Talking about breaking in!

Brambridge04 said:
You really are brilliant x
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:D Not in the slightest little bit! She's a very special mare - her owners had done some very good handling work, and she's very naturally forward - which helps no end. And Phil - my 'jockey' in this clip - is a nice, sensitive rider.

This one was a bit trickier - as she only has one eye (which affects both her balance and her confidence!) She started nearly a week before the first one - but is now at the same stage (although not yet as balanced.) Again, her first time off the lunge - and she coped very well - although it will be a few days more before we even try canter on her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9020VhlzWg
 
Well thats the first time in a long time i have actually enjoyed watching a young horse being ridden, best of luck with them both :)
 
Lovely to watch, thanks for sharing JG. You guys can certainly get the job done properly, very impressed.

This is me on my boy yesterday, 4th time of the lunge, first time solo out in the big paddock. I've done a lot of groundwork, totally voice controlled before I got on board, and the backing process has been smooth :) (No crit please, we're not supposed to look perfect at this stage, lol)

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it IS unusually nice to watch!!
Now why is that, I wonder?
Aren't we used to seeing youngsters taught to be forward and free moving anymore?
I'm sure this used to be the norm..... first to go forward and then let them find their own balance naturally as their muscles and strength developed.
 
ozpoz said:
it IS unusually nice to watch!!
Now why is that, I wonder?
Aren't we used to seeing youngsters taught to be forward and free moving anymore?
I'm sure this used to be the norm..... first to go forward and then let them find their own balance naturally as their muscles and strength developed.
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No time for that anymore - strap its head between its legs and then wonder why it doesn't move off the leg... whilst bragging to our friends that we broked in da poney

Not that it matters as most show judges can't tell the difference between something working properly and something that's spent its life tied down in side reins, and most of today's riders wouldn't know what to do with a horse that responded to their aids (they'd probably fly off backwards if you taught them to use their leg and seat rather than their hands)

Gosh I'm on my soapbox today!
 
ozpoz said:
it IS unusually nice to watch!!
Now why is that, I wonder?
Aren't we used to seeing youngsters taught to be forward and free moving anymore?
I'm sure this used to be the norm..... first to go forward and then let them find their own balance naturally as their muscles and strength developed.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more with you. Great to see 'old habits' haven't died out completely Janet; would prefer your methods any day to what is usually churned out now.
 
ozpoz said:
it IS unusually nice to watch!!
Now why is that, I wonder?
Aren't we used to seeing youngsters taught to be forward and free moving anymore?
I'm sure this used to be the norm..... first to go forward and then let them find their own balance naturally as their muscles and strength developed.
Click to expand...

This exactly. Everyone seems to be in such a rush nowadays and it is so bad for the horses. Lovely to see it being done properly; I personally would be happy to send a youngster to JG to be backed and ridden away.
FDC
 
ozpoz said:
it IS unusually nice to watch!!
Now why is that, I wonder?
Aren't we used to seeing youngsters taught to be forward and free moving anymore?
I'm sure this used to be the norm..... first to go forward and then let them find their own balance naturally as their muscles and strength developed.
Click to expand...

Completely agree with this. About a year ago I tried a very sweet young 16hh Welsh Sec D who although had a lovely nature was completely dead to the leg. While I am not the world's best rider I am competent, but I could barely get this horse to move. Her owner had little more success but it was very clear to me where the problem came from. She was bragging that she was the easiest horse she had ever broken in and that it only took two weeks. Result: the most unresponsive horse I have ever sat on. I really liked her but I didn't think I have the experience to completely retrain her correctly. Such a shame as she really was a cracking horse but broken in far too fast. A kind nature doesn't make up for poor training.

I bought an older Welshie who I am currently trying to change as he is quite backwards thinking. So for the timebeing I am ignoring what his head is doing and focusing entirely on going forwards and so far his muscle is improving as is his self-carriage.

JanetGeorge - you do such an amazing job with these youngsters and if I ever have a youngster I am definitely sending it to you!
 
