Training session 8

[Armas]

Hi Armas,
I watched all your videos to date with interest because having spent most of 2012 in Portugal I have seen Iberian horses being trained and re-trained in various ways and to various effects. I also had a pleasure to watch a series of training sessions over 6 months with Francisco Cancella de Abreu (one of the most sought after Working Equitation trainer, FEI dressage judge, combining German Scales of Training with Portuguese Classical Equitation); one of the horses I followed training of was an ex-bullfighting Lusitano with similar BTV contact issue and a lot of tension, another being very similarly built/working to Armas (weak loins, bigger paces, evasive/unlevel right hind, no left poll flexion, sharp & sensitive). The ex-bullfighting stallion was too worked on a fairly short contact with a non-avoidance principle but he was a short coupled, strong little horse and was never asked to work on collection until contact and tension issues were vastly improved.
The Armas-look-a-like was worked a lot on a longer rein..it turned out he had back muscle issue which made working under with his right hind leg difficult. This resolved fairly quickly (a week if I remember well) with gentle work and rest. However, he is a weak loin horse so was worked accordingly. He was worked a lot with his crest level with his wither but as he was prone to go btv on contact this had to be done on a longer rein. It took couple of months but he worked without sucking back afterwards.

I share this is a comparison not to say Armas should be worked that way. However, based on my knowledge and experience to date I am afraid I don't understand the methodology of your trainer's way of working Armas at all. I watched the latest video to the end as was hoping to see some sense in the process but didn't. The horse works crooked yet is required to work on elements where straightness is needed to preserve soundness. Trainer is consistently adding power into tension which I personally don't believe in.

I am not experienced in re-training contact issues so I stand to be corrected but I don't like what I have seen here. I love Iberian horses, their brain, work ethics and incredible sensitivity and your horse has it all. It's painful to watch him in current training.

If this was my horse I would call Francisco (his number and email are easily google-able) to ask for my nearest WE trainer, thank the current one for her help to date and transfer asap.

Thank you for taking the time to respond, I have just looked up Francisco Cancella de Abreu and am watching some his you tube videos very interesting.
Armas has never been " Straight" Brown boots commented on that as has the new trainer. I believe that is due to him being weaker on one side. I am hoping that the chiropractor will visit this week and give him the once over.

I just love watching WE its such an art. Are you now back in the UK ?

As I have said I am going to give the trainer till the end of the month and if no change we will re evaluate.

 

[viola]

It is incredible I love watching it too Yes I am back now, I lived about an hour away from Ponte de Lima and went to watch the shows...with good riders and horses it's magical and so full of energy. It's damn difficult too! You never appreciate how tricky all the elements are until you try it
Have you ever been to Golegã? If not not, I can't recommend enough It's an experience of an unforgettable kind.

I hope chiro can help with some visible postural issues.

Of course all horses have a degree of one-sidedness and all training is really straightness focused but I did notice that many Lusitanos (and a PRE I had for schooling) are somewhat more established in their dominant vs weak sides than warmbloods. I would compare them a little to ponies in that respect!

In a way I admire your attitude to sticking by the trainer, it's great to know there are owners out there happy to give the benefit of a doubt and let trainer gel with the horse rather than demand immediate results.

I do see what she is trying to achieve and she does look like a skilful rider. My reason for disliking the process comes from the fact, that I never seen these methods work so well with Iberian horses. Many dressage riders like a very secure, quite strong hand connection and the feel in hand for everything that happens behind the saddle. I like that too. However, in many ways, it's a dominant way of training...no matter how skilful or gentle.
From riding Lusitano horses and a PRE I noticed that, although that connection also needs to be there, they operate more from seat and mind partnership (risk sounding a bit airy fairy here). Rein contact, whilst being there, is always much lighter so rider needs to be secure in their feel through the seat to shape the horse correctly. I have not come across strength based re-education I observe on your videos with WE or classical dressage trained Lusos.

Having said that I don't mean to sound like I am trying to force my point of view, I will continue to observe Armas' training with interest.

Your video of him in the garden is just breathtaking, he is born for WE :-D