clairebearnz
Well-Known Member
I've been working with my young TB to try and conquer his problems with ditches. I've been jumping him over a tarp as often as I can to convince him that it really isn't THAT bad. It seems to be working, we get less of the eyes-on-stalks each time. I then took him XC schooling with the addition of a lunge line and lunge whip to lunge him over the ditch.
After warming up and getting our eye in, I asked him to jump it. He refused. I didn't fight, but simply got off and popped him on the lunge. He then REALLY wouldn't go. He just simply stood there and flatly ignored me. He wasn't spooking, he just simply did not want to do it. I hopped back on to go back to the float and thought I would ask him to jump it again. He simply popped over the damn thing without a care in the world. I do not get him in the slightest.
Aside from that, he was pretty good. If I rode firmly and confidently, he jumped. I also had a woman come up to me and ask some questions about him, then ask if I'd let her know if he was for sale.
And now for the photos....
Warming up, as you can tell, Fready is super excited about this idea.
Casually jumping the ditch.
He decided this was scary. On take off. Thanks, Fready.
And one of my favourite photos
Tally was supposed to come with him but went horribly and suddenly lame behind on Tuesday morning. However, he was sound by Tuesday evening so I suspect he slipped his stifle (for the first time since I've owned him) and managed to right himself. However, I gave him most of the week off and didn't trust him to behave himself with a friend riding him!
After warming up and getting our eye in, I asked him to jump it. He refused. I didn't fight, but simply got off and popped him on the lunge. He then REALLY wouldn't go. He just simply stood there and flatly ignored me. He wasn't spooking, he just simply did not want to do it. I hopped back on to go back to the float and thought I would ask him to jump it again. He simply popped over the damn thing without a care in the world. I do not get him in the slightest.
Aside from that, he was pretty good. If I rode firmly and confidently, he jumped. I also had a woman come up to me and ask some questions about him, then ask if I'd let her know if he was for sale.
And now for the photos....
Warming up, as you can tell, Fready is super excited about this idea.
Casually jumping the ditch.
He decided this was scary. On take off. Thanks, Fready.
And one of my favourite photos
Tally was supposed to come with him but went horribly and suddenly lame behind on Tuesday morning. However, he was sound by Tuesday evening so I suspect he slipped his stifle (for the first time since I've owned him) and managed to right himself. However, I gave him most of the week off and didn't trust him to behave himself with a friend riding him!
