Day 2

[Armas]

Following on from yesterdays, I thought I would post a little bit of video from todays session. We have switched things up a bit equipment wise.

Armas is still trying to tuck is head under however a little less evading today.

If you want to see how the Spanish walk is progressing have a look on Armas's Facebook page.

Bobajob feel free not to comment after your rather rude post yesterday.

[youtube]mznoz5EwMkk[/youtube]

 

[Honey08]

Wouldn't play, said blocked for copyright reasons...

Had a look at the Spanish walk on FB. Could you tell me what its all about? Didn't quite understand what he was trying to achieve, as in what is the point of it..?

 

[Armas]

Wouldn't play, said blocked for copyright reasons...

Had a look at the Spanish walk on FB. Could you tell me what its all about? Didn't quite understand what he was trying to achieve, as in what is the point of it..?

If you watching on a iphone may not play to the music. What its all about ?Spanish Walk ? Spanish walk is a typical Spanish movement. I have added a reasonable example of Spanish walk to Armas FB page.

 

[Booboos]

I can appreciate how difficult it is to ride a horse that wants to take himself behind the vertical, I have one of those and he can be frustrating, but please don't be tempted to go with a stronger bit. Armas looks quite unhappy in the double and the rider's contact is not constant (either pulling or dropping him - both of which should be avoided).

Have you tried a rubber snaffle? Some horses like something to lean on a bit (normally not something anyone should encourage, but with a BTV horse that is what you want).

I would also strong suggest you try out some other trainers for a different point of view, what have you got to lose?

If the horse were mine I'd have a little look at that left hind next time the vet was around just to be on the safe side.

 

[FfionWinnie]

...

 

[TrasaM]

This is going to be such an interesting process and battle of wills.
How long do you think it'll take Armas to accept that the rider won't go away and that he will just have to do as he's being asked

 

[Cortez]

He's starting to get the idea of what work is all about. Like most Spanish horses (and other baroque breeds which have very tall necks) the double bridle or curb is going to suit him very well; please don't put him in anything blunt (like a rubber snaffle), you do NOT want him to lean - being on the forehand unbalances uphill horses even more than most and a full bridle will help teach him respect and refine the aids (with an educated pair of hands on the end of the reins, I hasten to add). The rider is working very hard to keep him light and asking him to accept the contact, and the only real strop comes when he asks for counter canter which requires the horse to be supple and balanced, which is hard work. Armas doesn't like hard work.................

Only note of caution is that he'll be getting quite sore, day 3 will be interesting

 

[Cortez]

Wouldn't play, said blocked for copyright reasons...

Had a look at the Spanish walk on FB. Could you tell me what its all about? Didn't quite understand what he was trying to achieve, as in what is the point of it..?

Don't mean to hijack, but Spanish walk is a very old classical movement that is used to teach the horse to open and lift the shoulders on command. It is primarily a preparation for levade, pesade and passage. Also very good for showing off

 

[Goldenstar]

Just to add my voice to Cortezs he will get sore , you will need to watch for this and give a day walking to let the muscles recover a little .

 

[Armas]

He's starting to get the idea of what work is all about. Like most Spanish horses (and other baroque breeds which have very tall necks) the double bridle or curb is going to suit him very well; please don't put him in anything blunt (like a rubber snaffle), you do NOT want him to lean - being on the forehand unbalances uphill horses even more than most and a full bridle will help teach him respect and refine the aids (with an educated pair of hands on the end of the reins, I hasten to add). The rider is working very hard to keep him light and asking him to accept the contact, and the only real strop comes when he asks for counter canter which requires the horse to be supple and balanced, which is hard work. Armas doesn't like hard work.................

Only note of caution is that he'll be getting quite sore, day 3 will be interesting

I will be keeping an eye on his mouth. The bit and bridle are new, the trainer went with me and he chose what he thinks will work well with Armas.

Ill post video of Day 3 later. This mornings session went Very well he was concentrating working and not evading. Also we tried out Spanish walk whist mounted he performed beautifully.

On wards and upwards !

 

[Cortez]

I will be keeping an eye on his mouth. The bit and bridle are new, the trainer went with me and he chose what he thinks will work well with Armas.

Ill post video of Day 3 later. This mornings session went Very well he was concentrating working and not evading. Also we tried out Spanish walk whist mounted he performed beautifully.

On wards and upwards !

