Educating Polly

scats

scats

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Forgot to share a few (blurry, sorry) pictures of Polly that my friend took last week.
Very much the early stages of her schooling so nothing spectacular.

She is now doing 2 school sessions a week after the go ahead from the physio. We are mostly working on long and low at the moment, which is very much a work in progress. She is fabulously quirky to ride but very hot, so she is still learning to accept that I must be able to put my leg on. You have to ride her very quietly and conservatively at first, so apologies that I look slightly like I'm sat in an arm chair in a couple of them. If you interfere or ask too much at first, she coils and goes skywards. Think tigger on a pogo stick.
Plan is that she will be doing some intros in the new year and hopefully prelims next season.

My Friend couldn't believe the difference, the last time she saw her ridden was the first weekend of August and Polly spent the majority of the time in the air (she is very gymnastic!)
Anyway, enough rambling.

Tip of the day- stripes are most unflattering.




I do have some videos but I have no idea how to put them up.
 
Very well done. A nice shape is starting there. Long and low on a pingy pony is quite a hard task to ask, so well done indeed. Consistency is key as you are finding out. Have you tried some of the horsey yoga exercises with her? I have found with my mare - who is not pingy in the slightest but thinks that long and low is for walks only or in trot only when she's exhausted at the end of a session - the horsey yoga stuff (such as Visconte Simon Cocozza's examples) have not only helped her to 'straighten up', but we can do a long and low trot now at the start of our sessions.
 
HeresHoping said:
Very well done. A nice shape is starting there. Long and low on a pingy pony is quite a hard task to ask, so well done indeed. Consistency is key as you are finding out. Have you tried some of the horsey yoga exercises with her? I have found with my mare - who is not pingy in the slightest but thinks that long and low is for walks only or in trot only when she's exhausted at the end of a session - the horsey yoga stuff (such as Visconte Simon Cocozza's examples) have not only helped her to 'straighten up', but we can do a long and low trot now at the start of our sessions.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I don't think anyone is really interested as I get a lot of views but no responses, so it means a lot when someone makes an effort to comment. I'll have a look at the horse yoga exercises as these might be really useful for my mare.
 
Oddly enough not only can I see your 2nd attempt now but also the first! It's probably my internet connection. She looks gymnastic - her trot looks elastic, as far as you can tell from a still photo. You mention your 'chair' seat, what does she do if you lengthen your stirrups?
She does look a nice sort!
 
Thank you everyone :-)

Pearlsasinger said:
Oddly enough not only can I see your 2nd attempt now but also the first! It's probably my internet connection. She looks gymnastic - her trot looks elastic, as far as you can tell from a still photo. You mention your 'chair' seat, what does she do if you lengthen your stirrups?
She does look a nice sort!
Click to expand...

I'll try putting my stirrups down tonight. I think it stems from the first few weeks, she would go from nice and forwards to slamming the anchors on quickly and reversing, so I got used to sitting back a bit a bit in anticipation (after nearly going straight over her head on one occasion haha!)
 
scats said:
Thank you everyone :-)



I'll try putting my stirrups down tonight. I think it stems from the first few weeks, she would go from nice and forwards to slamming the anchors on quickly and reversing, so I got used to sitting back a bit a bit in anticipation (after nearly going straight over her head on one occasion haha!)
Click to expand...

I always feel more secure sitting deep into the centre of the saddle with longer stirrups. I really dislike flying!:D

I do think videoing is a good idea, it allows you to be your own 'eyes on the ground'.
 
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