nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
Thought a catch up of the bay boys was due!
Lots been happening. Goofy getting out and about in the world much more. We did an arena hire at Brooksby and he was foot perfect
Didn't look at the whiteboards, our friends horse or anything. Fig was brilliant too, and especially well behaved as I didn't have a saddle!!!! Had to clamber on from a table in the audience area! Such a cool little horse. I then did nab PS's saddle and have a run through some changes and piaffe and he was top notch.
A quiet weekend took us by surprise so I had the opportunity to give Fig a little jump! He really does love this. Typically, the one time I held for a stride I totally threw him and we took off even further away than normal! Must. Not. Interfere.
Another arena hire with a good friend. Minor trauma involving a saddle slip and PS inelegantly plopping out the side door at almost a halt. Whoops! He just spooked at the chair/mounting block that's all. Both boys were really good bless them. It did them good to all work together
GOOFY VIDEO HERE: https://www.facebook.com/Diamondsin...65899336/?type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
FIG VIDEO HERE: https://www.facebook.com/Diamondsin...29230073/?type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
Fig has been giving us a headache in all honesty. He's had a massive ulcer attack again
Stopped eating. Point blank for about 2 weeks. Lost some condition and muscle. And simultaneously decided he hated his double bridle.
I'm very fortunate to know some lovely people though who have helped us sort both problems out. Thanks to a prolonged course of GG and a change of feed (bizarrely to a high starch and maize filled mix...) he is feeling better than ever (and hasn't tried to deck me due to aforementioned maize just yet).
He's being ridden in the Stubben Freedom snaffle bridle. Weird looking thing but due to his parrot mouth/connected hatred of pressure round his ears, he absolutely adores it. Honestly, I've never felt him move so good. We also have a different saddle (yes, I'm trying to bankrupt myself) as my back was hating the Equipe and he needed to move up a gullet size.
It all came together nicely for a trip to Moulton for two Advanced Mediums. We went H/C as we are all qualified for the Summers.
Blow me down. Magical little pony. He was awesome. Not perfect, lots to improve. But awesome. 69% and 70% and first in both classes by a metric mile (think 3 in both?). I said to PS the other week that I bet I would hit 70% once I went H/C lol!
AM85 VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAYrKgpfOic
AM92 VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iud6Bjr-2eU
And to top it off... We got a wildcard to the Winter Champs at Advanced Medium Restricted!!! *dances*
Can't believe we have reached 2 of our goals this year! 70% at AM and a trip to the Winter Champs again! So cool. So happy to be going
This weekend both the boys went to see Uncle Ken... They were more interested in sunbathing...
Goofy first! His understanding of what's required on day trips is improving all the time... Unloaded quietly and stood in his headcollar to be tacked up without being too fidgety so that was his first gold star.
We did passage and prance and snort his way down the track to the arena and was quite hot to hand walk as there were horses being bought in up the same track. However, as soon as my butt hit the saddle he took a big breath and I felt him go "ok got to behave now". He has THE kindest temperament, I couldn't ask for a more genuine horse.
Ken confirmed that leaving the walk alone is the correct thing to do: once relaxed he has a good, clear, correct walk so don't fiddle let him relax in to it and certainly don't collect it yet (my thoughts exactly).
Trot don't let him get too quick and too big in front, keep him in MY tempo. The trot/walk/ trot transitions are good, nothing to change there. Canter don't bend him too much, watch my renegade left hand lol and basically just enjoy it! We left him there as he did everything we asked and I want him to enjoy his trips not find them hard work.
Very exciting to hear Ken describe him as a horse with no limits...
And then Fig... He was super to warm up. So soft, taking me nicely forwards and really adjustable.
Few standard transitions to start. Then playing with the bend in the shoulder in, renvers and travers. Continue to play with the angle, make sure he's really bringing the hind leg really under himself. Super pleased with the passage. Balance and strength there, so so so close to having it 100%. A few medium trots and we were all so impressed with those. Again, so close to having it 100%!
Up into the canter. Ken commented that the roundness over the back and the general action had come on so much. A few gear changes then the piri's. Absolutely perfect!🏻 Feel like those are ring ready! The tempo is good, I only had to be told to sit straight once and Fig is no longer taking over.
Straight into the tempi changes! I've been trying to be a little lazy with my corrections. If we get a crap one, meh. No bother. It's deffo rubbing off on Fig as he was cool as a cucumber and didn't fizz up once. We got a nice line of 4's each way and then left those alone. I do need to continue to try to find that balance between correcting enough and over correcting though. Slowly slowly.
Showed Ken a bit of his medium canter at the end, to open him back up and also to demonstrate that the hips are folding better now. He's so much more supple that the canter was just easy peasy.
Parting words were that he is going to go all the way. Which makes my heart sing!
Excited for the next chapter!
Hope all is well in HHO land!