Not the mouth so much as his whole body: he's using muscles in different ways, and all that resisting is actually quite tiring (if only you could explain that to him.....). Well done, you are doing the absolutely best thing for him, and yourself ultimately. Keep it going!

 

[Amaranta]

I would not put him in a rubber bit either, hate the bleddy things, how to get a dry mouth in one easy session. The rider is mainly using the top rein anyway and very rarely puts any pressure on the curb.

Armas so reminds me of my big mare when she was first backed, the evasions are impressive and you can see him thinking 'oh b*gg*r that one did not work' before trying on another one! David was there every time, quietly correcting him.

Love this rider and I covet his seat (not in a lewd way )

I actually find Spanish Walk a very useful exercise to loosen the shoulder and have taught it to all mine, excepting the big mare as she is the type to use it against me and as her walk can be fragile at times it is not worth the risk. I have found it biting me on the bum though now that I am trying to teach piaffe to my older mare, so have to train piaffe from the trot/passage rather than the walk.

Is David going to give you some lessons too? I would grab the chance

ETA: I agree with the others, watch for some sore muscles tomorrow, he has been throwing some serious shapes, especially with those multi talented shoulders.

 

[Armas]

I can appreciate how difficult it is to ride a horse that wants to take himself behind the vertical, I have one of those and he can be frustrating, but please don't be tempted to go with a stronger bit. Armas looks quite unhappy in the double and the rider's contact is not constant (either pulling or dropping him - both of which should be avoided).

Have you tried a rubber snaffle? Some horses like something to lean on a bit (normally not something anyone should encourage, but with a BTV horse that is what you want).

I would also strong suggest you try out some other trainers for a different point of view, what have you got to lose?

If the horse were mine I'd have a little look at that left hind next time the vet was around just to be on the safe side.

Here is Davids response. Sorry its in Spanish una esplicacion por que poner el filete y bocado no doble rienda.mira armas tienes muchos problemas en su doma base no tiene ninguna a el le falta contacto control equilibrio ritmo cadencia y es mas tienes algunos vicios adquiridos no admites las ayudas tiene mucha tencion en su cuello se queda siempre por detras de la mano.el ponerle el filete y bocado es por que tenga mas peso en su boca y quitarle el vicio que tenia con su filete y cambiarle un poco su metodo y en 4 dias ya siento mas control sobre el y un poco mas de contacto.se que no es lo correcto pero en un mes de trabajo poco mas se puede hacer lo suyo seria empezar con armas desde cero un saludo y gracias espero que me haya esplicado biem.chaooooooooo

 

[Honey08]

Don't mean to hijack, but Spanish walk is a very old classical movement that is used to teach the horse to open and lift the shoulders on command. It is primarily a preparation for levade, pesade and passage. Also very good for showing off

Thank you. I knew what it was, just didn't understand what purpose it served.

 

[Booboos]

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this with your trainer. I am afraid I don't speak Spanish and Google translate has garbled it all up a bit, but best of luck with your boy.

 

[Armas]

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this with your trainer. I am afraid I don't speak Spanish and Google translate has garbled it all up a bit, but best of luck with your boy.

Here is a rough translation

He basically says that the horse has alot of tension in the neck and always ducks behind the hand, the double is heavier in the mouth and encourages the horse to feel the bit- he is aware it's not entirely correct but has taken into account the horses training so far and is planning to work the horse in the double for a month as after just 4 days he had much more control and more contact from the horse....

 

[Booboos]

Here is a rough translation

He basically says that the horse has alot of tension in the neck and always ducks behind the hand, the double is heavier in the mouth and encourages the horse to feel the bit- he is aware it's not entirely correct but has taken into account the horses training so far and is planning to work the horse in the double for a month as after just 4 days he had much more control and more contact from the horse....

Thanks!

Feel is very important and if he feels better in the double then that is very encouraging. For me a horse that is BTV has to come to feel 'heavier' because otherwise it is evading the bit. It's not a case of putting the horse on the forehand, far from it. A horse that's on the forehand is loading its weight on its shoulders and not using its back end properly. A horse that puts weight on the bit (in terms of this discussion) is one that lengthens its neck properly and allows its head to come forwards so that there is daylight between throat lash and throat. For a novice horse and one that has a naturally tendency to go BTV it's very important to work towards this heaviness. Advanced horses may give a lighter feeling in the hand when in collected work but they have the ability to really engage from behind while still maintaining the head on or slightly in front of the vertical.