did i do the right thing?

[jenbleep]

or would you have done differently?

went to ride Frankie tonight, he was very stiff as to be expected - it is freezing cold and he must have been stood in his stable eating for about an hour before i got there.

rode round, he was not going forward and kept slowing down (in walk and trot) so i gave him a big pony club kick and sent him forward. he was a little surprised to say the least, but obliged.
then Frankie's owner started to make his feed, rattling the feed bins etc and Frankie's attention was not focused on me. He was tense, started to rush off and i got mad. I could feel myself getting more and more angry, and even raised my hands a bit to try and slow him down. I know the isn't the right thing to do, it would make him more tense and giraffe mode but i was frustrated. no excuse i know, something i need to work on.

So he was getting faster and faster, and i thought 'right, i need to calm down and stop pulling him. otherwise he is going to pull my all around this arena.' so i took a deep breath and let him carry on with the 'rushing giraffe' mode, give him some rein and just sat there

i did a few circles as well, but he was going so fast and it was icy so i did steady him round the corners etc. h did stretch down a few times, but most of the time he was looking for his food and going about 100 miles per hour.

what else could i have done? i did try and put more pressure on the rein, and when he softened i softened, (does that make sense?

but he was getting more and more tense so i stopped doing that for now.

what else could i have done? did i do the right thing? or was i having another one of the days?

i understand that if i was him to be relaxed i need to be relaxed.

i've got two numbers for dressage instructors in the area so I'm going to give them a ring tomorrow.

he is getting his saddle checked tomorrow as well....he has lost a bit of weight as well recently so perhaps the saddle is pinching?

 

[Bossanova]

If in doubt, walk and concentrate on something easy

 

[Jellicle]

I wouldn't worry. Horses have moods and get distracted just like people do. Sometimes there's not much you can do!

 

[Daphnelia]

Don't overanalyse so much, horses have day when theyll play ball and days when they wont, same as us!

 

[jenbleep]

[ QUOTE ]
Don't overanalyse so much,

[/ QUOTE ]

i do do that a lot

its not good im going to get old before my time

 

[Daphnelia]

Oh I do too! Lol, maybe it makes us better riders

 

[Weezy]

Like Boss said, if I find myself getting peed off I drop to walk and work on leg yielding, direction changes, squares, etc. Don't beat yourself up!

 

[jenbleep]

i do it all the time weezy, i am battered and bruised

i am a worrier

 

[wizzi901]

Not a solution but I would have asked his owner to leave the ruddy food until I had finished!!

 

[jenbleep]

haha i *very nearly* shouted at her 'can you stop that!!!!!!!'

i was very frustrated, every time she rattled the buckets his head shot up in that direction! gah

 

[Shilasdair]

If I'm not in the mood to school, and neither is the horse...then I ask for something towards the middle of the horse's repertoire...so a decent shoulder in...or a few nice canter departs.
Then I say 'lovely pony' pat, pat, pat....and get off.
S

 

[jenbleep]

the last couple of times S he (and me i spose) has been like that.....im beginning to think i'm ruining him

see, there i go again with the self doubt *give me a slap someone*

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
the last couple of times S he (and me i spose) has been like that.....im beginning to think i'm ruining him

see, there i go again with the self doubt *give me a slap someone*

[/ QUOTE ]

Then school on a hack...you can do pretty much everything anyway...halt, walk, trot transitions, leg yield, shoulder in, acute transitions...and if you have suitable ground, canter...you can do neck flexion...everything...just have to be inventive. And horses are more forward thinking on hacks...
Then do the last few minutes in the school doing whatever specific thing you want to work on....better than you being miserable...and him switching off....
S

 

[Cop-Pop]

I've just got home from feeding my friends pony - I arrived at yard, got his feed ready then turned round to go and catch him only to find him tacked up standing behind me!! Turned out he'd ditched the lady who was riding him when he heard his bucket

 

[jenbleep]

yep he likes the sound of those buckets!

Thanks S, i agree that he is more forward thinking out on a hack, i just wish we did it more often

 

[poghag]

Why don't you hack more often? Roadwork in dark? If not - get your night gogs on and get out there!

 

[jenbleep]

because i dont get to the yard until 5, when its pitch black, and the hacking is rubbish round here. He's kept by Bournemouth Airport and is surrounded by main roads, i have to hack on these roads for about 30 minutes to get any decent. I hack on the weekends though, and whenever i get to leave work early.

However, saying all that, recently i have started going down to the yard at 7am so by the time he is tacked up it is light - i can hack him for about 45 mins and be at work for 9.30!!

 

[Pennyhp]

I think if it was me I would have taken him back to walk and worked on a few transitions - walk to halt -halt to walk an just a few strides of trort at a time and ridden some turns and circles.
It would focus his attention back on you.

I would have only worked him for a few minutes though.
Much better to do just a little and finish on a good note, then both of you being frustrated.