Lots been happening. Goofy getting out and about in the world much more. We did an arena hire at Brooksby and he was foot perfect
Didn't look at the whiteboards, our friends horse or anything. Fig was brilliant too, and especially well behaved as I didn't have a saddle!!!! Had to clamber on from a table in the audience area! Such a cool little horse. I then did nab PS's saddle and have a run through some changes and piaffe and he was top notch.
A quiet weekend took us by surprise so I had the opportunity to give Fig a little jump! He really does love this. Typically, the one time I held for a stride I totally threw him and we took off even further away than normal! Must. Not. Interfere.
Another arena hire with a good friend. Minor trauma involving a saddle slip and PS inelegantly plopping out the side door at almost a halt. Whoops! He just spooked at the chair/mounting block that's all. Both boys were really good bless them. It did them good to all work together
GOOFY VIDEO HERE: https://www.facebook.com/Diamondsin...65899336/?type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
FIG VIDEO HERE: https://www.facebook.com/Diamondsin...29230073/?type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
Fig has been giving us a headache in all honesty. He's had a massive ulcer attack again
Stopped eating. Point blank for about 2 weeks. Lost some condition and muscle. And simultaneously decided he hated his double bridle.I'm very fortunate to know some lovely people though who have helped us sort both problems out. Thanks to a prolonged course of GG and a change of feed (bizarrely to a high starch and maize filled mix...) he is feeling better than ever (and hasn't tried to deck me due to aforementioned maize just yet).
He's being ridden in the Stubben Freedom snaffle bridle. Weird looking thing but due to his parrot mouth/connected hatred of pressure round his ears, he absolutely adores it. Honestly, I've never felt him move so good. We also have a different saddle (yes, I'm trying to bankrupt myself) as my back was hating the Equipe and he needed to move up a gullet size.
It all came together nicely for a trip to Moulton for two Advanced Mediums. We went H/C as we are all qualified for the Summers.
Blow me down. Magical little pony. He was awesome. Not perfect, lots to improve. But awesome. 69% and 70% and first in both classes by a metric mile (think 3 in both?). I said to PS the other week that I bet I would hit 70% once I went H/C lol!
AM85 VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAYrKgpfOic
AM92 VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iud6Bjr-2eU
And to top it off... We got a wildcard to the Winter Champs at Advanced Medium Restricted!!! *dances*
Can't believe we have reached 2 of our goals this year! 70% at AM and a trip to the Winter Champs again! So cool. So happy to be going
This weekend both the boys went to see Uncle Ken... They were more interested in sunbathing...
Goofy first! His understanding of what's required on day trips is improving all the time... Unloaded quietly and stood in his headcollar to be tacked up without being too fidgety so that was his first gold star.
We did passage and prance and snort his way down the track to the arena and was quite hot to hand walk as there were horses being bought in up the same track. However, as soon as my butt hit the saddle he took a big breath and I felt him go "ok got to behave now". He has THE kindest temperament, I couldn't ask for a more genuine horse.
Ken confirmed that leaving the walk alone is the correct thing to do: once relaxed he has a good, clear, correct walk so don't fiddle let him relax in to it and certainly don't collect it yet (my thoughts exactly).
Trot don't let him get too quick and too big in front, keep him in MY tempo. The trot/walk/ trot transitions are good, nothing to change there. Canter don't bend him too much, watch my renegade left hand lol and basically just enjoy it! We left him there as he did everything we asked and I want him to enjoy his trips not find them hard work.
Very exciting to hear Ken describe him as a horse with no limits...
And then Fig... He was super to warm up. So soft, taking me nicely forwards and really adjustable.
Few standard transitions to start. Then playing with the bend in the shoulder in, renvers and travers. Continue to play with the angle, make sure he's really bringing the hind leg really under himself. Super pleased with the passage. Balance and strength there, so so so close to having it 100%. A few medium trots and we were all so impressed with those. Again, so close to having it 100%!
Up into the canter. Ken commented that the roundness over the back and the general action had come on so much. A few gear changes then the piri's. Absolutely perfect!🏻 Feel like those are ring ready! The tempo is good, I only had to be told to sit straight once and Fig is no longer taking over.
Straight into the tempi changes! I've been trying to be a little lazy with my corrections. If we get a crap one, meh. No bother. It's deffo rubbing off on Fig as he was cool as a cucumber and didn't fizz up once. We got a nice line of 4's each way and then left those alone. I do need to continue to try to find that balance between correcting enough and over correcting though. Slowly slowly.
Showed Ken a bit of his medium canter at the end, to open him back up and also to demonstrate that the hips are folding better now. He's so much more supple that the canter was just easy peasy.
Parting words were that he is going to go all the way. Which makes my heart sing!
Excited for the next chapter!
Hope all is well in HHO land!
, so unbelievable just how amazing he is! So glad you got he eating again (not that you can tell he was in hunger strike in the pics!), can I ask what was the reasoning for you switching to the Prestige, though I know you had a few issues with the Equipe.
