tobiano1984
Well-Known Member
I posted last week I think about my sad little 6yo cob, and how much he'd come on. I got him last Dec because I felt sorry for him - never a good idea but it's been rewarding!
He came over from Ireland last May, and ended up with the worst person possible - a hideous dealer with a temper. When I got him for peanuts he was unmountable and if someone did manage to get on, he'd generally buck them off again. After vet checks and lots of osteopathy, turned out he had locking stifles, damage to his sacroiliac and lots and LOTS of tension. Plus had lots of emotional baggage and obviously been knocked around a lot. Nothing permanent luckily! He's also had lots of love and groundwork, and careful reintroduction to ridden work.
After turning many corners recently (a few months ago he couldn't turn right..!) he is working beautifully in the school and hacking out on his own very happily, and is generally a much friendlier, happier chap. He's now starting to get a bit cheeky, and will come up to you and give you a nudge to get some attention - previously he would turn his head away if you tried to stroke him. When I go up to the field he's always first to the gate - usually at a very enthusiastic pace!
So we decided finally that he was ready for an outing, so off we went yesterday to an indoor unaff dressage show. He loaded and travelled beautifully, and was super chilled at the venue. A little nervous in the warmup indoor arena, and tensed up when his rider got on - but forgivable as it's his first time indoors and at a show! I lead them round a bit and then left them to it to warm up, and all went well. He did his Intro test in such calm style, I couldn't believe it. His rider was a bit reluctant to put the leg on as he's very sensitive, and we thought it best just to let him get through it happily without putting pressure on to work forwards. He tripped once, and nearly ended up on his face, but amazingly didn't panic and carried on.
We were all thrilled to bits when the scores went up - 68.04% and 3rd place! And only 3% behind 1st place. Couldn't believe it, how far he has come.
The judge just said he needed to work forwards more (which we know) and if he did his marks would go up a lot, also needs to stretch down more in the free walk - he's so polite he doesn't yet realise he's allowed to! So in another 2 weeks he'll go to the same show again and hopefully do the same Intro test and then a Prelim (canter is a bit rushed at the moment but nearly there). And fingers crossed he'll hit the 70s!! A few more outings and life-experiences and then he'll go up for sale to an approved home when I'm 100% sure he's ready.
Here's a pic of when he arrived from Ireland last year and a couple from his first show!
He came over from Ireland last May, and ended up with the worst person possible - a hideous dealer with a temper. When I got him for peanuts he was unmountable and if someone did manage to get on, he'd generally buck them off again. After vet checks and lots of osteopathy, turned out he had locking stifles, damage to his sacroiliac and lots and LOTS of tension. Plus had lots of emotional baggage and obviously been knocked around a lot. Nothing permanent luckily! He's also had lots of love and groundwork, and careful reintroduction to ridden work.
After turning many corners recently (a few months ago he couldn't turn right..!) he is working beautifully in the school and hacking out on his own very happily, and is generally a much friendlier, happier chap. He's now starting to get a bit cheeky, and will come up to you and give you a nudge to get some attention - previously he would turn his head away if you tried to stroke him. When I go up to the field he's always first to the gate - usually at a very enthusiastic pace!
So we decided finally that he was ready for an outing, so off we went yesterday to an indoor unaff dressage show. He loaded and travelled beautifully, and was super chilled at the venue. A little nervous in the warmup indoor arena, and tensed up when his rider got on - but forgivable as it's his first time indoors and at a show! I lead them round a bit and then left them to it to warm up, and all went well. He did his Intro test in such calm style, I couldn't believe it. His rider was a bit reluctant to put the leg on as he's very sensitive, and we thought it best just to let him get through it happily without putting pressure on to work forwards. He tripped once, and nearly ended up on his face, but amazingly didn't panic and carried on.
We were all thrilled to bits when the scores went up - 68.04% and 3rd place! And only 3% behind 1st place. Couldn't believe it, how far he has come.
The judge just said he needed to work forwards more (which we know) and if he did his marks would go up a lot, also needs to stretch down more in the free walk - he's so polite he doesn't yet realise he's allowed to! So in another 2 weeks he'll go to the same show again and hopefully do the same Intro test and then a Prelim (canter is a bit rushed at the moment but nearly there). And fingers crossed he'll hit the 70s!! A few more outings and life-experiences and then he'll go up for sale to an approved home when I'm 100% sure he's ready.
Here's a pic of when he arrived from Ireland last year and a couple from his first show!
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