Alibear
Well-Known Member
@millitiger Your description between the bad and good rides is spot on, it's something I do and I've struggled to explain it.
Pictures Producing 5/6yr olds
- Thread starter GinaGeo
- Start date
TheHairyOne
Well-Known Member
Happy official 5th birthday to my little idiot!
Had a very nice ride to celebrate. We played on the canter track and he and I were both happy.
Had a very nice ride to celebrate. We played on the canter track and he and I were both happy.
millitiger
Well-Known Member
No photos (again) but both boys got their provisional wings this morning.
Just on the lunge, over a x-pole.
Pony was very quick footed, got the idea of the placing pole immediately and was very cute and clever.
Giant ginger didn't actually jump until it was the biggest x-pole I could get on my big blocks. He was incredibly relaxed about it all. He is so big, he can probably jump 1m without needing to bend his knees or lift his shoulders properly.
So will need lots of high x-poles and placing poles I think, to encourage some front leg 'snap'
They both have a lesson at home tomorrow, I'm hoping to get a lesson a week at home and get some consistent eyes on the ground for me.
Just on the lunge, over a x-pole.
Pony was very quick footed, got the idea of the placing pole immediately and was very cute and clever.
Giant ginger didn't actually jump until it was the biggest x-pole I could get on my big blocks. He was incredibly relaxed about it all. He is so big, he can probably jump 1m without needing to bend his knees or lift his shoulders properly.
So will need lots of high x-poles and placing poles I think, to encourage some front leg 'snap'
They both have a lesson at home tomorrow, I'm hoping to get a lesson a week at home and get some consistent eyes on the ground for me.
millitiger
Well-Known Member
Staying brave, links of both boys in their lessons yesterday at home.
Pony working on making his canter departs crisper. His actual canter is wonderful but the transition was a little runny but he learns so quickly.
Giant ginger working again in gears in the trot, keeping the hindleg working. Then working on maintaining his canter- it is a fine line as he lacks confidence due to the previous wind issues but he now needs to be encouraged through it as he is breathing really well now and needs to lean to trust that his throat isn't going to close up. Still short amounts, a circle or a lap at a time but it's coming.
2 videos because YouTube was being an arse.
Pony working on making his canter departs crisper. His actual canter is wonderful but the transition was a little runny but he learns so quickly.
Giant ginger working again in gears in the trot, keeping the hindleg working. Then working on maintaining his canter- it is a fine line as he lacks confidence due to the previous wind issues but he now needs to be encouraged through it as he is breathing really well now and needs to lean to trust that his throat isn't going to close up. Still short amounts, a circle or a lap at a time but it's coming.
2 videos because YouTube was being an arse.
TheHairyOne
Well-Known Member
Had my jumping person out to school the overgrown pony last night. 4th ride she has had on him and the 3rd time he has ever jumped.
Safe to say once he got the idea he was loving it! Very pleased with him, though might leave it to her for a bit longer...he has a huge stride and is very ethusiastic. Not in a nasty way, just a lot of horse.
Safe to say once he got the idea he was loving it! Very pleased with him, though might leave it to her for a bit longer...he has a huge stride and is very ethusiastic. Not in a nasty way, just a lot of horse.
MatHalTed
Well-Known Member
Gi has been absolutely perfect the last few months, she's just come home from uni with me for Easter holidays where we've done lots of different bits and bobs: Gridwork clinics, lots of hacking, charity fun shows etc.
Today she jumped around her first proper show with my instructor, a very full up British Novice and was a super girl for just 1 pole down. Hoping to crack on now over the summer and get her out doing loads
Today she jumped around her first proper show with my instructor, a very full up British Novice and was a super girl for just 1 pole down. Hoping to crack on now over the summer and get her out doing loads
millitiger
Well-Known Member
We did jumping under saddle for the first time today 
Both kids were very cute and relaxed about it all.
