reindeerlover
Well-Known Member
Finally got to ride Copper today, he lost a shoe a couple of days after I got him and was quite footsore until I got a new one on him on Sunday. Gave him til today and he seems right so I cracked on! 
I took him up to the round pen and let him trot around (he was FASCINATED by the mini shetland) he trotted like one of them floaty dressage horses, very purdy indeed. Slapped bridle and saddle on, he's quite chewy and gnashes his teeth a lot with the bit so thinking we need teeth done asap. Saddle went on fine and he settled ok as soon as that was on, I led him round for a minute but he was so chilled that I dragged the mounting block in and hoiked meself up. He stood like a star, asked for walk on and we walked. Asked for trot a couple of minutes later and ended up having to pony club kick and shout TROT OOOON
like a Barbara Woodhouse parody! Bless, it took him a little while to work it out. He trotted then on both reins but was a little sluggish, didn't feel uncomfortable in any way but I was in a stock saddle so he probably needs a bit more contact from my legs I think.
Took a crop and as soon as I used a tap of it he worked straight away, he's obviously always been ridden with one. Asked for canter and he was much more knowledgeable about that! Calm and quiet in all ways though, what a little superstar.
SO... I will be hacking him mainly for the next few weeks to get him used to my leg/voice/rein commands and getting to know him and then I will start the "dressarge" nonsense
to get him working properly before I attempt some small fences. So far, polocrosse-wise, he MAY not be sharp enough but as he doesn't mind things waving around his head or me leaning down his shoulder, as long as his responsiveness improves he could play.
Does anyone have any hints about improving responsiveness while hacking?
If not then I will start bombing around and making him jump 2 metre fences as that gets people commenting!
I took him up to the round pen and let him trot around (he was FASCINATED by the mini shetland) he trotted like one of them floaty dressage horses, very purdy indeed. Slapped bridle and saddle on, he's quite chewy and gnashes his teeth a lot with the bit so thinking we need teeth done asap. Saddle went on fine and he settled ok as soon as that was on, I led him round for a minute but he was so chilled that I dragged the mounting block in and hoiked meself up. He stood like a star, asked for walk on and we walked. Asked for trot a couple of minutes later and ended up having to pony club kick and shout TROT OOOON
like a Barbara Woodhouse parody! Bless, it took him a little while to work it out. He trotted then on both reins but was a little sluggish, didn't feel uncomfortable in any way but I was in a stock saddle so he probably needs a bit more contact from my legs I think.Took a crop and as soon as I used a tap of it he worked straight away, he's obviously always been ridden with one. Asked for canter and he was much more knowledgeable about that! Calm and quiet in all ways though, what a little superstar.
SO... I will be hacking him mainly for the next few weeks to get him used to my leg/voice/rein commands and getting to know him and then I will start the "dressarge" nonsense
to get him working properly before I attempt some small fences. So far, polocrosse-wise, he MAY not be sharp enough but as he doesn't mind things waving around his head or me leaning down his shoulder, as long as his responsiveness improves he could play. Does anyone have any hints about improving responsiveness while hacking?
If not then I will start bombing around and making him jump 2 metre fences as that gets people commenting!
You'd best give me some ice cream...
