How are your 6 year olds doing?

[nikicb]

This is really a follow on thread from this: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?531325-Show-me-your-4-5-year-olds

I'd love to hear how all those who posted are getting on compared with the plans you had. But anyone with a 6 year old is more than welcome to contribute.

I'll start.....

I'm very pleased with how Cam is coming on. We've taken it pretty slowly, I had a bit of a confidence crisis last year and he had most of last winter off work. But I've changed instructor and am very happy with how things are panning out now. He's also suddenly sprouted withers and has narrowed quite a lot in his frame width-wise as a result. His saddle should be able to be adjusted to a MW fitting from the W it had to be at when I first had him, which will save me having to do quite so many stretches before I get on.

Just a few photos.....

Not long after I first had him:

This summer as a 6 year old:

A grown up trot:

Finally found our free walk:

2nd out of 30 in our RC champs for Intro:

Working on self carriage a few weeks ago in a clinic:

How are your lot doing? x

 

[RLS]

My 2 are now 7 and 8, so don't qualify for this thread!
But just wanted to say your horse is beautiful, I love a grey.

 

[MS123]

What a beautiful boy! He looks so young in the first picture bless him. Well done on your achievements, he looks fab!

I have a 5 year old (rising 6), does that count!?

Had T a year now and we've come incredibly far already! She was very green when I got her and we've worked very hard to over-come some of her issues! She's gone from not being able to walk in a straight line, to winning prelim tests and more. She's so willing and learns incredibly quickly! We've done quite a bit this summer, worked very hard and had so much fun! Lots of outings to unaff shows and she's been amazing! My aim is to do high-level dressage with her, though she has a HUGE jump on her and is so bold and brave! So I think we may dabble in eventing too, but dressage being our main aim (she was built for dressage, so would only dabble in low-level eventing). She's a stubborn little thing with an attitude, lol! We've hit the "tantrum teenage" phase, so our lessons start on saturday ...anyhow, I'm incredibly proud of my girl and I can honestly say I've never had a partnership quite like this one! We just seem to "click".

How do you upload pictures?

 

[nix123]

He 's looking lovely. Well done to both of you. :clap: You must feel very proud of yourself for coming 2nd. Next year who knows

 

[KarlyHT]

Ooh can I join in?

Had Pearl since March... She really is an old head on young shoulders when it comes to her temperament but is still immature in her work. She has come on so much since March though.

We have done loads together... 3 day pony camp, hunting, cross country, show jumping, loads of clinics with some pretty decent trainers and on Sunday we went out for our first competition together.

Photos...







Loads still to work on but we are having fun in the mean time

 

[MS123]

What a beautiful boy! He looks so young in the first picture bless him. Well done on your achievements, he looks fab!

I have a 5 year old (rising 6), does that count!?

Had T a year now and we've come incredibly far already! She was very green when I got her and we've worked very hard to over-come some of her issues! She's gone from not being able to walk in a straight line, to winning prelim tests and more. She's so willing and learns incredibly quickly! We've done quite a bit this summer, worked very hard and had so much fun! Lots of outings to unaff shows and she's been amazing! My aim is to do high-level dressage with her, though she has a HUGE jump on her and is so bold and brave! So I think we may dabble in eventing too, but dressage being our main aim (she was built for dressage, so would only dabble in low-level eventing). She's a stubborn little thing with an attitude, lol! We've hit the "tantrum teenage" phase, so our lessons start on saturday ...anyhow, I'm incredibly proud of my girl and I can honestly say I've never had a partnership quite like this one! We just seem to "click".

How do you upload pictures?

Found it ...here she is.






I unfortunately don't have any proper pictures of when I first got her ...which is a shame as she looks completely different!

 

[Bernster]

Cam looks really well - congrats. Unless he was on a slight hill in the first shot, he's also looking more uphill now, which is impressive work methinks!!

 

[Mithras]

Here he is. As you can probably tell from the photo, its not clear whether he's going to make a great showjumper. He has something like 9 double clears at British Novice, but I'm beginning to suspect he doesn't quite have the conformation to go on much beyond 1.05 level (he was bred for showing). However, he's proved to be a splendid, calm hunter, will hack anywhere and is an all round nice fellow and easy horse to have, and of course he is very pretty! So all in all, very happy with him.

http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu210/lornajrice/1385614_4804136880358_1167440702_n.jpg

 

[nikicb]

My 2 are now 7 and 8, so don't qualify for this thread!
But just wanted to say your horse is beautiful, I love a grey.

Thank you! I think I will be quite happy when Cam reaches 7/8 then I won't be so worried about everything we do having a lasting impression on him.

