4whitesocks
Well-Known Member
Tierra - my old YO said exactly the same thing to me.....it's become a bit of a mantra at this stage...
Is it wrong to be frustrated...
- Thread starter Patches
- Start date
Patches
Well-Known Member
pmsl I thought you mean I was talking absolute 13A11S about my pelvis hurting and being weak in my legs! LOL
Did you get my pm? Puter on a go slow and I have no idea if it sent it or not.
Did you get my pm? Puter on a go slow and I have no idea if it sent it or not.
buzzles
Well-Known Member
I have also been criticised for being too nice to my neddies and am a really soft and quiet rider, the really forward going ones go so sweetly and calmly for me but the lazy ones completely take the p***!! Agree with Tierra, we do so much work looking after them the least they can do is do some for us!!! Don't worry about hurting her with the spurs, if you get rounded ones they can't do any harm to her and if she's listening to them you won't have to use them so much!!
Tia
Well-Known Member
I agree with GTs. Patches is what she is; and I thought you were really happy with her. Maybe she doesn't like doing schooling, maybe her forte is being a hacking horse; she seems to love going hacking and doing a bit of jumping. Personally I would just enjoy what she is.
Salcey
Well-Known Member
My cob is naturally lazy, especially when schooling. However I have found spending 10 minutes doing transition after transition it really wakes her up. I liturally do 2 strides of trot and come straight back to walk and then straight back to trot etc shes a different horse after that.
Anything i possible with your horse (within reason of course) its just a case of finding the right buttons to push that work for her. Your totally justified in being frustrated but don't give up
Anything i possible with your horse (within reason of course) its just a case of finding the right buttons to push that work for her. Your totally justified in being frustrated but don't give up
Patches
Well-Known Member
Oh I do enjoy her, don't get me wrong. I'm not about to sell her, she's my baby!
(well not after her £1880 vet bill for her hock treatments
)
I was just feeling incredibly guilty that I had a schooling session and came in the house feeling frustrated with her. She doesn't deserve that as she's given so much to me in each and every way.
What I really need is a nice schoolmaster for schooling and Patches for hacking and pleasure rides!
Just don't tell Duncan.....
Hmmm.... I've just had a really stupid thought. I was riding tonight at 5pm. I can't remember the last time I brought Patches in from the field at that time and rode. I normally ride in a morning. Maybe she thought she was going to bed so was sulking?
(well not after her £1880 vet bill for her hock treatments
I was just feeling incredibly guilty that I had a schooling session and came in the house feeling frustrated with her. She doesn't deserve that as she's given so much to me in each and every way.
What I really need is a nice schoolmaster for schooling and Patches for hacking and pleasure rides!
Just don't tell Duncan.....
Hmmm.... I've just had a really stupid thought. I was riding tonight at 5pm. I can't remember the last time I brought Patches in from the field at that time and rode. I normally ride in a morning. Maybe she thought she was going to bed so was sulking?
buzzles
Well-Known Member
Not a stupid thought, I can't ride my mare at 6pm cos thats her dinner time!! She's totally nappy and sulky, I'll have to take the clock down from the yard, I think she can tell the time!! Have you tried leaving her in for a while before you ride, when my guys come in from the field they like to have a nap so I leave them have a snooze for a few hours before I ride them, then they're a bit more awake!!
Patches
Well-Known Member
I got her in at 3pm before I fetched the children from school (including a 30 mile round trip to fetch my son from college).
I hadn't fed her though so I'm wondering if, when she saw me come back into the stable block, she assumed I was coming back to feed her.....which would normally be true at that time.
Whoops! Bless her.
I hadn't fed her though so I'm wondering if, when she saw me come back into the stable block, she assumed I was coming back to feed her.....which would normally be true at that time.
Whoops! Bless her.
Patches
Well-Known Member
Thanks Calzy.
I'm going to try her in a real school first (I ride in the field) to see how she goes and I'll try the constant transitions too as my friend, who teaches me, had me doing that last year come to think of it.
Will keep you posted. I know she can be forward going schooling. She was last summer.
I'm going to try her in a real school first (I ride in the field) to see how she goes and I'll try the constant transitions too as my friend, who teaches me, had me doing that last year come to think of it.
