Ginn
Well-Known Member
Hope you don't mind me posting this in here but given most posters here compete and train horses I figured it would be the most suitable place to post, even though I'm not exactly a comp rider (or anything close to it atm
).
Right, well as of next week T should have a saddle that fits her really well (and I'll most likely have a bank balance that I won't want to even think about!!) and the plan is to keep her in work this winter, do some stressage, maybe some mini SJ at Rockhampton and lots of RC stuff (we've even booked into the residential camp at Pontispool in March
- I think I had an absurd moment of combined madness, ambition and bravery!).
So, I essentially have a blank canvas, again, and want to make sure we start and continue on the right tracks. I have been lunging for the last 10 days now (with a couple of days off) using elasticated side reins going from just either side of the wither to the bit (mimicking low hands) so she has a contact to work into, and have also attached a second non elastic rein very loosely going from the girth to the bit to encourage a lower, more relaxed head carriage as she worked out far too quickly that if she held her head really high with an upside down neck that the contact was dropped - the second rein has no interfence unless she tried to evade the contact (back and teeth are fine - its just cheekiness!).
Muscle wise she looks ok given the amount of work she has done in the last few months! but there is a noticeable amount of wastage behind her wither (poor saddle fit!) and she has always lacked topline and muscle on her backend, mainly due to the work (or lack of) that she has done.
So, given my uni hours as of the end of the month, she'll be hacked about 3-4times a week, schooled once or twice, will have fortnightly lessons by way of regular instructor and RC/PC rallies and if all goes well we'll aim to do the odd bit of low key dressage and possibly SJ. (Kiri will be sharing her so will doing a fair bit of hacking and lessons/rallies, especially with the nights drawing in, but won't be schooling her without me or instructor).
Out hacking we can do a fair bit of hill work where we do some walking and some trotting depending on the hill. We also have some good downhill stretches. I also try to do lots of leg yeilding and have tried to teach shoulder in (prior to holiday) but need to establish this with instructor in the school first as I suspect I'm not asking right as she deffo doesn't understand!
In the school we will do the same stuff as out hacking but have the advantage of poles and enough space to go round corners rather than being limited to straight lines. We will also do plenty of transitions.
However, I have never, ever, schooled a horse from scratch before. Infact, with previous loans/shares we have jsut hacked and all schooling has been done at rallies and comps
So I am at a loss!!
Any suggestions for schooling plans and exercises to help:
1) develop correct muscle in correct places, especially across her topline;
2) develop her balance, paces and strength;
3) progress her schooling and education, with camp and some low key comps in mind, without rushing.
Eeek!! Sorry for the rather rambling essay!!! All suggestions appreciated, including books etc!
Right, well as of next week T should have a saddle that fits her really well (and I'll most likely have a bank balance that I won't want to even think about!!) and the plan is to keep her in work this winter, do some stressage, maybe some mini SJ at Rockhampton and lots of RC stuff (we've even booked into the residential camp at Pontispool in March
So, I essentially have a blank canvas, again, and want to make sure we start and continue on the right tracks. I have been lunging for the last 10 days now (with a couple of days off) using elasticated side reins going from just either side of the wither to the bit (mimicking low hands) so she has a contact to work into, and have also attached a second non elastic rein very loosely going from the girth to the bit to encourage a lower, more relaxed head carriage as she worked out far too quickly that if she held her head really high with an upside down neck that the contact was dropped - the second rein has no interfence unless she tried to evade the contact (back and teeth are fine - its just cheekiness!).
Muscle wise she looks ok given the amount of work she has done in the last few months! but there is a noticeable amount of wastage behind her wither (poor saddle fit!) and she has always lacked topline and muscle on her backend, mainly due to the work (or lack of) that she has done.
So, given my uni hours as of the end of the month, she'll be hacked about 3-4times a week, schooled once or twice, will have fortnightly lessons by way of regular instructor and RC/PC rallies and if all goes well we'll aim to do the odd bit of low key dressage and possibly SJ. (Kiri will be sharing her so will doing a fair bit of hacking and lessons/rallies, especially with the nights drawing in, but won't be schooling her without me or instructor).
Out hacking we can do a fair bit of hill work where we do some walking and some trotting depending on the hill. We also have some good downhill stretches. I also try to do lots of leg yeilding and have tried to teach shoulder in (prior to holiday) but need to establish this with instructor in the school first as I suspect I'm not asking right as she deffo doesn't understand!
In the school we will do the same stuff as out hacking but have the advantage of poles and enough space to go round corners rather than being limited to straight lines. We will also do plenty of transitions.
However, I have never, ever, schooled a horse from scratch before. Infact, with previous loans/shares we have jsut hacked and all schooling has been done at rallies and comps
Any suggestions for schooling plans and exercises to help:
1) develop correct muscle in correct places, especially across her topline;
2) develop her balance, paces and strength;
3) progress her schooling and education, with camp and some low key comps in mind, without rushing.
Eeek!! Sorry for the rather rambling essay!!! All suggestions appreciated, including books etc!
