nikkimariet
Well-Known Member
Sit tight, huge update at the ready!
Firstly, just in case any of you dont get BD Magazine:
Oh yeah
As you all know Ive had feed problems with Fig in the past, Ive got his appetite and weight sorted now but noticed his feet had become a little scrappy towards the end of summer its dry, the grass is rich and I thought he needed a bit of help keeping them tidy. So last week I started to add a little seaweed into his feed like I used to (literally 4 granules!) stopped feeding it as he was being so fussy and it can taste bitter... Aaaaaand my horse turned insane. Overnight. Got on the next day and couldnt get a word of sense out of him, even in walk Kept him on it for another day just to be sure, and the same thing. Left the seaweed out that night and the next day, happy chilled boyo! Ive been attempting to read up on it and its either: the iodine, the copper or the zinc. Possibly all 3. The copper and the zinc would explain why hes so sensitive to peas and alfalfa... WEIRD horse!
Happy but weird horse and his BFF:
We went to Vale on the Sunday for E42 (snore) and E57, tried him without any syringe calmer!!! He was FANTASTIC to warm up. Really soft and concentrating and *maybe* one day Ill only have to do 1 warm up like everyone else!!! Because the seaweed upset him Id just been concentrating on basics tempo, transitions and contact. Really paid off as he was 100% on the ball!
He went slightly tense when we went into the ring and for the first time ever, actually went a little behind the leg :shocked: Which is fine, but dumbo here forgot to RIDE!!! I *know* when hes tense/sharp I have to keep him between hand and leg otherwise well just zoom round doing a million beat canter. So I let him down, but the test was sweet enough. It just lost the flow and swing.
He came out really happy chappy again, and did a lovely second (or third, whichever) warm up. Felt really solid and grown up! Second test much better, kept my leg on looked up and really tried to ride every second. He didnt help me *at all* in the simple changes on a 3 loop serpentine at the end, but otherwise, cant fault him!
Walk in both tests nice, pleased with rein back, medium canter had no changes and the medium trot is almost there! It all felt accurate enough to get a decent score but you never know with dressage!
We take competition preparation very seriously:
Comp pics:
Scores: 3rd in section and 3rd overall with 67.19% in E42 and 1st in section and 1st overall with 67.86% in E57! Clever pony!
On the Monday we took the boys to see our Spanish trainer, havent seen him since around last March/April (try and have him over twice a year, but for personal reasons, have been unable to). Really excited to show them off!!!
We did Fig first as he gets very wound up being left on his own (but doesnt mind if already on his own, attention seeker much?!). I had 2 plans of what I wanted to do, but it depended what mood he was in (no point working on changes if hes being a tight tense wally!).
He. Was. Amazeballs. Had a good look at everything and ran through our warm up. Trainer impressed with how soft and supple he is and mentioned my hands were LOADS better. He helped me make the positioning in our leg yields more accurate, less neck bend more hind leg! And thanks to our practise, couldnt believe the difference in all his transitions. Moved onto the half pass; I sit like a wonky lemming basically. BUT, my hands are good, and soft and forward really trying to give him the room to bend and not just hold him there. Its like weve got the movement, now just need to increase the flexibility within that (can I ask for more/less quicker/slower etc etc). Had me doing HP to LY, and HP to circles the opposite way, and then carrying on the original line. Hard work! Esp to the left where I sit really against the movement *needmirrors* Practised a few mediums, I need to keep my lower leg on for the energy but stay soft with my hips (hah!). Likes that I give with my hands, but need to be careful I dont give too much so he doesnt flatten his topline (bit chicken and egg, needs to be stronger to extend when in a very up outline).
Half pass round the intently listening dog:
Onto the canter; shoulder in to quarters in, get him soft. Not too much angle, more neck bend. Mustnt drop my inside shoulder and do the funky chicken with my elbow! Make sure he is straight between. Keep it forward, dont let him collect it too much and take over. Then the flying changes; straight in and out (easy for him, harder for me); again keep my hips soft so he doesnt brace back at me. Finished with some half steps along the fence, trainer didnt quite believe me when I assured him I wouldnt need a whip! Did some lovely steps, noticed its always the hinds that move first and hes starting to find a rhythm of his own.
And when I suggested I wanted to do a Medium (and well!) before the year was out, he didnt laugh, in fact he was rather surprised I hadnt already been out and done one (well)
Trainer agreed how much of a sweetheart he is, and how easy it would be to take advantage of that... He feels ready to go round AM85, but whats the point? Hes already got nothing to prove to me, never mind anyone else, but I really am SO excited to take him out at Medium!!!!!
