milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Thought some HHOers might be interested in a little update from Armas as I think we're getting somewhere 
Haven't been to any shows for a while as he seems to be more or less over the wild-spooking-galloping-unrideable phase so the quick fire outings have done their job. Now what is holding the marks back was his general way of going no surprises there really!
Having more time to spend at home working on the basics has been so so valuable now and I think we're starting to crack it. Though perhaps not strictly the correct order in an ideal world, I think it was the right way to do it -he's grown up lots for having seen so many sights lately and is now mentally ready to do proper work
The first couple of weeks were spent mainly working on the track and 3/4 line working on straightness and accepting half halts, proper corners etc to get him more over the back, on the aids and into the rein without overcomplicating things. Now I'm able to introduce smaller circles, changes of rein, wiggling round poles and jumps etc without losing the quality of the work (or his attention) which is exactly what we needed to sort out in order to be able to ride a test properly. He's also seen the chiro to un-kink his left side again and that's helped too. Now he feels like he's taking me along more and I've got something to sit on
Yesterday we trundled off to AM Dressage for a lesson with Adam Kemp. Happily the upward trajectory continued and he stayed pretty much with me through most of the work, just getting a little high in the neck in some moments. It was nice that Adam could see the improvement
The plan is to try and move up to Medium fairly soon as I think the tests are more suited to his strengths - the more sideways you can do, the more connected he becomes so the higher level work will suit him better. With that in mind we started off with shoulder in to travers
Then we had a little play with the medium trot again - in fairness to the horse I haven't worked on this at all since we were last at Adam's, theory being the basic work will help to strengthen and improve the lengthening anyway. I was pleased that he was trying to offer some bigger steps even if they were rusty. It's a little bit tricky to get the balance and submission to the contact at the same time as the power and *effort* from him so looks a bit messy at times. It will fall into place in the end
Then we moved on to the half passes. First of all in canter as that's his easier pace, and then trot. The half passes are still a bit green but improving so in a couple of months I think they will be presentable!
To finish we had a go at the piaffe with me on board. Adam's done a few sessions in hand with him earlier in the year so it was time to move on to having a passenger. I've tinkered with some half steps at home, more as an exercise in exaggerated 'waiting' and then being able to walk out of it in a relaxed way and have found he is pulling into the rein positively afterwards - similar experience after the piaffe this time but with a bit of lingering tension.
All in all, I think it was a really positive session and I'm pleased that he's becoming more supple and I'm able to challenge him more without him getting offended or worried.
Here's the main vid - we were chatting for a while at the start so fast forward to about 7 mins if you want to skip that
[video=youtube_share;YAtgTZMlC04]http://youtu.be/YAtgTZMlC04[/video]
And here's the piaffe
[video=youtube_share;Za5cT3TTuEg]http://youtu.be/Za5cT3TTuEg[/video]
Out in the field today being a horse in the rain Millie is finally allowed to join him after 3 months stuck indoors - she's in an electric fence maze of 12x12 foot squares joined by little gaps so that she can mosey about but not charge round! Up to 40 mins walking in hand, should be back on board next month.
Haven't been to any shows for a while as he seems to be more or less over the wild-spooking-galloping-unrideable phase so the quick fire outings have done their job. Now what is holding the marks back was his general way of going no surprises there really!Having more time to spend at home working on the basics has been so so valuable now and I think we're starting to crack it. Though perhaps not strictly the correct order in an ideal world, I think it was the right way to do it -he's grown up lots for having seen so many sights lately and is now mentally ready to do proper work
The first couple of weeks were spent mainly working on the track and 3/4 line working on straightness and accepting half halts, proper corners etc to get him more over the back, on the aids and into the rein without overcomplicating things. Now I'm able to introduce smaller circles, changes of rein, wiggling round poles and jumps etc without losing the quality of the work (or his attention) which is exactly what we needed to sort out in order to be able to ride a test properly. He's also seen the chiro to un-kink his left side again and that's helped too. Now he feels like he's taking me along more and I've got something to sit on
Yesterday we trundled off to AM Dressage for a lesson with Adam Kemp. Happily the upward trajectory continued and he stayed pretty much with me through most of the work, just getting a little high in the neck in some moments. It was nice that Adam could see the improvement
The plan is to try and move up to Medium fairly soon as I think the tests are more suited to his strengths - the more sideways you can do, the more connected he becomes so the higher level work will suit him better. With that in mind we started off with shoulder in to travers
Then we had a little play with the medium trot again - in fairness to the horse I haven't worked on this at all since we were last at Adam's, theory being the basic work will help to strengthen and improve the lengthening anyway. I was pleased that he was trying to offer some bigger steps even if they were rusty. It's a little bit tricky to get the balance and submission to the contact at the same time as the power and *effort* from him so looks a bit messy at times. It will fall into place in the end
Then we moved on to the half passes. First of all in canter as that's his easier pace, and then trot. The half passes are still a bit green but improving so in a couple of months I think they will be presentable!
To finish we had a go at the piaffe with me on board. Adam's done a few sessions in hand with him earlier in the year so it was time to move on to having a passenger. I've tinkered with some half steps at home, more as an exercise in exaggerated 'waiting' and then being able to walk out of it in a relaxed way and have found he is pulling into the rein positively afterwards - similar experience after the piaffe this time but with a bit of lingering tension.
All in all, I think it was a really positive session and I'm pleased that he's becoming more supple and I'm able to challenge him more without him getting offended or worried.
Here's the main vid - we were chatting for a while at the start so fast forward to about 7 mins if you want to skip that
[video=youtube_share;YAtgTZMlC04]http://youtu.be/YAtgTZMlC04[/video]
And here's the piaffe
[video=youtube_share;Za5cT3TTuEg]http://youtu.be/Za5cT3TTuEg[/video]
Out in the field today being a horse in the rain
Millie is finally allowed to join him after 3 months stuck indoors - she's in an electric fence maze of 12x12 foot squares joined by little gaps so that she can mosey about but not charge round! Up to 40 mins walking in hand, should be back on board next month.
