Girlracer
Well-Known Member
Well my little boy is doing very well, he doesn't naturally carry himself in a particularly attractive way and since i started re-schooling him in September he's been progressing gradually and i've been concentrating more on getting him to be more responsive to the aids. Up until about 2 weeks ago i really struggled to get him to go off the leg but ever since i took him on the funride he seems to have improved a lot. He now actually canters when you ask (rather than making you bounce around like a fruit for half the school!), and i think he's starting to build up muscle in the right places now which means he finds it easier to carry himself and can do more than half a lap of the school without breaking back into trot!
Despite being turned away for so long after finishing racing his race muscle is still so prominent, he's designed to go straight and fast so collection is very difficult for him. However we have done a lot of work on the lunge, cantering small circles and improving his responsiveness to voice aids in the hope it would help when ridden (he can do walk to canter on the lunge just through my voice). I've also just changed his bit from a full cheek sweet iron, single jointed to a kk sprenger correction bit, with a high port in the hope it would stop him carrying his head quite so high!
I've only ridden in it once, and i'm very pleased with how he went. These photos are from yesterday, his first go in the bit, and a cantering one from 2 weeks ago for comparison. He's still only 5 so i'm pleased with his progress for such a late starter.
(p.s sorry for the essay!)
A little tense in the trot due to the other horse hooning around next door!
And the canter...
In comparison, two weeks ago...
And as it was up we had to pop a little fence! (i am aware it is incredibly tiny weeny lol)
And raiding the bins afterwards!
I am moving yards in a week, i'm so excited as it'll really give me chance to concentrate on him (i have to do the two other horses on our yard, it's a nightmare) the facilities are 100 times better (walker, indoor and outdoor school, xc fences, wash box, indoor barn) and it's half a mile from my local RC's showground so looking forward to getting out and about a bit with him! I'm aiming to compete at the MKEC un-affiliated 3-day event in september, then maybe do some BE on a ticket next year... who knows!!
Despite being turned away for so long after finishing racing his race muscle is still so prominent, he's designed to go straight and fast so collection is very difficult for him. However we have done a lot of work on the lunge, cantering small circles and improving his responsiveness to voice aids in the hope it would help when ridden (he can do walk to canter on the lunge just through my voice). I've also just changed his bit from a full cheek sweet iron, single jointed to a kk sprenger correction bit, with a high port in the hope it would stop him carrying his head quite so high!
I've only ridden in it once, and i'm very pleased with how he went. These photos are from yesterday, his first go in the bit, and a cantering one from 2 weeks ago for comparison. He's still only 5 so i'm pleased with his progress for such a late starter.
(p.s sorry for the essay!)
A little tense in the trot due to the other horse hooning around next door!
And the canter...
In comparison, two weeks ago...
And as it was up we had to pop a little fence! (i am aware it is incredibly tiny weeny lol)
And raiding the bins afterwards!
I am moving yards in a week, i'm so excited as it'll really give me chance to concentrate on him (i have to do the two other horses on our yard, it's a nightmare) the facilities are 100 times better (walker, indoor and outdoor school, xc fences, wash box, indoor barn) and it's half a mile from my local RC's showground so looking forward to getting out and about a bit with him! I'm aiming to compete at the MKEC un-affiliated 3-day event in september, then maybe do some BE on a ticket next year... who knows!!