Pigeon
Well-Known Member
I try to do these from time to time haha, helps me keep track of things.
So early in the year, poor dobbin was just not himself. Grumpy and short on his near hind. After X rays and nerve blocks revealed absolutely nothing (including completely clean hocks which we'd been medicating for two years, oops!!) we got him scoped and he had grade 3 ulcers!
So after a quiet couple of months whilst on Gastrogard and eventually a clear scope, we have stepped up the training. Even after a couple of weeks of treatment his paces had improved so much, he is a million times free-er behind.
So we have been building his strength, with pole work and things, and he is going rather nicely.
Vid; https://youtu.be/5SPMon3VP_I (wish he didn't need poles to trot like this!)
So yesterday was his first time out. Prelim 4, 13 and Novice 27. (which is a long and weird test) The tests had give and retakes in trot and canter which can be interesting, so we had been practising them at home and got them-ish. (I need longer arms)
We had a lesson on Wednesday to prepare and he had a bit of a funny turn (we think it was the sweat dripping down his back legs because he does the same when you give him a bath!) so I was worrying a little about how dressage would go. He can be completely nuts about new places, especially after a break, so I hunkered down and prepared for the worst!
When I arrived up the yard to get him ready it was absolutely pee-ing it down! But luckily the sun came out just as we pulled up to the venue.
He looked rather dashing;
Quite a few people had withdrawn, I guess because of the weather. So I will tell you now there were three people in the prelims, and a grand total of... one... in the novice
P.4 went smoothly. He warmed up lazy so I did put on a pair of rather big spurs!
P.13 not so nice, he was getting a bit grumpy about the spurs and did a bit of teeth gnashing, which resulted in lost rhythm which was a shame.
N.27 spurs off, lots of leg, but he was supple and happy and a bit more into the hand so I think it was a pretty good test
We got sevens for our mediums and give and retakes which is our best mark on those to date. He wasn't really through until towards the end of the novice, but he was almost relaxed which is so good for him. I need to learn to SIT UP 
And not boot him into canter.
Outcome;
The 'well done' one is for the novice which made me laugh. I came first, or last, depending on how you look at it
So there we go. One mega-update from us!
So early in the year, poor dobbin was just not himself. Grumpy and short on his near hind. After X rays and nerve blocks revealed absolutely nothing (including completely clean hocks which we'd been medicating for two years, oops!!) we got him scoped and he had grade 3 ulcers!
So after a quiet couple of months whilst on Gastrogard and eventually a clear scope, we have stepped up the training. Even after a couple of weeks of treatment his paces had improved so much, he is a million times free-er behind.
So we have been building his strength, with pole work and things, and he is going rather nicely.
Vid; https://youtu.be/5SPMon3VP_I (wish he didn't need poles to trot like this!)
So yesterday was his first time out. Prelim 4, 13 and Novice 27. (which is a long and weird test) The tests had give and retakes in trot and canter which can be interesting, so we had been practising them at home and got them-ish. (I need longer arms)
We had a lesson on Wednesday to prepare and he had a bit of a funny turn (we think it was the sweat dripping down his back legs because he does the same when you give him a bath!) so I was worrying a little about how dressage would go. He can be completely nuts about new places, especially after a break, so I hunkered down and prepared for the worst!
When I arrived up the yard to get him ready it was absolutely pee-ing it down! But luckily the sun came out just as we pulled up to the venue.
He looked rather dashing;
Quite a few people had withdrawn, I guess because of the weather. So I will tell you now there were three people in the prelims, and a grand total of... one... in the novice
P.4 went smoothly. He warmed up lazy so I did put on a pair of rather big spurs!
P.13 not so nice, he was getting a bit grumpy about the spurs and did a bit of teeth gnashing, which resulted in lost rhythm which was a shame.
N.27 spurs off, lots of leg, but he was supple and happy and a bit more into the hand so I think it was a pretty good test
We got sevens for our mediums and give and retakes which is our best mark on those to date. He wasn't really through until towards the end of the novice, but he was almost relaxed which is so good for him. I need to learn to SIT UP And not boot him into canter.
Outcome;
The 'well done' one is for the novice which made me laugh. I came first, or last, depending on how you look at it
So there we go. One mega-update from us!
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