Introducing my new ride....and xc help!

MontyandZoom

MontyandZoom

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 June 2007
Messages
2,478
Visit site
I have ridden my friend's mare a few times over the past two years when her regular rider was away. Her regular rider has now stopped riding so my friend has offered me the ride on her next year when Zoom is on loan and I'm at uni (will be a weekend thing).

Adelaide - or Ada to her friends. She is a 15.1hh chestnut mare (:eek:). Homebred, her dam was arab/nf and her sire is a tb. She is 8 years old.

This is us doing dressage last year.

Image014copy.jpg


She is very spooky and has a wicked buck but is a very talented little mare. I can't wait to get out and do some more dressage on her.....I just need to learn how to ride :D

Anyway, she has a big jump but is very green as she hasn't done much. I'm taking her to a sponsored ride next Monday while Zoom is off with headshaking issues. With xc jumps (I'm talking tiny logs etc) she GALLOPS flat out at everything and I find it hard to control her. She is fine over poles, she just gets way over excited xc.

Her owner always wants me to follow her on her ploddy old boy (Ada's brother) but this seems to exacerbate the problem as she runs to catch up as was proved last time we did xc.

This is proving a challenge at the moment since I am SO used to my lovely Zoom who, although she is as whizzy as her name, has a fab bouncy collected canter when jumping.

What is the best approach? Is it best to keep her in trot? Hmmmm..........
 
Orr that will be nice for you, sounds lovely :)

but the only problem is we can't see the picture :( its just coming up as a white box with a red cross in it :confused:

we need to see pics of her now...come on sort your sh*t out! :D...sorry I computer out :D
 
Yup they work now, she looks lovely :)

What bit and noseband is she in? maybe as you approach the jump (try in trot!) if she speeds up too much then turn her in a tight circle to slow her down and re approach...... ok it may knock her vision of it, but if she is a capapble jumper she will reestablish herself and hopefully be a bit slower (don't know if others will agree....)

either that or feet out in front, reins up by your ears and pull like your life depends on it! :D
 
Lucy_Nottingham said:
either that or feet out in front, reins up by your ears and pull like your life depends on it! :D
Click to expand...

Tee hee! She is in a loose ring snaffle with losenge and flash noseband with martingale for jumping. To be honest she runs through it jumping :( I have spoken to her owner about upping the bitting for jumping but she has a mouth like butter for dressage so I'm wary. Any bitting suggestions greatly received (she is definately a head-up rather than head-down horse)

I wish we could have some sort of rythm but it seems to be ruuuuuuun, hesitate, BOING for xc!
 
Well I have to be honest, the bit I use (and have recommended to a couple of people on here) is a Neule Scheule Continental gag with a lozenge .......... so it has a nice mouthpiece, something there for them to focus on, its copper so its a bit softer and there is the strength in the gag but its not wrench their back teeth out sort of thing.....

What sort of martigale also? I am assuming a running martigale? What is she like in a standing? (as they cant really ignore those, although they dont add brakes exactly, just a bit more head control......)
 
I may give the bit bank a look.......I like the sound of that bitting arrangement since I want more brakes but don't want to go overboard. I hadn't thought of a standing martingale. I'm sure I have an elasticated one in my shed I could try.

Thanks for the tips! It's wierd, I feel rubbish riding another horse since I'm so used to Zoom!
 
Its weird iv ridden since I was 2 (now 20 years ago...... argh i feel old!) but have never owned my own horse, just learnt to ride at different riding schools (changing as I got better) so learnt to ride in loads of different combos but never had to think why i used htem.

Then got a job at uni riding for a yard with hunt and low level comp horses and the YO was like Ye just let me know if you want to change anything for any reason........ its like why would i want to?! and then when it came to taking one hunting I was like hmm might need more brakes or something, but then i realised why it was good to know all the different sorts and learning what was nice and what lots of horses would accept and what lots of horses wouldnt etc etc.

Still dont have my own horse yet! :(

If you didnt have such a wonderful zoomy pony then u wudnt have this problem wud u! ;)
 
Ditto the Neule Scheule Continental gag with a lozenge, I used it on the big ginger man, normally in a FL full cheek, good mouth for hacking on his own/dressage etc but can get a bit excited and trys to tank when jumping, I had the bit on trial and I did notice the difference (breaks) and also he seemed quieter in the mouth too when walking (hacking back from CC), although over all wasnt the ideal bit as with the WB he you also needed a full cheek for more control into fences, but that's just him. However RI thinks it's a horrid bit and that we should of stuck to his usual bit and let him go at the fences more (but thats a seperate convo too)...now I'm straying off topic :D

All I'd say is, just be careful when introducing the above bit or any other bit that has a different action for that matter, may sure you test it out before you get on the horse, as sometimes they can flip out so put the rein preasure on gently to get him used to it while your on the ground (just as a safety measure) do some flat work etc and then see how you go with it.

sorry banged on a bit there :D
 
no kenzo makes good points! :)

It is a stronger bit so do test in a "safe" environment just to see what happens!!

and always wear ur body protector! ;)
 
Luckily the mare in question has had me on my arse a couple of times (and last time on my head! Naughty ginge!) so I always wear my bp.

I love your ramblings kenzo.....they are very helpful.

We have a big field that is enclosed so if I change bits I may take her in there for a whizz about......she is also a horse that likes to bugger off if you come off. Monty lives on!! :D
 
Ahhh don't you just love horses that do that!!! ;)

Sounds like a good plan, I would test in the school, and if all is good then take into the enclosed field and then risk the XC course.

and take LOADS of piccies for us! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top