Transition from native to warmblood....

golddustsara

golddustsara

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Is proving more difficult than expected - particuarly when warmblood is an ex BSJA & BE schoolmaster who knows it all. He knows every trick in the book and I know its bloody good for my riding but damn its hard. Especially when my eventer friend rides him so beautifully. His party trick is the trot canter which is trotting on the front legs and cantering behind which makes me off balance and thus loosing contact.

Any tips for the transition to loveable but wily old know it all
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On the plus I have fallen for him and his super character. Can't believe its been 2 weeks, its just flown past. Just discovering his little quirks such as his love for chin rubs and throwing his bucket over the stable door when he is done or being grumpy if I'm last up in the mornings (never did that one again
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haha stick in hun
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i would just advise you to get to know him as much as poss over winter and have sum serious bonding sessions
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when i sold my dopey welsh d who did exactly canter in front and trot on back but that was because he was cow hocked haha bless him
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anyways i then not very wisely got my ex racer and bsja plus stroppy and hothead of a thoroughbred mare after. and although a day never goes by without me wondering why i put myself through it, i do love her. im sure alot of H&H's understnad when i say i have 'clicked' with her suddenly. its taken me alot of tears and anger to crack through her brick wall and yes, people still ask me if its all worth it (had alot of problems with her) and advise me to just call it a day with her but i done know, i just feel like i cant. I just hope this kinda gives you some encouragment to keep going. it is worth it. a horse counts on you as you do on them. i wish you all the best hun
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now since i wrote you that load of goop may i have some piclets
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Sounds like a typical WB to me!What type of WB is he? I love his disgarding of the bucket when finished. He certainly sounds like a real character
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He's a Belgium Warmblood but a hanno x tb. He was a stallion for years so has lots of personality
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you should have stuck to your native! haha.

Seriously, I found a WB hard work after having TB's but if you've had a native pony, you should be used to the stubborn streak ;-)
 
I've had my warmblood 6 months now and still haven't found all the buttons, we were getting there a few months ago, but have had a few setbacks over the past few months. It was very different, I felt as though I couldn't ride, and wondered what I was doing with such a good horse, but once we started to get to know each other, and listen, and I changed my riding to suit him...he learned to forgive me for not being the rider he deserves. I just keep telling myself that we will get there and each day is one step closer the that goal
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good luck with him, he looks like he's a cracker, and he's chestnut!!!
 
Keep at it it gets better, honestly!! They are great characters on the ground and you very quickly become attached, however often after 20min on board you are reduced to tears, tantrums and threatening to give up riding for good. I know I was!

As you bond they do start to try to help you rather than catch you out as it were. It ends up where you adapt your riding style a bit and they accomodate, so you meet halfway.

I have a Dutch warmblood who has some serious breeding lines and was only ever a professionals horse (BSJA). I find it makes them VERY full of themselves and generally up their own bottoms - takes some time before they are willing to listen to your suggestions.

Mine decided to help me after I really lost it once, throwing my gloves on the floor getting off and storming away leaving him in the standing in the middle of the school for my OH to put away and not speaking to him at all for a week. They totally hate being ignored. It was nice to realise he did actually care what I thought (I was convinced he must hate me) and he actually spent ages sucking up to me and being very affectionate. He has never pushed it since and asks me what I would like rather than telling me how we are going to do something. Not an intentional training move but it worked.

He is now very keen to please and really looks after me getting me out of the odd nasty spot when jumping, and if me or my OH is exiting via the front door he does a bit of a funny hop at the front end and then we land on our feet instead of our head. I have only ever come off twice and both times landed on my feet, which I could not understand. We only realised he was doing it when we caught it on video.

The only problem you'll find shortly is when you jump on something else - sheer frustration, they don't read your mind or react as quickly as your WB and you never feel as safe. I would now never consider buying anything else.
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ETA: we have also had the trot/canter only he trots with the back end while cantering with the front, if I shout Oi he quits it so he knows...

I also bought a saddle with big blocks - helps with the security as they tend to be pretty bouncy. Might be worth considering
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Thanks for the reply Cyberhorse! They are wonderful characters and I already feel I am starting to bond with him. He is a grumpster in the mornings when YO turns him out but has started to whicker at me when I arrive and generally be more affectionate. They are just so responsive and I swear he reads my mind if I so much as think trot! Know what you mean about the safeness, I do feel very safe on him even when he is doing his trotcanter or having a bit of a speedy moment.

Good idea about the saddle - I'm getting it checked next week so if it doesn't fit one with large blocks may be in order
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