Queenbee
Well-Known Member
I thought we could all share what we are doing with our youngsters and what breakthroughs we have had with them.
For me and Ben, well he is four and he has been under saddle for 13 months now.
Since royal Cornwall in June, he has been working quite well in the school, because he enjoys it more I'm finding he's a bit less focused in walk and trot but this last couple of months his canter has really come good, he strikes off on the correct leg, he is smooth and steady, no hand braking, for his level of work really collected... I'm incredibly proud of him. We have also had about five short jumping sessions over the last couple of months... Only small jumps but its another thing he really enjoys, as is standard pole work which has really helped him pick up his tootsies and bounce around the school
Hacking wise, we are having a ball, we are exploring one or two new routes or variations on normal routes a month, these are his favourite rides and he will try and jog with me to see where we are going once or twice a week we have a longer hack in company for about an hour and a half, although this week we did two hours, most of which was walk. He has never liked water, but loves his spray baths after his workouts now (another breakthrough) and this week we got a lead into a stream and haven't looked back, now he tries to jump in the puddles at the bottom of the sand school and yesterday he went in two rivers on our hack, had a good splash, stomp and play Finally, this week we found the most wonderful large field and had our first canter in an open field, it was steady and controlled which was fantastic since he had been a bit Bolshy and rude in canter and for a few hacks I put him in a standing martingale for control, yesterday was the first day without it so to be able to canter across an open field with no evasion and a wonderfully behaved four year old, really really made me happy.
Sooooo, what are you doing with yours?
For me and Ben, well he is four and he has been under saddle for 13 months now.
Since royal Cornwall in June, he has been working quite well in the school, because he enjoys it more I'm finding he's a bit less focused in walk and trot but this last couple of months his canter has really come good, he strikes off on the correct leg, he is smooth and steady, no hand braking, for his level of work really collected... I'm incredibly proud of him. We have also had about five short jumping sessions over the last couple of months... Only small jumps but its another thing he really enjoys, as is standard pole work which has really helped him pick up his tootsies and bounce around the school
Hacking wise, we are having a ball, we are exploring one or two new routes or variations on normal routes a month, these are his favourite rides and he will try and jog with me to see where we are going
once or twice a week we have a longer hack in company for about an hour and a half, although this week we did two hours, most of which was walk. He has never liked water, but loves his spray baths after his workouts now (another breakthrough) and this week we got a lead into a stream and haven't looked back, now he tries to jump in the puddles at the bottom of the sand school and yesterday he went in two rivers on our hack, had a good splash, stomp and play Finally, this week we found the most wonderful large field and had our first canter in an open field, it was steady and controlled which was fantastic since he had been a bit Bolshy and rude in canter and for a few hacks I put him in a standing martingale for control, yesterday was the first day without it so to be able to canter across an open field with no evasion and a wonderfully behaved four year old, really really made me happy. Sooooo, what are you doing with yours?
He is a big horse with a talent but just maturing to be extremely level headed! 
