Queenbee
Well-Known Member
Just wanted to post on here as I've been so very proud of Ben this week, he has worked very hard, thoroughly enjoyed it, made some fab progression, and just been an all round dude 
On Monday, we had a lunging session, just with the roller etc... Encouraging him to swing his back end and work long and low. I also decided he was looking a bit lean in his quarters so decided to up his feed, and bought him a bag of conditioning cubes to add to his Alfa oil.
Tuesday, we went out for a hack, on our own, he was rather enthusiastic
and did three little bucks, each time he wanted to break into trot and I wouldn't let him
. The last and only other time I had some bucks out of him was one day when he was a bit nappy leaving the yard, but it was still good, as I could feel a difference in his back, even though the bucks were small I could feel far more strength in his body when he did them, which in a perverse way was pleasing as it shows he is becoming more developed
. We spent most of the way back, doing walk trot transitions every 8 strides (wasn't a long hack) and a few rein backs, very soon he was carrying himself beautifully and nicely transitioning... Much more upward movement, and reaching forward and seeking a contact... I was very impressed.
Wednesday he had a nice hack out in company, we still did a few transitions, his stride is longer than the 2 we were out with so I would halt, then catch up, halt, then catch up etc. we had a lovely canter and he thoroughly enjoyed himself.
Thursday we lunged in the school to warm up, then I got on and just did walk and trot, halt and rein back trainsitions around the school, again he was fantastic, he feels totally different and I'm making a huge effort to keep my lower leg in the right place and when he is working nicely, I'm finding it so much easier on my lower leg. I'm also giving him plenty of rein, and not moving my hands, keeping them really nice and still, he comes to them and seeks them out and by doing that he is getting so much more confident with the contact.
Friday (today) the young girl who rides him took him out for a well deserved hack, I went to muck out after dropping my dog to the vets and they were just on their way out... It was lovely to see them going off on an adventure, and wanted to share:
When they came back (she had been doing transitions and trying out a few pointers I gave her) she said how much of a difference she felt, and he came back into the yard looking stunning, the picture above is when they were on their way out so he was just chilling and warming up then, but I think it's lovely.
Also chatting to yo, and mentioning how I keep thinking his back end is creeping up, but then keep telling myself to stop being stupid, but then I said that I couldn't work out whether he was leaner around the rump from a growth spurt or from work, she reckons he is definitely heading upwards and commented how you can see his front end already needs to come up a bit to level him out... So it's not in my head! Yay! He is only creeping up, but he is growing again... So chuffed such a positive week, and noticeable growth in more ways than one
Oh, and he is now having the weekend off... So very deserved
On Monday, we had a lunging session, just with the roller etc... Encouraging him to swing his back end and work long and low. I also decided he was looking a bit lean in his quarters so decided to up his feed, and bought him a bag of conditioning cubes to add to his Alfa oil.
Tuesday, we went out for a hack, on our own, he was rather enthusiastic
and did three little bucks, each time he wanted to break into trot and I wouldn't let him. The last and only other time I had some bucks out of him was one day when he was a bit nappy leaving the yard, but it was still good, as I could feel a difference in his back, even though the bucks were small I could feel far more strength in his body when he did them, which in a perverse way was pleasing as it shows he is becoming more developed. We spent most of the way back, doing walk trot transitions every 8 strides (wasn't a long hack) and a few rein backs, very soon he was carrying himself beautifully and nicely transitioning... Much more upward movement, and reaching forward and seeking a contact... I was very impressed.Wednesday he had a nice hack out in company, we still did a few transitions, his stride is longer than the 2 we were out with so I would halt, then catch up, halt, then catch up etc. we had a lovely canter and he thoroughly enjoyed himself.
Thursday we lunged in the school to warm up, then I got on and just did walk and trot, halt and rein back trainsitions around the school, again he was fantastic, he feels totally different and I'm making a huge effort to keep my lower leg in the right place and when he is working nicely, I'm finding it so much easier on my lower leg. I'm also giving him plenty of rein, and not moving my hands, keeping them really nice and still, he comes to them and seeks them out and by doing that he is getting so much more confident with the contact.
Friday (today) the young girl who rides him took him out for a well deserved hack, I went to muck out after dropping my dog to the vets and they were just on their way out... It was lovely to see them going off on an adventure, and wanted to share:
When they came back (she had been doing transitions and trying out a few pointers I gave her) she said how much of a difference she felt, and he came back into the yard looking stunning, the picture above is when they were on their way out so he was just chilling and warming up then, but I think it's lovely.
Also chatting to yo, and mentioning how I keep thinking his back end is creeping up, but then keep telling myself to stop being stupid, but then I said that I couldn't work out whether he was leaner around the rump from a growth spurt or from work, she reckons he is definitely heading upwards and commented how you can see his front end already needs to come up a bit to level him out... So it's not in my head! Yay! He is only creeping up, but he is growing again... So chuffed
such a positive week, and noticeable growth in more ways than oneOh, and he is now having the weekend off... So very deserved