Just a x pole with a placing pole to encourage a jump rather than just trotting over it.
Next will be a little course of x poles with placing poles so we get a bit of flow and rhythm too.
Blooming love them, such good boys.
Both kids were very cute and relaxed about it all.
Just a x pole with a placing pole to encourage a jump rather than just trotting over it.
Next will be a little course of x poles with placing poles so we get a bit of flow and rhythm too.
Blooming love them, such good boys.
Asha
Well-Known Member
Amara went out to a local xc / gallops today . It’s really helping her canter . Plus she went through her first water .
She was buckle end and very chilled the entire time . Even with the farmers muck spreading right next to her .
I’m over the moon with how she takes things on . Next up is a an arena hire before we attempt her first dressage test .
Ignore the nervous cackling I thought the daughter was going to run me over
She was buckle end and very chilled the entire time . Even with the farmers muck spreading right next to her .
I’m over the moon with how she takes things on . Next up is a an arena hire before we attempt her first dressage test .
Ignore the nervous cackling I thought the daughter was going to run me over
Fibones
Active Member
Lovely to see everyone’s progress on here. It’s been a very up and down process for me with my rising 5 year old who tends to be a little recalcitrant about offering forwards. She’s great at gates and obstacles but getting a willing flowing forwards has been tricky since backing (no physical issues identified). It feels like it’s about mental motivation as she is really light and flowing when hacking towards home! My trainer Joe Midgley thinks it’s totally behavioural.
We’ve been working on canter and got it established first on the trail and now in the arena. Working on understanding the cue, keeping it going and picking up leads. And we’ve been focusing on loading practice and travelling so I can get her away from the farm to help her shift mentally from this slightly nappy mental state. Took a week off work this week and we loaded daily and by day 5 she self loaded and I took her out to ride with a friend, she loved it, self loaded to come home so I’m hoping we’ve started to crack that. A summer of getting her off the farm, getting fit on the trails with friends, getting her to see canter as fun, and building in this in the school so we can consider working equitation as a potential place to focus is my loose goal. Wish she’d grow another inch- was hoping for at least 15.2 but she seems to have stayed stuck at 15.1.
We’ve been working on canter and got it established first on the trail and now in the arena. Working on understanding the cue, keeping it going and picking up leads. And we’ve been focusing on loading practice and travelling so I can get her away from the farm to help her shift mentally from this slightly nappy mental state. Took a week off work this week and we loaded daily and by day 5 she self loaded and I took her out to ride with a friend, she loved it, self loaded to come home so I’m hoping we’ve started to crack that. A summer of getting her off the farm, getting fit on the trails with friends, getting her to see canter as fun, and building in this in the school so we can consider working equitation as a potential place to focus is my loose goal. Wish she’d grow another inch- was hoping for at least 15.2 but she seems to have stayed stuck at 15.1.
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millitiger
Well-Known Member
Just back from camp and grinning from ear to ear with my pony.
He's not stayed away from home since we bought him at the sales at 8 months old.
He's been to maybe 5 outings total, doing flatwork and some poles and barely cantered away from home.
He has jumped perhaps 8 crosspoles in total under saddle, on 2 occasions.
He was great at camp. He was SPICY for the first 3 minutes of the first ride each day, no malice but not sure what to do with his nervous energy. There was a lot to deal with as there were 4 arenas running and it was a tad windy!
He ended up jumping a small course of SJ, including a plank, and he jumped everything first time very keenly with no hesitations. We kept mainly to trot and pop as his canter doesn't have a half halt yet.
Then today he did arena eventing which I didn't think we'd be doing so had to borrow a body protector! He jumped a few rustic fences together, went up and down a step and through water. I finished that session early as he'd exceeded expectations and I didn't want to push our luck when he was so happy and keen.
He found lots of new fans, apart from in the stableblock where he kept tipping his water bucket over and kicking his door when he saw anyone
I think only because he is used to only seeing me at home and not 20 new people with 20 new horses.
