scheherazade
Well-Known Member
Hi All
I expect most of you are at least as fed up of this weather as I am so thought I would write a quick report which combines the following: sunshine, outdoors and big smiles!
Yesterday was the first decent weekend day we have had in ages so when a very lovely racing friend invited me to go up to Knole Park to do some fitness work on their gallop, I couldn't possibly have turned them down
So we loaded up friend's horse, plus the G-man, friend, daughter and dog and set off. Fortunately it is only a very short journey so we travelled tacked up - just as well as my normally perfectly behaved saint of a horse decided that Sunday walkers plus their assorted dogs, children, buggies, bikes, scooters was far too exciting. Oh and the kite! Mustn't forget the kite of doom.
Safely unloaded and onboard, the G-man promptly forgot how to walk but executed a perfect half pass in extended jog manoeuvre for the first hundred yards. A lazy soul at heart he soon got the hang of it and walked and trotted out really nicely behind the seasoned pro racehorse. When we got to the bottom I had a classic "why didn't I bring my camera"moment. Glorious sun, beatiful view and a very very happy me. And off we went at a reasonable canter, the going there was perfect, we just had to pick our ground carefully, and I loved every minute. Pulled up half way for a walk and a breather before picking up the pace again. And bless the little man, he tried his best and stayed within two lengths of my friend right until we got to the bottom of the hill. I have never seen a horse accelerate that fast, but there was no way we could keep up. Had the time of our lives and so much more fun than just going on the gallops.
The quick question was that during the faster work, he managed to get his tongue over the bit and I was wondering if a change of noseband just for faster work would help. For dressage he's in a simple loose ring lozenge snaffle and cavesson, show jumping he's in a universal lozenge again with cavesson but am just wondering about whether to use a flash or a grackle for faster work only. He did it a lot when I first got him but have pretty much eliminated it in the school and on regular hacks and he seems happy in his work in all other ways. So my question to you, dear HHO, is which of the two you would try first to solve this and why. Or would you try something else first?
Many thanks, have some mint aero to share
I expect most of you are at least as fed up of this weather as I am so thought I would write a quick report which combines the following: sunshine, outdoors and big smiles!
Yesterday was the first decent weekend day we have had in ages so when a very lovely racing friend invited me to go up to Knole Park to do some fitness work on their gallop, I couldn't possibly have turned them down
So we loaded up friend's horse, plus the G-man, friend, daughter and dog and set off. Fortunately it is only a very short journey so we travelled tacked up - just as well as my normally perfectly behaved saint of a horse decided that Sunday walkers plus their assorted dogs, children, buggies, bikes, scooters was far too exciting. Oh and the kite! Mustn't forget the kite of doom.Safely unloaded and onboard, the G-man promptly forgot how to walk but executed a perfect half pass in extended jog manoeuvre for the first hundred yards. A lazy soul at heart he soon got the hang of it and walked and trotted out really nicely behind the seasoned pro racehorse. When we got to the bottom I had a classic "why didn't I bring my camera"moment. Glorious sun, beatiful view and a very very happy me. And off we went at a reasonable canter, the going there was perfect, we just had to pick our ground carefully, and I loved every minute. Pulled up half way for a walk and a breather before picking up the pace again. And bless the little man, he tried his best and stayed within two lengths of my friend right until we got to the bottom of the hill. I have never seen a horse accelerate that fast, but there was no way we could keep up. Had the time of our lives and so much more fun than just going on the gallops.
The quick question was that during the faster work, he managed to get his tongue over the bit and I was wondering if a change of noseband just for faster work would help. For dressage he's in a simple loose ring lozenge snaffle and cavesson, show jumping he's in a universal lozenge again with cavesson but am just wondering about whether to use a flash or a grackle for faster work only. He did it a lot when I first got him but have pretty much eliminated it in the school and on regular hacks and he seems happy in his work in all other ways. So my question to you, dear HHO, is which of the two you would try first to solve this and why. Or would you try something else first?
Many thanks, have some mint aero to share
