New pics of ex-racer Chester

JustMe22

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I rode this morning and as OH was there, managed to get some pictures taken. Feeling very proud of this horse and have started my lessons again, and really enjoying them. My god do I need them too! I've been out of practice for far too long and have got into far too many bad habits.

He's been going through a phase of kicking/bucking at the leg, but it's improving vastly with some patience...and persistence. He happily goes forward in all three paces now, but can throw a few bucks over the first few canter transitions. After that he settles and accepts the leg no problem. He did used to do it in the walk and trot too, so it's a work in progress. Only does this in the arena, mind! Out hacking he is happy to canter with no issues, of course.

Other than that, he's coming on in leaps and bounds. He still spends most of his time hacking, but has a lesson once a fortnight so we usually do some schooling once a week, sometimes twice. The rest of the time is spent going up and down lots of slopes, past dogs, sheep and chickens and generally seeing the world. Lots of walking and some uphill trotting and cantering.

We are also in the process of buying a towing vehicle so I'm planning to take him out to just absorb the atmosphere of shows for now (no competing), and then maybe do a quiet prelim towards the end of the year. If all goes well, still thinking of taking him to the 4yo dressage horse classes next year. Who knows!

Anyway, pictures from this morning..can't resist showing him off! The winter coat is starting to arrive in full force, so a clipping is due soon I think!



No prizes for guessing whether or not he threw a buck after this!






Excuse the chair seat here. I am working on that too, but sometimes habit kicks in and it reappears, especially in the old GP saddle.








Thanks for looking! sorry for picture overload!
 
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He is so lovely you are doing a great job, one of my Arabs legs out at leg aids sometimes, I think he does it when his finding something difficult and if the leg aid is a bit harder than he likes, he was worse going into canter but I now have the canter aid just right and he rarely does it, if someone else rides him he often does it as well I think it's just him being a bit opinionated.
 
Thanks everyone! Really enjoying him and I can't believe how my enthusiasm riding has just reappeared since having him - and not even just when riding him either. With all the other horses I'm riding at the yard too :)

Pinkvboots - thank you. I remember you commenting on the thread where I brought him home. I've found with mine that it is infinitely worse if I grip or tense through my seat and thighs, esp in canter. When he gets sticky and starts bucking my natural tendency was to sort of "clamp" with my seat and jam on my legs as a driving aid. If I keep my seat and legs relaxed, he's much better.

I think initially he was confused by the leg the first few rides, but he understands it now and really it only happens in the canter transition or occasionally mid-canter the first couple of times, whereas it used to be whenever I put my leg on at all. He will not tolerate the whip though. I carry one in case he gets really sticky or tries to jump out of the arena, but if I just brush him even lightly behind my leg or on the shoulder he gets upset. He also does it if you flick the whip at him in a dominant sort of way on the lunge, though that is steadily improving too now, so I also think it's a bit of him going 'yeah screw you.'

The chiropractor and saddle fitter are coming just to make totally sure it isn't something that he's pulled or that is pinching though!
 
I also think it's a bit of a get off me attitude my horse that does it is quite clever and opinionated when ridden he think he knows best, you can flick him with the stick but I rarely do as it can make him cross sometimes especially if he think he didn't deserve it, he can be quite nappy out hacking but I do think that is a bit of a dominance thing with him.

It sounds like your doing really well and it takes time for you both to understand one another and work together I will look forward to your reports.
 
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