millitiger
Well-Known Member
I can't believe it is 6 years ago that I brought this ugly little person home
Over the last 2 years Vinnie has been to a few professional riders and admittedly he is not the easiest person to ride (one yard he lasted 4 days before I was summoned to collect him!). He has made little improvements but none of the riders could seem to unlock him and get the best from him.
Until this spring when he went to Vittoria who did an amazing job with him; instantly knowing how to ride him and build his confidence and working with his unconventional (her word!) ways, instead of trying to make him fit a mold.
SO he has been home since May, was going great guns with outings to dressage, xc schooling and then managed to bang his leg and had x-rays and the whole she-bang. thankfully clear but it took a good 6-7 weeks to get back on track.
We have had a few behavioural blips along the way but I am coming to accept that is just the way he is and not to get worked up about it.
He's been finding xc schooling extremely exciting- fine once he is over the first fence but while warming up he is throwing some pretty big leaps and some rears- any tips for getting the warm up over as quickly as possible??
I've tried lunging first but it doesn't help whatsoever.
Anyhoo, we finally got to our first event last weekend!
I haven't been out for over 2.5 years but tried not to get too excited or nervous as I knew Vinnie would need me to be uber confident for him.
Warmed up well for dressage, lost some relaxation and softness when we went through the gap in the hedge to the arenas but he held it together for a 37 which was mid-range. I know we can do much better once he relaxes so not too fussed.
Only SJ and the warm up was very busy (1 warm up, 2 x SJ arenas) but although he was very buzzy, he used it by going forwards instead of upwards so all happy
Into the arena and he shrunk into himself a bit, had a rapidly sideways moment between No1 and No2 but I regathered him, regrouped and he popped No2 once he got his brain cells back.
Just tapped the last fence out for 4 faults, I could have got him to keep him up by holding his head for him but was willing to sacrifice it in the hope it will help him out in later rounds.
XC- I knew I was going to have to ride like I stole him for the first 5 fences as it looped around the warm up and No4 was quite a large drop.
Warmed up like a bit of a loon once he realised what was next but managed to stay forward and only had one Spanish Riding School moment.
As expected, the first 5 fences he was very green but I growled and praised as appropriate and he got out of the first field clear!
He gained in confidence all of the way around and for the second half was lovely; forward, relaxed and in a lovely rhythm and we lolloped home like that, just popped fences out of his stride.
We were pretty slow but I don't care as we were clear and both had huge smiles over the finish line
Slight issue is that in Vinnie's head he has been around Badminton and is feeling very cocky and full of himself at home now- we have another event next weekend so fingers crossed I get some control and input back before then.
There aren't too many photos as mum was too nervous and she thinks she will jinx us if she brings a camera so these are from her phone
Over the last 2 years Vinnie has been to a few professional riders and admittedly he is not the easiest person to ride (one yard he lasted 4 days before I was summoned to collect him!). He has made little improvements but none of the riders could seem to unlock him and get the best from him.
Until this spring when he went to Vittoria who did an amazing job with him; instantly knowing how to ride him and build his confidence and working with his unconventional (her word!) ways, instead of trying to make him fit a mold.
SO he has been home since May, was going great guns with outings to dressage, xc schooling and then managed to bang his leg and had x-rays and the whole she-bang. thankfully clear but it took a good 6-7 weeks to get back on track.
We have had a few behavioural blips along the way but I am coming to accept that is just the way he is and not to get worked up about it.
He's been finding xc schooling extremely exciting- fine once he is over the first fence but while warming up he is throwing some pretty big leaps and some rears- any tips for getting the warm up over as quickly as possible??
I've tried lunging first but it doesn't help whatsoever.
Anyhoo, we finally got to our first event last weekend!
I haven't been out for over 2.5 years but tried not to get too excited or nervous as I knew Vinnie would need me to be uber confident for him.
Warmed up well for dressage, lost some relaxation and softness when we went through the gap in the hedge to the arenas but he held it together for a 37 which was mid-range. I know we can do much better once he relaxes so not too fussed.
Only SJ and the warm up was very busy (1 warm up, 2 x SJ arenas) but although he was very buzzy, he used it by going forwards instead of upwards so all happy
Into the arena and he shrunk into himself a bit, had a rapidly sideways moment between No1 and No2 but I regathered him, regrouped and he popped No2 once he got his brain cells back.
Just tapped the last fence out for 4 faults, I could have got him to keep him up by holding his head for him but was willing to sacrifice it in the hope it will help him out in later rounds.
XC- I knew I was going to have to ride like I stole him for the first 5 fences as it looped around the warm up and No4 was quite a large drop.
Warmed up like a bit of a loon once he realised what was next but managed to stay forward and only had one Spanish Riding School moment.
As expected, the first 5 fences he was very green but I growled and praised as appropriate and he got out of the first field clear!
He gained in confidence all of the way around and for the second half was lovely; forward, relaxed and in a lovely rhythm and we lolloped home like that, just popped fences out of his stride.
We were pretty slow but I don't care as we were clear and both had huge smiles over the finish line
Slight issue is that in Vinnie's head he has been around Badminton and is feeling very cocky and full of himself at home now- we have another event next weekend so fingers crossed I get some control and input back before then.
There aren't too many photos as mum was too nervous and she thinks she will jinx us if she brings a camera so these are from her phone