monte1
Well-Known Member
So a bit of an update and some background, For those of you who may not remember my search for a new horse earlier this year . I bought a five year old (rising 6) irish sport horse, clover hill lines, who was green as grass having come over from Ireland two months earlier, he had apparently hunted a few times and virtually nothing else. I have now had my lovely chap since February and after arriving with us slightly shell shocked and nervous of pretty much everyone, he has settled very well and developed into a lovely friendly if sometimes a bit of a cheeky character. It has taken me a while to get to know him and I have been taking things very steadily, but had forgotten just how much work a youngster is and how patient you have to be !
he can be a bit of a worrier, although not with regard to traffic, dogs and everyday life etc. more about going out alone etc, although he will always oblige, just wanders along pooping a bit and uncertain for first 10 mins or so!
Generally I think his schooling is coming on OK, we can now mostly go in straight lines, something he couldn't do when he arrived!
his walk can still get tense, so we are working on softness and lots of halting and calm repetitions, so hopefully this will come in time.
In the trot sometimes he hollows his back, tucks his head in and comes against my hand and wont go forward properly or just rushes, which i find quite hard to manage and end up halting him and starting again, we do get there in the end and he goes really nicely, but I often feel we have to have a little bit of a battle over what I would like him to do and what he wants to do and now I know him better and know he understands my outside leg aids etc, I am inclined to feel he is trying it on a bit and ignoring me rather than not understanding.
we can do a little bit of shoulder in now and he can leg yield, although to the left he finds it quite hard still. ( might be me though as I need to ask my trainer to watch and see if i am blocking him) I have taught him turns on the haunches - he is quite clever seems to pick things up quickly.
So, any tips really to help me focus him when he does get tense when schooling or hacking would be really helpful ??
I feel maybe we are not progessing quickly enough? _ I have been having lessons as often as I can with a lovely trainer to help us, not as many or as frequently as I would like. (££)
we have been out and about a bit as well which he does seem to enjoy, xc schooling, show jump training etc - all very low key nothing bigger than 80cmish and no pressure, he has a great attitude a huge jump and is very enthusiastic about it all, sometimes a little to much
I am hoping to get crack the canter transitions with his flat work and get out to do some dressage later this summer all being well.
will try and post some pictures below for anyone interested. CC more than welcome ;-)
he can be a bit of a worrier, although not with regard to traffic, dogs and everyday life etc. more about going out alone etc, although he will always oblige, just wanders along pooping a bit and uncertain for first 10 mins or so!
Generally I think his schooling is coming on OK, we can now mostly go in straight lines, something he couldn't do when he arrived!
his walk can still get tense, so we are working on softness and lots of halting and calm repetitions, so hopefully this will come in time.
In the trot sometimes he hollows his back, tucks his head in and comes against my hand and wont go forward properly or just rushes, which i find quite hard to manage and end up halting him and starting again, we do get there in the end and he goes really nicely, but I often feel we have to have a little bit of a battle over what I would like him to do and what he wants to do and now I know him better and know he understands my outside leg aids etc, I am inclined to feel he is trying it on a bit and ignoring me rather than not understanding.
we can do a little bit of shoulder in now and he can leg yield, although to the left he finds it quite hard still. ( might be me though as I need to ask my trainer to watch and see if i am blocking him) I have taught him turns on the haunches - he is quite clever seems to pick things up quickly.
So, any tips really to help me focus him when he does get tense when schooling or hacking would be really helpful ??
I feel maybe we are not progessing quickly enough? _ I have been having lessons as often as I can with a lovely trainer to help us, not as many or as frequently as I would like. (££)
we have been out and about a bit as well which he does seem to enjoy, xc schooling, show jump training etc - all very low key nothing bigger than 80cmish and no pressure, he has a great attitude a huge jump and is very enthusiastic about it all, sometimes a little to much
I am hoping to get crack the canter transitions with his flat work and get out to do some dressage later this summer all being well.
will try and post some pictures below for anyone interested. CC more than welcome ;-)
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