 

[conniegirl]

I didnt take part in the previous thread but this is my lad:

The photo I bought him off (as a 2.5 yr old)

Him being broken in as a late 4 yr old (He was very immature, so waited untill Late 4 yr old) being sat on and hacked out for the first time.

We then encountered an issue with him bolting under saddle, very unlike him so had him investigated by Vet. They found a Fractured pelvis (it looked like an old injury that had reopened) so he spent most of 2012 locked in a stable. This is him at a show a couple of months after getting out of his stable:

He was Rebroken at the beggining of 2013 (started from scratch and worked through his remembered pain issues)

He got all his qualifications at his first ever show (CHAPS and Equifest)

He did realy well throughout the rest of the year,

culminating in him being an angel and holding his own at CHAPS Champs.

and now we are doing some serious dressage training, this is him 3 weeks ago (please forgive the colour of him)

 

[nikicb]

What a beautiful boy! He looks so young in the first picture bless him. Well done on your achievements, he looks fab!

I have a 5 year old (rising 6), does that count!?

Had T a year now and we've come incredibly far already! She was very green when I got her and we've worked very hard to over-come some of her issues! She's gone from not being able to walk in a straight line, to winning prelim tests and more. She's so willing and learns incredibly quickly! We've done quite a bit this summer, worked very hard and had so much fun! Lots of outings to unaff shows and she's been amazing! My aim is to do high-level dressage with her, though she has a HUGE jump on her and is so bold and brave! So I think we may dabble in eventing too, but dressage being our main aim (she was built for dressage, so would only dabble in low-level eventing). She's a stubborn little thing with an attitude, lol! We've hit the "tantrum teenage" phase, so our lessons start on saturday ...anyhow, I'm incredibly proud of my girl and I can honestly say I've never had a partnership quite like this one! We just seem to "click".

How do you upload pictures?

Found it ...here she is.






I unfortunately don't have any proper pictures of when I first got her ...which is a shame as she looks completely different!

Your mare is lovely and it sounds like you've come on really well. They all seem to hit that teenage stage at one point or another. Cam did last year, and I'd like to think we've got through it, but that would be tempting fate. I do feel happier about learning how far I can push him now in terms of dealing with resistance (which is how he reacts to being asked for more).

She certainly does have a jump in her - this picture is great!

 

[nikicb]

He 's looking lovely. Well done to both of you. :clap: You must feel very proud of yourself for coming 2nd. Next year who knows

Thank you. Yes it was a great feeling, especially compared to where we were at the beginning of the year. This time last year I was disillusioned and wondering whether he was the right horse for me. I know there will still be ups and downs, but I now believe we can get through it.

Cam looks really well - congrats. Unless he was on a slight hill in the first shot, he's also looking more uphill now, which is impressive work methinks!!

Thanks. He has suddenly come up in front. It shows even when he is mooching round the field, and he's beginning to feel amazing after we've warmed up with a bit of lateral work. He's also getting much more supple and flexible throughout his whole neck and body which makes his work a bit easier for him. So now I have to step up again and find some new challenges for him.

 

[nikicb]

Ooh can I join in?

Had Pearl since March... She really is an old head on young shoulders when it comes to her temperament but is still immature in her work. She has come on so much since March though.

We have done loads together... 3 day pony camp, hunting, cross country, show jumping, loads of clinics with some pretty decent trainers and on Sunday we went out for our first competition together.

Photos...







Loads still to work on but we are having fun in the mean time

Another lovely grey. What a sweet face she has. It's definitely meant to be fun, that's what I try to keep telling myself anyway. You look deep in concentration doing your dressage test.

 

[nikicb]

Here he is. As you can probably tell from the photo, its not clear whether he's going to make a great showjumper. He has something like 9 double clears at British Novice, but I'm beginning to suspect he doesn't quite have the conformation to go on much beyond 1.05 level (he was bred for showing). However, he's proved to be a splendid, calm hunter, will hack anywhere and is an all round nice fellow and easy horse to have, and of course he is very pretty! So all in all, very happy with him.

http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu210/lornajrice/1385614_4804136880358_1167440702_n.jpg

Wow - he's absolutely gorgeous. Is he an ID?

 

[nikicb]

Conniegirl - your chap is lovely - the only non grey so far on this thread. Well done for checking why his behaviour changed, it must have been quite a relief to get him right again. What's his breeding? He looks quite similar in shape to Cam who is connie x ISH.

 

[chestnut cob]

Thank you. Yes it was a great feeling, especially compared to where we were at the beginning of the year. This time last year I was disillusioned and wondering whether he was the right horse for me. I know there will still be ups and downs, but I now believe we can get through it.