Pics:
Vids:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...661516390&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...661516390&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...661516390&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...661516390&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
Firstly, just in case any of you dont get BD Magazine:
Oh yeah
As you all know Ive had feed problems with Fig in the past, Ive got his appetite and weight sorted now but noticed his feet had become a little scrappy towards the end of summer its dry, the grass is rich and I thought he needed a bit of help keeping them tidy. So last week I started to add a little seaweed into his feed like I used to (literally 4 granules!) stopped feeding it as he was being so fussy and it can taste bitter... Aaaaaand my horse turned insane. Overnight. Got on the next day and couldnt get a word of sense out of him, even in walk
Kept him on it for another day just to be sure, and the same thing. Left the seaweed out that night and the next day, happy chilled boyo! Ive been attempting to read up on it and its either: the iodine, the copper or the zinc. Possibly all 3. The copper and the zinc would explain why hes so sensitive to peas and alfalfa... WEIRD horse!Happy but weird horse and his BFF:
We went to Vale on the Sunday for E42 (snore) and E57, tried him without any syringe calmer!!! He was FANTASTIC to warm up. Really soft and concentrating and *maybe* one day Ill only have to do 1 warm up like everyone else!!! Because the seaweed upset him Id just been concentrating on basics tempo, transitions and contact. Really paid off as he was 100% on the ball!
He went slightly tense when we went into the ring and for the first time ever, actually went a little behind the leg :shocked: Which is fine, but dumbo here forgot to RIDE!!! I *know* when hes tense/sharp I have to keep him between hand and leg otherwise well just zoom round doing a million beat canter. So I let him down, but the test was sweet enough. It just lost the flow and swing.
He came out really happy chappy again, and did a lovely second (or third, whichever) warm up. Felt really solid and grown up! Second test much better, kept my leg on looked up and really tried to ride every second. He didnt help me *at all* in the simple changes on a 3 loop serpentine at the end, but otherwise, cant fault him!
Walk in both tests nice, pleased with rein back, medium canter had no changes and the medium trot is almost there! It all felt accurate enough to get a decent score but you never know with dressage!
We take competition preparation very seriously:
Comp pics:
Scores: 3rd in section and 3rd overall with 67.19% in E42 and 1st in section and 1st overall with 67.86% in E57! Clever pony!
On the Monday we took the boys to see our Spanish trainer, havent seen him since around last March/April (try and have him over twice a year, but for personal reasons, have been unable to). Really excited to show them off!!!
We did Fig first as he gets very wound up being left on his own (but doesnt mind if already on his own, attention seeker much?!). I had 2 plans of what I wanted to do, but it depended what mood he was in (no point working on changes if hes being a tight tense wally!).
He. Was. Amazeballs. Had a good look at everything and ran through our warm up. Trainer impressed with how soft and supple he is and mentioned my hands were LOADS better. He helped me make the positioning in our leg yields more accurate, less neck bend more hind leg! And thanks to our practise, couldnt believe the difference in all his transitions. Moved onto the half pass; I sit like a wonky lemming basically. BUT, my hands are good, and soft and forward really trying to give him the room to bend and not just hold him there. Its like weve got the movement, now just need to increase the flexibility within that (can I ask for more/less quicker/slower etc etc). Had me doing HP to LY, and HP to circles the opposite way, and then carrying on the original line. Hard work! Esp to the left where I sit really against the movement *needmirrors* Practised a few mediums, I need to keep my lower leg on for the energy but stay soft with my hips (hah!). Likes that I give with my hands, but need to be careful I dont give too much so he doesnt flatten his topline (bit chicken and egg, needs to be stronger to extend when in a very up outline).
Half pass round the intently listening dog:
Onto the canter; shoulder in to quarters in, get him soft. Not too much angle, more neck bend. Mustnt drop my inside shoulder and do the funky chicken with my elbow! Make sure he is straight between. Keep it forward, dont let him collect it too much and take over. Then the flying changes; straight in and out (easy for him, harder for me); again keep my hips soft so he doesnt brace back at me. Finished with some half steps along the fence, trainer didnt quite believe me when I assured him I wouldnt need a whip! Did some lovely steps, noticed its always the hinds that move first and hes starting to find a rhythm of his own.
And when I suggested I wanted to do a Medium (and well!) before the year was out, he didnt laugh, in fact he was rather surprised I hadnt already been out and done one (well)
Trainer agreed how much of a sweetheart he is, and how easy it would be to take advantage of that... He feels ready to go round AM85, but whats the point? Hes already got nothing to prove to me, never mind anyone else, but I really am SO excited to take him out at Medium!!!!!
Pics:
Vids:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...661516390&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...661516390&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...661516390&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...661516390&type=3&video_source=pages_video_set
