regain control before it escalates. It also means I feel less stupid than I would have done if he was a foot-perfect donkey all the way through!

For the first time EVER today I allowed myself to picture me riding him. Weeeeeeeeeird!!! Now starting to panic that I won't be up to the job, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when/if we get to it.

As ever, thanks Janet!
 
lindsayH said:
Aww, what a good boy! Did he do his confused face again? :D

Trotting, gosh!
I guess the fact he's had a couple of minor 'moments' is a good thing. It would appear to show that his bronking instinct isn't too ingrained as you've managed to regain control before it escalates. It also means I feel less stupid than I would have done if he was a foot-perfect donkey all the way through!
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He's confused most of the time! :D The 'minor moments' could easily have become major bronking fits if he didn't have two of the BEST 'young horse' trainers in the country working on him (one on the ground, one in the saddle.)

O. has done the work on the ground and Clyde trusts him (as much as he can trust anyone at present.) And John has the ability to sit quietly WHATEVER happens. It's no good having a good ground handler and a rider who can't resist gripping when things go wrong, or a good rider with a ground handler who can't 'read' a horse's mind and know when to ease up - and when to push on. That's where most people who try to back their own horses (and some 'professionals') run into trouble. It's a two person job - at least for the first few days to a week under the rider - and BOTH have to be very good at it - and know their respective roles.

He would NEVER have been a 'foot perfect' donkey - he is naturally 'hyper' and even if you'd had him from a foal and been able to handle him from day 1, rather than getting him as an untouched 2 year old, he would still have been 'sharp' - and a challenge to back.

The best thing about today's work was that John started to 'take control' from O. - using HIS voice and legs to ask for forward and HIS voice to ask for WHOA - he has no reins yet - and Clyde took it. It's a difficult time when you have to transfer control from the ground handler to the rider - it can be very confusing for the horse. But he's a delight - because you can see him TRYING to understand.
 
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