Thanks. He has suddenly come up in front. It shows even when he is mooching round the field, and he's beginning to feel amazing after we've warmed up with a bit of lateral work. He's also getting much more supple and flexible throughout his whole neck and body which makes his work a bit easier for him. So now I have to step up again and find some new challenges for him.

I could have written this post myself. I have a 7yo. Bought him as a 5yo that had come from Ireland, been with the seller (ie, people I bought him from) for a month while they did a bit of flat schooling, went XC schooling and showed him a few coloured fences. He had only hunted in Ireland, was completely upside down with a massive under-neck muscle, had no idea of the aids for flat schooling or what was expected of him, and thought the answer to everything was to go flat out, spin, or take off. I hit a brick wall with him in the spring/summer and he had boot camp with my YO for a few weeks. I was completely disillusioned and the idea of boot camp was actually to make him sale-able as I didn't think I could cope with him. Those few weeks were a turning point for us. She still schools him once a week for me, and teaches me on him too, but he is a different horse now. It's taken a lot of hard work but instead of a stroppy, opinionated, grumpy horse who hated flatwork (and would make it known..though he loved, and still does, jumping), I now have a horse who improves every time he is ridden. Every day he seems stronger, more supple, more powerful, he now enjoys his flatwork and absorbs everything like a sponge. It's amazing to see the transformation.

In his case he still needs to come up more in front but it will come in time. His body shape has changed so much, got a really well muscled bum now and his back looks so much stronger that it did. He's learning to carry himself, and now when you teach him something once, he grasps it and that's it, it's there for good. It's incredible isn't it! Even more so for me when I consider he wasn't a 4yo that was started quietly and built up gradually. I got him as a 5yo who had spent 1-2 years doing everything wrong and he didn't see why he should change it!

ETA - mine is also a connie, x I think with a cob and maybe a bit of ID in there...

 

[conniegirl]

nickicb, It was an immense relief, although 6 months of boxrest over summer was hell.
He is Welsh Section D x KWPN and a geniunely levely little pony, it was so out of character for him as he lives to please.

 

[Mithras]

Wow - he's absolutely gorgeous. Is he an ID?

ID x TB. King of Diamonds grandsire. He must be the nicest natured horse ever.

 

[3Beasties]

Some brilliant transformations on here, what lovely 6 year olds!

I had a very difficult winter (extremely nappy, explosive and generally a PITA!) with my 6 year old last year but thankfully in the Spring we had a break thorough and she has improved no end since. We started competing about 8 weeks ago and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it (I'd never competed before) and have now got the bug.

I've done a few jumping clinics and a few jumping and dressage comps. We've only been jumping 2'3" and 2'6" classes, partly due to my inability to ride a course, but she has happily popped over 1.10m at home so hopefully she'll be scopey enough to go higher. Dressage wise we've only done Intro and prelim but she's been doing fairly well, scored 69% and 72% last time out! Having sworn that dressage was not for me I am begining to get hooked! She has amazed me with how well behaved she is when we compete and has been a pleasure to take out, even when I'm on my own! We are having so much fun which is what it's all about!

Not really sure what the plans are for next year, or what are ultimate goal is, but hopefully we'll enjoy the journey to wherever it takes us

 

[chesnutty]

Not on the original thread, but do have a six year old (well, he's my neighbours but have been given responsibility to 'bring on').

Harvey is born and bred for hunting, did a few days last year and I've been out on him twice so far this season. He's 17.2, and beautiful - in a roman nose sort of way! He needs some manners, and a barrow load of schooling, but he's absolutely lovely.

http://s875.photobucket.com/user/katiejahil/media/Mobile Uploads/image.jpg.html

http://s875.photobucket.com/user/katiejahil/media/Mobile Uploads/image-1.jpg.html

http://s875.photobucket.com/user/katiejahil/media/Mobile Uploads/image-2.jpg.html

 

[3Beasties]

Not on the original thread, but do have a six year old (well, he's my neighbours but have been given responsibility to 'bring on').

Harvey is born and bred for hunting, did a few days last year and I've been out on him twice so far this season. He's 17.2, and beautiful - in a roman nose sort of way! He needs some manners, and a barrow load of schooling, but he's absolutely lovely.

http://s875.photobucket.com/user/katiejahil/media/Mobile Uploads/image.jpg.html

http://s875.photobucket.com/user/katiejahil/media/Mobile Uploads/image-1.jpg.html

http://s875.photobucket.com/user/katiejahil/media/Mobile Uploads/image-2.jpg.html

Ooooh he looks lovely!! He's got such a kind eye