Will keep you posted. I know she can be forward going schooling. She was last summer.
siennamum
Well-Known Member
It's difficult to comment without seeing her but my gut feeling is that you bought a nice safe schoolmaster (most people would kill for a horse which goes no faster than they want!) - the downside is that she is slow!!!
Going slowly in the school/field is a resistance, she is telling you quite clearly that she will work for you but at her pace. You won't change her attitude or make her "want" to go faster by more schooling or by putting on spurs or using the whip.
The rule with slow horses is that you must use less leg (with fast horses you must use more), the best way to do this is to get a good trainer who will not encourage you to work too hard.
If she were mine I simply wouldn't school her at all atm in the school/schooling area. I would hack and compete and if I wanted to school, then it would be on hacks or in open fields, have you a few nice flat areas in the fields you can mark out and use? She would probably enjoy schooling at clinics etc. more than at home so find a local Riding Club.
Unless you are acheiving something positive by schooling or you have a clear obective for doing so then just don't see the neccessity for it....
Going slowly in the school/field is a resistance, she is telling you quite clearly that she will work for you but at her pace. You won't change her attitude or make her "want" to go faster by more schooling or by putting on spurs or using the whip.
The rule with slow horses is that you must use less leg (with fast horses you must use more), the best way to do this is to get a good trainer who will not encourage you to work too hard.
If she were mine I simply wouldn't school her at all atm in the school/schooling area. I would hack and compete and if I wanted to school, then it would be on hacks or in open fields, have you a few nice flat areas in the fields you can mark out and use? She would probably enjoy schooling at clinics etc. more than at home so find a local Riding Club.
Unless you are acheiving something positive by schooling or you have a clear obective for doing so then just don't see the neccessity for it....
Patches
Well-Known Member
Yup, totally see your point. Makes valid sense.
I'm not a good rider so schooling is more to develop my riding skills as well as up Patches fitness levels. I want to do some Pleasure Rides and I feel I need to increase her fitness for this and schooling seems the best option. Yes she hacks 4 or 5 times a week for up to 3 hours-ish a time, but I don't do that much trotting on the roads anymore to prevent too much concussion as she does have the very start of non-articular low ringbone in her front feet.
She happily canters about in open land and is generally more forward. I don't school in the cow fields though until after silaging (end of May usually) Stubble fields are great! Right now the grass is a bit long which disguises any ruts or rabbit holes and I do worry about her stepping into a hole.
I wouldn't normally call Patches slow though. She's super safe and always will be, but if I were to nab someone else on their horse to join me she'd be super speedy and show off. I don't mean that she'd follow the other horse as we'd work in a free order. Just having company seems to ignite her enthusiasm somehow.
I'm not keen on the idea of spurs and I hate resorting to a schooling whip. Seems futile using it when she's of the mind set that she will not find any impulsion as no matter how many times I tap her, there's no one home!
I'm not a good rider so schooling is more to develop my riding skills as well as up Patches fitness levels. I want to do some Pleasure Rides and I feel I need to increase her fitness for this and schooling seems the best option. Yes she hacks 4 or 5 times a week for up to 3 hours-ish a time, but I don't do that much trotting on the roads anymore to prevent too much concussion as she does have the very start of non-articular low ringbone in her front feet.
She happily canters about in open land and is generally more forward. I don't school in the cow fields though until after silaging (end of May usually) Stubble fields are great! Right now the grass is a bit long which disguises any ruts or rabbit holes and I do worry about her stepping into a hole.
I wouldn't normally call Patches slow though. She's super safe and always will be, but if I were to nab someone else on their horse to join me she'd be super speedy and show off. I don't mean that she'd follow the other horse as we'd work in a free order. Just having company seems to ignite her enthusiasm somehow.
I'm not keen on the idea of spurs and I hate resorting to a schooling whip. Seems futile using it when she's of the mind set that she will not find any impulsion as no matter how many times I tap her, there's no one home!
JM07
Well-Known Member
my initial thought here is that you have outgrown her, by that i mean you are ready to try something other than a happy-hack.
you have obviously, reading back through your posts on here, come on as a rider since you've owned her, and maybe now is the time to take on something that can give back a little more?
you have obviously, reading back through your posts on here, come on as a rider since you've owned her, and maybe now is the time to take on something that can give back a little more?
pottamus
Well-Known Member
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To be honest Patches - you think she is great in everyway except this, I say enjoy what she is good it!