He's not stayed away from home since we bought him at the sales at 8 months old.
He's been to maybe 5 outings total, doing flatwork and some poles and barely cantered away from home.
He has jumped perhaps 8 crosspoles in total under saddle, on 2 occasions.
He was great at camp. He was SPICY for the first 3 minutes of the first ride each day, no malice but not sure what to do with his nervous energy. There was a lot to deal with as there were 4 arenas running and it was a tad windy!
He ended up jumping a small course of SJ, including a plank, and he jumped everything first time very keenly with no hesitations. We kept mainly to trot and pop as his canter doesn't have a half halt yet.
Then today he did arena eventing which I didn't think we'd be doing so had to borrow a body protector! He jumped a few rustic fences together, went up and down a step and through water. I finished that session early as he'd exceeded expectations and I didn't want to push our luck when he was so happy and keen.
He found lots of new fans, apart from in the stableblock where he kept tipping his water bucket over and kicking his door when he saw anyone
I think only because he is used to only seeing me at home and not 20 new people with 20 new horses.
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Woohoo he's loving that @millitiger!
I had a lovely Myka-day today. On Friday we jumping lesson off-site and she (and I!) had a lot to think about with rapid lead changes as we crossed diagonals. She was super confident and willing.
She had the weekend off and so I was looking forward to revisiting the exercises today. It was one of those 'I'm so lucky - never let me lose sight of that' days. Lovely and sunny. As I walked towards her I recognised she lives in horsey heaven. Love my yard! (In a field with @Fibones youngster and my old Lottie which also makes me happy.)
She immediately whickered and came over to say hello. Which also made me happy.
And then she was FAB to ride. I set up the jumps in a similar pattern at home to practice. I was hoping someone might be around as eyes on the ground. But once I was on board she felt great. I decided to just trust her and go for it. So we pacticed the rapid lead changes doing Figure 8s without the jumps. Then at the end I just popped her round the little course. I realised as I rounded the corner to the final straight I had not recognised how close the jump was to the turn. Once she was straight, she had one stride! It was a bit unfair (unintended) - jump off practive can wait a few weeks.... but I was committed and she was totally unphased. She gives me an amazing feel over fences. So so proud and happy. (Note to self: LOOK AHEAD and also walk turns and lines when you are setting up jumps.....)
I had a lovely Myka-day today. On Friday we jumping lesson off-site and she (and I!) had a lot to think about with rapid lead changes as we crossed diagonals. She was super confident and willing.
She had the weekend off and so I was looking forward to revisiting the exercises today. It was one of those 'I'm so lucky - never let me lose sight of that' days. Lovely and sunny. As I walked towards her I recognised she lives in horsey heaven. Love my yard! (In a field with @Fibones youngster and my old Lottie which also makes me happy.)
She immediately whickered and came over to say hello. Which also made me happy.
And then she was FAB to ride. I set up the jumps in a similar pattern at home to practice. I was hoping someone might be around as eyes on the ground. But once I was on board she felt great. I decided to just trust her and go for it. So we pacticed the rapid lead changes doing Figure 8s without the jumps. Then at the end I just popped her round the little course. I realised as I rounded the corner to the final straight I had not recognised how close the jump was to the turn. Once she was straight, she had one stride! It was a bit unfair (unintended) - jump off practive can wait a few weeks.... but I was committed and she was totally unphased. She gives me an amazing feel over fences. So so proud and happy. (Note to self: LOOK AHEAD and also walk turns and lines when you are setting up jumps.....)
millitiger
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure he could be much cuter 
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
He is gorgeous!
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
All event horses need to get used to.....
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
And no I did not buy a matchy-matchy umbrella 
Though the symmetry is pleasing 
(Nicked OH's old golfing umbrella and hoping he does not notice).
Though the symmetry is pleasing (Nicked OH's old golfing umbrella and hoping he does not notice).