New trainer in action 3.....

Armas

Armas

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This is the video from todays session. Armas is starting to loosen up and is not consistently as much btv as before. Small steps.
Today he was starting to relax despite a tractor cutting hay next to the arena he just jumped once but then carried on.
The trainer reports that he feels much better & is concentrating and is starting to stay on the bit much more.
She also feels he is starting to listen to her much more.
Little bit of music with this video as the sound of the tractor was deafening.

Prior to every session. Armas receives a back massage with gel to help the muscles and is lunged to warm up.

[youtube]3x87kt82hTM[/youtube]
 
Seeing big improvements again!

I would like to point out that, most noticeable in the canter work and especially collecting the canter a bit, this rider is doing the opposite of what most seem to object to and that is holding him. In these moments, she is riding with her seat, asking the horse to sit some more and he is doing so and the result, which shows me that he does have a degree of relaxation is that he is indeed coming up into a more classical frame with a very light contact on the reins. He is maintaining self carriage and rather nicely, the rider is not keeping him there for ling...just asking, being given, thanking and releasing.

Evident in parts where the horse is in a more correct frame and she gives a total release...where the horse maintains the frame for himself.


Big improvements in such a short time. The transitions especially are where it will fall apart if a horse is tense and I see much nicer, more relaxed transitions in this video.

Nice :D
 
Spring Feather said:
This video is blocked in my country due to copyright of the music so I can't view it unfortunately.
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It's nice. Lots of walk work. Lots of giving of the rein. Armas still trying to dip behind but nice to see in this that the rider is holding the contact lightly, sometimes even giving it up entirely and just pushing him forward a bit...not fast, just asking him to use his bum and he is starting to take the contact up. Lots of allowance to stretch out into his own head where he wants on a long rein moments, like going for a hack.

Lots of nice transitions and some lovely cant work.
 
Thank you for the overview GG :) Sounds pleasurable to watch. My country is pretty strict on copyright laws so it's not unusual for me not to be able to view videos from overseas.
 
i agree that he is behind the vertical the majority of the time but there are snippets for the first time with this rider of him being relaxed and where he should be and he is rewarded for his effort by the rider.
the first thing i noticed with this video is that the rider looks relaxed for the first time and i think that is reflected in Armas and his way of going.
it is beginning to look like a partnership where communication is starting.

huge improvement as Armas and rider look relaxed most of the time
 
Have read in depth but haven't commented on any of these posts so far, however just have to say that things are looking much better. He's looking far more relaxed and comfortable in his work and though yes, he is still curling behind the vertical, this is evidently a long-established evasion tactic and will take a while to work through.
 
I have seen the other threads but have yet to comment.


it's better than the first and the second for i think one of the best parts was from 13:22to 13:30 and the end when he's looks very relaxed it very obvious that the rider is alot more relax which is probably rubbing of on armas

probably like alot of people in the back of my mind is still thinking about the lady she trained with and their choices which does cloud judgement alittle as were now all on the look at for it.


is there a link to a video of just flatwork with you riding him james ? just to see the difference
 
shampain said:
Have read in depth but haven't commented on any of these posts so far, however just have to say that things are looking much better. He's looking far more relaxed and comfortable in his work and though yes, he is still curling behind the vertical, this is evidently a long-established evasion tactic and will take a while to work through.
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Old habit that I am determined to help him worth through.

Purple18 said:
I have seen the other threads but have yet to comment.


it's better than the first and the second for i think one of the best parts was from 13:22to 13:30 and the end when he's looks very relaxed it very obvious that the rider is alot more relax which is probably rubbing of on armas
probably like alot of people in the back of my mind is still thinking about the lady she trained with and their choices which does cloud judgement alittle as were now all on the look at for it.
is there a link to a video of just flatwork with you riding him james ? just to see the difference
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Its a new fit and given time should work out. Sorry no videos of flat work with me. Its me thats likes to be behind the camera.
 
He seems to improve in his head carriage when the rider asks for lateral flexion and for a change in outline - it's like he obsesses on the bit and curls up when the contact is kept steady at the moment. Seems like a busy little horse in that respect, so he probably will benefit from the schooling in the long run. It is lovely to see the videos - thank you for posting op :)
 
A lot of positives again in this video!

He looks generally slightly less resistant to me, he is still dipping back but he is swinging through better, and there is less tension in his neck.

I like the fact she is quick to reward when he does as she asks.

Massive improvement in such a short space of time!

