HeresHoping
Well-Known Member
It has been a week and a day since Larry came home. Larry, the 5th horse vetted. I am beginning to think that those who believe 'things happen for a reason' may well be quite right, although I look at him and wonder what I did to deserve such a fantastic horse. I'll admit that when he first arrived, and I couldn't find the buttons, I had serious doubts about my ability to match the horse's capability. Cue a few secret tears of frustration and desperation from me. I used to be a passable rider, and there I was unable to get this beautifully schooled boy to move in a straight line. And the whole yard was watching, waiting to see what all the fuss was about. I felt dreadful up there, and looked even worse, I am sure.
But, for our 5th ride we attended a stressage clinic with Emma Openshaw and she was fabulous. Within a few circles we had found the buttons, engaged those incredibly long legs and back end and started to ride up to the bridle. I managed to sit up for at least some of the 45 minutes, and she managed to draw a breath between shouting 'weight in your heels'. We worked on loads of trot, decreasing and increasing circles, lots of leg yielding back out again. And my contact - which was somewhat feeble and probably why nothing was happening. We also did some pace changes within the trot, and I attempted to do some sitting but have many months of practice before I can absorb that stride. He's most comfortable with extension; otherwise that big engine catapults me out and probably contributes to my leaning forward. By which time all the energy disappears out of the front door. Emma was fantastic, though, and by the end, Larry Longlegs felt forward, amazing and light and I was grinning from ear to ear. I'm not sure there's much hope for me but if anyone has any suggestions for keeping hands still and soft, and sitting up, I'd be grateful.
Although he has settled in very well in most respects - easy to do, no upsetting behaviour - this week has been a bit of an eye opener. I've had to learn very quickly what stresses him out. Some may recall that he was sold in April; there was then an incident involving a broom and a change of circumstances and so he was quickly bought back. He is very head shy, and a whip has him shivering and quaking. Anyone lunging in the school when we ride will result in him getting very worried indeed. He doesn't get silly but he does feel very tense and stressed and you can feel his heart beating through his rib cage. He also broke his bridle because he panicked when he got a rein hooked over the bolt on the stable door. I stupidly didn't lay it flat when I shut it behind me. I was doing the girth up, had my back to him with one arm through the reins, didn't quite see what happened but he stood at the back of the stable shaking all over for a good 10 minutes. Anyway, he has a lovely cutaway headpiece now. And I did manage to tack him up again.
I introduced him to my mother at the weekend. She was a dressage judge (not in the UK, though) and has been the force behind my riding career. She used to ride a lot herself until she moved back to the UK and gave it all up. She thought about driving, acquired two Dartmoors but they were so wild she had to spend a good year domesticating them. Her driving instructor felt they'd never be suitable really, so she gave them up. She then suffered a stroke and scared us all witless. So Larry is important in ensuring she still has horse contact. Anyway, she felt brave enough at the weekend, so here's Larry having a plod around the arena with a little old lady on board - she's soon to be 71 and doesn't yet have all the feeling down her right leg and hand:
And here's him with me, almost getting that trot to come through - I know my hands are blimmin' awful, and my stirrups could do with being a hole or two longer, and I could do with sticking my boobs out a bit more, but I'll work on that:
But, for our 5th ride we attended a stressage clinic with Emma Openshaw and she was fabulous. Within a few circles we had found the buttons, engaged those incredibly long legs and back end and started to ride up to the bridle. I managed to sit up for at least some of the 45 minutes, and she managed to draw a breath between shouting 'weight in your heels'. We worked on loads of trot, decreasing and increasing circles, lots of leg yielding back out again. And my contact - which was somewhat feeble and probably why nothing was happening. We also did some pace changes within the trot, and I attempted to do some sitting but have many months of practice before I can absorb that stride. He's most comfortable with extension; otherwise that big engine catapults me out and probably contributes to my leaning forward. By which time all the energy disappears out of the front door. Emma was fantastic, though, and by the end, Larry Longlegs felt forward, amazing and light and I was grinning from ear to ear. I'm not sure there's much hope for me but if anyone has any suggestions for keeping hands still and soft, and sitting up, I'd be grateful.
Although he has settled in very well in most respects - easy to do, no upsetting behaviour - this week has been a bit of an eye opener. I've had to learn very quickly what stresses him out. Some may recall that he was sold in April; there was then an incident involving a broom and a change of circumstances and so he was quickly bought back. He is very head shy, and a whip has him shivering and quaking. Anyone lunging in the school when we ride will result in him getting very worried indeed. He doesn't get silly but he does feel very tense and stressed and you can feel his heart beating through his rib cage. He also broke his bridle because he panicked when he got a rein hooked over the bolt on the stable door. I stupidly didn't lay it flat when I shut it behind me. I was doing the girth up, had my back to him with one arm through the reins, didn't quite see what happened but he stood at the back of the stable shaking all over for a good 10 minutes. Anyway, he has a lovely cutaway headpiece now. And I did manage to tack him up again.
I introduced him to my mother at the weekend. She was a dressage judge (not in the UK, though) and has been the force behind my riding career. She used to ride a lot herself until she moved back to the UK and gave it all up. She thought about driving, acquired two Dartmoors but they were so wild she had to spend a good year domesticating them. Her driving instructor felt they'd never be suitable really, so she gave them up. She then suffered a stroke and scared us all witless. So Larry is important in ensuring she still has horse contact. Anyway, she felt brave enough at the weekend, so here's Larry having a plod around the arena with a little old lady on board - she's soon to be 71 and doesn't yet have all the feeling down her right leg and hand:
And here's him with me, almost getting that trot to come through - I know my hands are blimmin' awful, and my stirrups could do with being a hole or two longer, and I could do with sticking my boobs out a bit more, but I'll work on that:
).
