Landcruiser
Well-Known Member
My girl is rising 6 and has been under saddle since last May. She's been taken very slowly due to medical issues (when I list them I wonder how we are even as far on as we are...torn medial meniscus at 3 resulting in double stifle surgery, grade 2 ulcers, selenium deficiency, low grade lami, EMS. Oh, and a grumbling abscess, recently.
Since last May I've done tons of walking, some trotting, but literally only cantered her about 3 times, just a few strides up a nice slope on a bridleway. She can canter on the lunge, but I just couldn't get a canter in the arena under saddle. She just didn't seem to get it.
I had a lesson with a pro trainer about 3 weeks ago with the sole purpose of getting the canter.
*Fail*
We got fast trot, a couple of leaps over poles, but despite trying loads of different things, it was a nope. (2 days later she was on 3 legs with an abscess flare up, so I suspect that wasn't helping).
Anyway, 3 days ago I was out with her on a new hacking route and we found ourselves crossing a nice flat open field, and I asked her again...and off we went, a lovely balanced canter, and perfect brakes when we slowed down. I was so chuffed!
Next day (yesterday) we went in the arena, and after walking for a few minutes I asked for a trot - and off off she went into canter so I went with her. We did lots of short canters and transitions, and she was just pushing off into a lovely easy canter basically from a standstill. We did the same thing today, managing a couple of full circuits both reins. It was like the canter in the field was a light bulb moment for her, and she suddenly just got it.
You know what she reminds me of? One of those kids that doesn't talk at all as a baby and then suddenly starts talking in full sentences. 2 days in and she's doing halt or walk to canter and canter to walk transitions, and all beautifully calmly. She's muddled her legs a couple of times, but hey!
Other stuff we have done is starting to really pay off now too. I've done so much de-spooking she's pretty bomb proof. I've also taught her to neck rein, and she can back up and side pass really well, as well as turning on the fore and hind. She's bitless, although I have bitted her just for completeness. Hacking solo from the livery yard where she is currently staying to broaden her horizons, and tackling gates, groups of cyclists, heavy farm machinery, other horses, cattle...like a flipping pro. I pretty much ride her western although she has an English (Strada) saddle.
Next in the diary is a TREC training camp in Shropshire in a couple of weeks. I never count my chickens with this horse, but hoping that we can get up on The Long Mynd at least once and she can feel some good turf under her feet for the first time and have some speedy fun
Since last May I've done tons of walking, some trotting, but literally only cantered her about 3 times, just a few strides up a nice slope on a bridleway. She can canter on the lunge, but I just couldn't get a canter in the arena under saddle. She just didn't seem to get it.
I had a lesson with a pro trainer about 3 weeks ago with the sole purpose of getting the canter.
*Fail*
We got fast trot, a couple of leaps over poles, but despite trying loads of different things, it was a nope. (2 days later she was on 3 legs with an abscess flare up, so I suspect that wasn't helping).
Anyway, 3 days ago I was out with her on a new hacking route and we found ourselves crossing a nice flat open field, and I asked her again...and off we went, a lovely balanced canter, and perfect brakes when we slowed down. I was so chuffed!
Next day (yesterday) we went in the arena, and after walking for a few minutes I asked for a trot - and off off she went into canter so I went with her. We did lots of short canters and transitions, and she was just pushing off into a lovely easy canter basically from a standstill. We did the same thing today, managing a couple of full circuits both reins. It was like the canter in the field was a light bulb moment for her, and she suddenly just got it.
You know what she reminds me of? One of those kids that doesn't talk at all as a baby and then suddenly starts talking in full sentences. 2 days in and she's doing halt or walk to canter and canter to walk transitions, and all beautifully calmly. She's muddled her legs a couple of times, but hey!
Other stuff we have done is starting to really pay off now too. I've done so much de-spooking she's pretty bomb proof. I've also taught her to neck rein, and she can back up and side pass really well, as well as turning on the fore and hind. She's bitless, although I have bitted her just for completeness. Hacking solo from the livery yard where she is currently staying to broaden her horizons, and tackling gates, groups of cyclists, heavy farm machinery, other horses, cattle...like a flipping pro. I pretty much ride her western although she has an English (Strada) saddle.
Next in the diary is a TREC training camp in Shropshire in a couple of weeks. I never count my chickens with this horse, but hoping that we can get up on The Long Mynd at least once and she can feel some good turf under her feet for the first time and have some speedy fun
You didn't ask too much of her before she was ready and now she will just give you everything ❤