How much progress in 6 months?

N

NicolaC

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 July 2006
Messages
407
Visit site
I bought a lovely cob mare in May this year. Very very unfit and couldn't trot a 20m circle. She had a foal as a 3year old then was shipped over here from Ireland. Was then broken and did 2 seasons hunting. She was then sold and had only hacked once or twice a week for 18 months andthen I bought her. She was totally unschooled when I got her and was used to getting her own way when she didn't want to do something. She then didn't do much apart from hack for the first 8 weeks as I found she would go forward better than in the school so did a bit of fittening work on the road.

If you had a horse like this and rode it only 3/4 times a week where would you expect to be 6 months down the line.
 
I would hope that after 6 months the horse would be capable of doing a decent prelim test, is this the sort of milestone you are aiming for ? maybe working a bit at home on lengthening? prior to this some lateral work on hacks as well as in school should propare him to be more supple.
 
Would have thought it depends on the riders ability/knowledge or does the said person have help from an instructor. Also depends on the horse, some pick things up easier and quicker than others. I don't think there is any set time frame of "you should be here doing this in 6 months."

As amymay has already said 'Fitter'

Guessing as you are asking you do not feel you are where you should be. But wouldn't worry about it. it will all come when you and the horse are ready :D
 
Thank you all.

I think we are about on track as she hasn't been the easiest and I have three other horses/ponies and my own business.
This is a video when I went to try her. Please excuse the bad riding as I was very nervous as I have a few bad falls int the past couple of years.
http://www.youtube.com/user/nicolaclarey#p/a/u/0/04gxcmLfrbI

This video was taken about 8 weeks ago.
http://www.youtube.com/user/nicolaclarey#p/a/u/1/A-sfQ8voIZw
I know I have got to sit up. I will be having lessons with Nigel Oliver this winter on her.
 
Last edited:
NicolaC said:
I bought a lovely cob mare in May this year. Very very unfit and couldn't trot a 20m circle. She had a foal as a 3year old then was shipped over here from Ireland. Was then broken and did 2 seasons hunting. She was then sold and had only hacked once or twice a week for 18 months andthen I bought her. She was totally unschooled when I got her and was used to getting her own way when she didn't want to do something. She then didn't do much apart from hack for the first 8 weeks as I found she would go forward better than in the school so did a bit of fittening work on the road.

If you had a horse like this and rode it only 3/4 times a week where would you expect to be 6 months down the line.
Click to expand...

Once the horse is fit and I have done preparatory lunge work, then I would expect to be doing consistent correct circles with the horse working over its back within a couple of weeks (in walk and trot). I find that canter takes a lot longer to establish as most horses find it more difficult to balance and carry themselves correctly in canter. I would expect to spend another four to six weeks on that. So maximum of eight weeks to get to a standard where the horse could do a respectable prelim dressage test. If you include hacking out to fitten and lunge work then you could probably double that. However, most horses that come to me are already fit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top