ETA I also like the fact she used more circles/serpentines this time, keep him laterally softer :)
 
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Better!! I really like his walk and there were lovely moments there where he really started to lengthen his frame and open up. I also like her riding today too :D

So jealous, wish I had an Armas!!
 
Can't see the vid :( boo :(

However OP I admire your openness - Thank You for continuing to share despite some heavy criticism from some in the past.

DD ;)
 
nikkimariet said:
He's softer, rushing less and starting to step through already. Like!
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^^ this and what GG said ;) He looks like he is becoming better connected and more confident in the contact already :) It's incremental, baby steps but he is definitely uncurling. I think it's a very promising partnership :)
 
Just want to say that I'm really enjoying these threads and the discussion, in particular GGs commentary - I'm learning a lot, I know what to look out for and I'm spotting things I might not without the explanation - and getting ideas what to look out for in my own horse & riding. Thanks all.:)
 
Really interesting session to watch thanks for posting it.
Beginnings of some better connection .
Looking forward to seeing more.
 
Iv watched the vids you've posted with this new trainer and even though I won't comment on the training due to knowing naff all about it. :D

I just wanted to say armas is a lovely horse, I can see him being a real star when his schooling all comes together. :)
 
Can't see any of the videos (rubbish phone), but just want to say thank you armas because I'm learning a lot from your videos and people debating about it.
 
I've only watched the first few mins, and haven't read the thread through. I am a total novice at schooling and prob horses in general - why is Armas holding himself so behind the vertical? That cannot be comfy for him!??
 
Some horses will put themselves btv to avoid the contact, to not work properly, as an evasion... All kinds of reasons
To get the true contact they have to be really pushing through from behind and taking the contact forward which is hard work
Some hot horses also do it as they shorten and bring the neck in and concertina rather than seeking the contact
 
tankgirl1 said:
I've only watched the first few mins, and haven't read the thread through. I am a total novice at schooling and prob horses in general - why is Armas holding himself so behind the vertical? That cannot be comfy for him!??
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One of mine very hot very senestive And sharp was started as carriage horse in a team he learnt this very BTV way of going .
His neck muscle developed to support the way of going he started ridden training at ten and its very difficult to correct.
Conformation also affects how easy and comfortable it is for the horse to go like that mine is built to find it easy.
But the horses who do this must learn to accept and understand the connection even if BTV only when that happens will things improve.
Mine is getting better now but it's been a long haul and it took me time to learn how to handle it bet starting at ten made it hard .
Armas is not a youngster and OP knows little of the his history prior to buying him so it's a well ingrained habit .
 
Its so tricky to ride a horse that does this head curling, more awkward than riding one that pokes the nose out and hollows, i have never seen your posts before but when i started watching the video (didnt watch the entire thing) i was just thinking why is she jabbing him in the mouth making him curl under more?? There may be better moments for you watching knowing the horse but he needs to kept in a steady rythm by the seat and offered a soft forward hand to take the contact into which i didnt think he was in that video.
 
Farma said:
Its so tricky to ride a horse that does this head curling, more awkward than riding one that pokes the nose out and hollows, i have never seen your posts before but when i started watching the video (didnt watch the entire thing) i was just thinking why is she jabbing him in the mouth making him curl under more?? There may be better moments for you watching knowing the horse but he needs to kept in a steady rythm by the seat and offered a soft forward hand to take the contact into which i didnt think he was in that video.
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Yes, that's been a view taken by many, myself included watching the first video where it was excessive and not countered by a giving hand.

That said, we are on a computer, phone, iPad or laptop. We are not on the horse. When a horse gets stiff to the hand, leans or freezes in the jaw, moving the bit in the mouth is a method of interrupting that stiffness and bringing the horse back into a consistent contact.

That is all I see happening in the second and third videos.
 
The consistent contact he is being bought back into is one where he is completely over bent and not coming through from behind though?
 
Farma said:
The consistent contact he is being bought back into is one where he is completely over bent and not coming through from behind though?
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I don't see that he is being brought back into that as much as the rider is accepting that that is where he takes it at the moment. I believe this because where he does lift up out of it, she allows and encourages him to stay up.

That head position is like a default for Armas. Whatever happens, that will be the frame he falls back on as for whatever historic reason, he has decided that it is the best place to be. The rider has to work with that mentality and also the muscle definition and muscle memory that keeps him bringing his head into this position.

I won't say she's perfect or doing all the right things, but watching her progress, especially over the last two videos, it seems that she is gaining his confidence more and he is exploring the position of being on or above the vertical more.
 
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