Queenbee
Well-Known Member
After months out of the saddle I started riding ben three days ago, he was super charged the first day - could get no sense out of him in the school as he took offence at the changes in the sandschool, he was like a coiled spring so yesterday I decided to take him for a hack round the 'mini marne' a 15-20 min circuit without a bit, never done this before and only ridden without a bit once in the school. To set the scene, Ben is the strongest horse I have ever ridden and evasive, he will chuck his head right up and hollow when he wants to canter on a bridleway or when he sees a jump. You can stop him, he will canter on the spot and jump around in excitement - never any malice but he's no walk in the park and with the strength, the enthusiasm and evasive tactics combined it gives your shoulders and back a damned good work out :/
The mini marne was ok, the general snorting at shadows you would expect from a horse that hasn't been out in months, and a fair bit of jogging or trying to jog on the homeward journey, however every time he tried, he was turned in a circle and then made to stand then walk on - he soon got the message. he still tried his giraffe impression and my hands found themselves up by my ears a few times. When we got back we went in the school there was a spook at the haylage bales but after that he started to settle back to his normal self.
Today I decided that there was just too much fizz in this pop, despite a bare winter paddock and a diet of hay/haylage only throughout the winter! So I made a plan to go out on the marne, a 30-40 min hack with a decent straight stretch of road that we could trot the demons away on. The marne contains ben's favourite canter path so this would also be a test of exactly how much control and communication I had with him as we would not be cantering. Well, he still snorted all the way round lol but was totally responsive, a couple of moments on the home journey requiring a circle to remind him not to jog but all in all a very positive ride, still a bit evasive at times but better I think. When I got back I decided to walk round the school, his reaction was brilliant, no reaction to the disappearing hedge at the bottom of the school or the appearing random hay bales at the side - demon's banished, all back to normal in the school. Now any normal and sane person would have called it a day, but there were three little jumps up - two straight bars on the long sides and a cross pole on the diagonal, very tiny he could walk over them so nothing that would strain him, I was curious to see just what would happen in a mild micklem side pull bitless bridle considering how beastly strong he is... I did a couple of 20 m circles, one in walk, one in trot then ran a fig of eight then back over a straight so 4 in a row.
My bits are going in the bin. He was still strong, but I don't mind strong and forward, what is difficult is the hollow giraffe, it makes steering and controlling from the seat nearly impossible and turns the rider into a pretzle then you end up blocking with your hands whilst you try to gain control but without the bit he opened up I was able to do what I needed to, back him up sit and steer, his head was forward and stretching not trying to headbutt me with his poll whilst bunny hopping to the jump. It really was amazing.
There is a lot of work to do, a long way to go, but I am so heartened by today he is a horse who loves his work but his most favourite thing is jumping, to know it won't be a battle for either of us is fab. I doubt we will stay in a micklem bitless, Im not sure I trust the rein attachments long term and will perhaps want something a bit more for competing but its given me belief that this is the right thing to do for Ben.
I'm making use of the good weather and plan to go out tomorrow, will try to take some pics.
The mini marne was ok, the general snorting at shadows you would expect from a horse that hasn't been out in months, and a fair bit of jogging or trying to jog on the homeward journey, however every time he tried, he was turned in a circle and then made to stand then walk on - he soon got the message. he still tried his giraffe impression and my hands found themselves up by my ears a few times. When we got back we went in the school there was a spook at the haylage bales but after that he started to settle back to his normal self.
Today I decided that there was just too much fizz in this pop, despite a bare winter paddock and a diet of hay/haylage only throughout the winter! So I made a plan to go out on the marne, a 30-40 min hack with a decent straight stretch of road that we could trot the demons away on. The marne contains ben's favourite canter path so this would also be a test of exactly how much control and communication I had with him as we would not be cantering. Well, he still snorted all the way round lol but was totally responsive, a couple of moments on the home journey requiring a circle to remind him not to jog but all in all a very positive ride, still a bit evasive at times but better I think. When I got back I decided to walk round the school, his reaction was brilliant, no reaction to the disappearing hedge at the bottom of the school or the appearing random hay bales at the side - demon's banished, all back to normal in the school. Now any normal and sane person would have called it a day, but there were three little jumps up - two straight bars on the long sides and a cross pole on the diagonal, very tiny he could walk over them so nothing that would strain him, I was curious to see just what would happen in a mild micklem side pull bitless bridle considering how beastly strong he is... I did a couple of 20 m circles, one in walk, one in trot then ran a fig of eight then back over a straight so 4 in a row.
My bits are going in the bin. He was still strong, but I don't mind strong and forward, what is difficult is the hollow giraffe, it makes steering and controlling from the seat nearly impossible and turns the rider into a pretzle then you end up blocking with your hands whilst you try to gain control but without the bit he opened up I was able to do what I needed to, back him up sit and steer, his head was forward and stretching not trying to headbutt me with his poll whilst bunny hopping to the jump. It really was amazing.
There is a lot of work to do, a long way to go, but I am so heartened by today he is a horse who loves his work but his most favourite thing is jumping, to know it won't be a battle for either of us is fab. I doubt we will stay in a micklem bitless, Im not sure I trust the rein attachments long term and will perhaps want something a bit more for competing but its given me belief that this is the right thing to do for Ben.
I'm making use of the good weather and plan to go out tomorrow, will try to take some pics.