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I totally agree with this! I do all my schooling out on hacks because I would go through the same annoyances as you do with laziness and my horse being bored in a school. It works really well for us and when I get him out on pleasure rides he is the complete opposite and sometimes a bit too forward going and fresh for my liking!!!
To be honest Patches - you think she is great in everyway except this, I say enjoy what she is good it!
[/ QUOTE ]
I totally agree with this! I do all my schooling out on hacks because I would go through the same annoyances as you do with laziness and my horse being bored in a school. It works really well for us and when I get him out on pleasure rides he is the complete opposite and sometimes a bit too forward going and fresh for my liking!!!
siennamum
Well-Known Member
Unless you are actively having lessons and working towards certain objectives then I think schooling alone at home can be a bit pointless
I find (this is my opinion) that it's easy to get a bit aimless and frustrated without someone on the ground to help. You would be better off getting out there and joining a riding club or similar in order to progress.
I also think that 3 hour hacks will keep her more than fit enough for pleasure rides.
I am often frustrated by the amount people school. The whole purpose for most of us is to get a horse obedient, submissive and balanced enough to do specific jobs - hacking, pleasure rides and the odd competition in your case. If Patches is all of these things when doing her proper job, then don't worry about schooling out of a sense of guilt. You can improve her lots on a hack and she won't know you're doing it. Try leg yielding and getting her to strike off on alternate legs in a straight line, exercises like that.
I also think that 3 hour hacks will keep her more than fit enough for pleasure rides.
I am often frustrated by the amount people school. The whole purpose for most of us is to get a horse obedient, submissive and balanced enough to do specific jobs - hacking, pleasure rides and the odd competition in your case. If Patches is all of these things when doing her proper job, then don't worry about schooling out of a sense of guilt. You can improve her lots on a hack and she won't know you're doing it. Try leg yielding and getting her to strike off on alternate legs in a straight line, exercises like that.
Patches
Well-Known Member
I should point out, my hacking is all on the roads. I don't hack off road so it's mostly walking with bursts of trot. Not many grass verges on our narrow lanes for cantering on.
Yes, you're right some people do over school and bore a horse. I don't have an arena at home so Patches hasn't been "schooled" in the field for months. I popped a jumped with her on Tuesday admittedly and I had a little play yesterday as my daughter wanted to ride her pony and there wasn't the time to hack before dusk.
I do have lessons, and will begin them again when the ground has consistently dried out. April showers to come yet. I'm not sure my OH would approve of my joining a RC and spending weekends and nights in the evening there on a weekly basis though. Being dairy farmers, who looks after the children (I have four) whilst I'm riding and he's milking? Damn farming! LOL
Yes, you're right some people do over school and bore a horse. I don't have an arena at home so Patches hasn't been "schooled" in the field for months. I popped a jumped with her on Tuesday admittedly and I had a little play yesterday as my daughter wanted to ride her pony and there wasn't the time to hack before dusk.
I do have lessons, and will begin them again when the ground has consistently dried out. April showers to come yet. I'm not sure my OH would approve of my joining a RC and spending weekends and nights in the evening there on a weekly basis though. Being dairy farmers, who looks after the children (I have four) whilst I'm riding and he's milking? Damn farming! LOL
1CTrenowath
Well-Known Member
Haven't read all the posts on this, but thought I would share my experience, as you are describing exactly how I used to be on my ID boy. Then I started having lessons with my current instructor, who instead of shouting 'leg, more leg' ad infinitum until my legs fell off,
gave me 2 schooling whips. And after a right leg, left leg ask to go forward if no response is given this is backed up with right whip left whip - I am talking gentle but persistant taps, and these are continued until the correct level of that pace is achieved. After several years of endless kicking which is no fun for rider or horse, I had a forward going horse within about 2 weeks.
And that was 3 years ago!! He is not not only a much nicer horse to school, but also to hack as he just doesn't have his 'won't' days anymore. Mind you, I still have to carry a schooling whip - don't have to use it, but if it isn't there at the beginning of a schooling session, he downs tools again!!!