Lovely quiet rider, the first mare looks very well balanced, and the difficulties the spot has are quite obviously sight related. We are breaking ours at the moment, we don't have a school (or a level field!) so our education is being done whilst hacking, I'm looking for forward free movement way before anything more than a light consistant contact!
 
Spot_the_Risk said:
Lovely quiet rider, the first mare looks very well balanced, and the difficulties the spot has are quite obviously sight related.
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And then comes The Chunk -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpI0uen6-WE

who has no excuse other than her rather interesting breeding!:D (She really IS quarter Warmblood!!) Then there is a quarter 'Traditional' - and half Welsh Sec. D.

If we'd waited until this lady was 'ready' to come off the lunge we'd still be waiting - she's a bit opinionated. This is the second bit of video - the first was ruined by the fact that the lass who was standing in as camera-woman got a bit excited by the bronking and pointed the camera at the manege surface!:rolleyes:

As bronking didn't work, she tried taking off - that was fine with Phil - saved him working his legs - then she tried planting! 4 days work (and 'fights') in 20 minutes - but at the end she WAS doing as asked (more or less!)

Pardon the state of her back legs and tail - ALL the ruddy breakers are in season - and she is VERY much so!! But she's a little corker - will make a fantastic hunting cob for someone - once she's realised that her opinions are NOT going to rule!:D
 
Apercrumbie said:
She was bragging that she was the easiest horse she had ever broken in and that it only took two weeks. Result: the most unresponsive horse I have ever sat on.
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My Mare was unhandled to the age of 4 and a half, she only started her real education (lunging & long reining) at the end of Jan, although had been used to tack and me leaning over her from the end of Dec.

This is her 2 months on...

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She was lunging perfectly in her first session, ridden after 2 weeks of ground work and after a week of being ridden (on the lunge) and she was walking, trotting and cantering off the lunge.
She has never been rushed and is definitely not dead to the leg! I have never asked her to work in an outline, she naturally goes like that. She is extrememly mature in both build and nature and thrives off a challenge.

I wouldn't necessarily break another horse in as quickly, but it worked for her and she is a very bold responsive ride, feels much more advanced than her 5 years!
 
kirstyhen said:
I wouldn't necessarily break another horse in as quickly, but it worked for her and she is a very bold responsive ride, feels much more advanced than her 5 years!
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That's partly down to her conformation - and partly due to the fact she was more mature when you started - and partly due to the fact you did a good job! She's a super mare.

What's her breeding (I have an idea - but if I'm wrong you'll probably shoot me! :D)
 
Thank you :D I ride another rising 5 year old at work, been broken in a year and schooled by a dressage rider for most of that time and he still feels like a wobbly baby! She is just mega grown up :D

She is by Mackney Clover (Clover Hill) by Laura Lee (Jamie Boy) so nearly 50/50 ID/TB, she is my absolute perfect horse is everyway so far :D
 
kirstyhen said:
Thank you :D I ride another rising 5 year old at work, been broken in a year and schooled by a dressage rider for most of that time and he still feels like a wobbly baby! She is just mega grown up :D

She is by Mackney Clover (Clover Hill) by Laura Lee (Jamie Boy) so nearly 50/50 ID/TB, she is my absolute perfect horse is everyway so far :D
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The problem with (some) dressage riders is that they HAVE to ride EVERY step! A youngster needs to be left a bit to get on with it, and develop their own balance and self carriage! (Holding a horse together is too much like hard work anyway!:D)

I hadn't come across Mackney Clover - but Grand-pa was screaming out for recognition in your mare!! So I looked up Mackney Clover - don't know how I haven't spotted him before! he is a real chip off the old block - and with Diamond Lad on the dam line, and being a Grade A stallion himself, your mare should be a performer!
 
Hmmm, I think this is certainly the case with this youngster!

Mally is the spit of her sire too and certainly loves jumping, so I have high hopes for her! :D She was a real find, complete bargain as far as I can tell too :D
 
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