millitiger
Well-Known Member
So... with all of the horrendous weather in January, an arena that wasn't at all rideable and an 18hh athletic horse getting above his station , Vinnie went off to school at Vittoria Panizzon's to do a few weeks of work and get him fit and prepped for the upcoming eventing season.
He has improved so much that he is still there now and is entered in his first BE event in 3 weeks!
Embarrassingly, he was rather naughty to start with (as he can be at a new place) and tried many tricks in his repertoire to put Vittoria off but she dealt with him very positively, without having a battle and is reaping the rewards now as he is like a different horse.
When I went to visit a few weeks ago he wouldn't walk up to the arena without a lead and his nanny horse was none other than the infamous Pennyz!
Most riders would have forced the issue and 'made' him go alone but Vittoria was very chilled and made it clear that each experience should be a positive one for Vinnie with no battles.
Clearly it worked as 4 weeks later for my next visit, he went storming up to the arena alone without a backwards glance and I was having to jog to keep up with him!
He has improved 10 fold since being there and is now entered for Howick BE- I have decided being an owner is far worse than being the rider as I am already very nervous on his behalf!
Few photos and a little video to show just how much he has improved;
What happens when he isn't sure- just go higher!
My favourite one, so tidy!
And a little video before my camcorder died- working on lengthening and shortening the canter while trying to get him to carry himself AND stay in front of the leg- lots to think about when you have such stupidly long legs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiVIXCY28L4
He will be staying for as long as I can afford to keep him there as the improvement has been brilliant and Vinnie is really benefiting from Vittoria's training and management- hopefully I will have a horse back that I can just crack on with and finally be out eventing again!
He has improved so much that he is still there now and is entered in his first BE event in 3 weeks!
Embarrassingly, he was rather naughty to start with (as he can be at a new place) and tried many tricks in his repertoire to put Vittoria off but she dealt with him very positively, without having a battle and is reaping the rewards now as he is like a different horse.
When I went to visit a few weeks ago he wouldn't walk up to the arena without a lead and his nanny horse was none other than the infamous Pennyz!
Most riders would have forced the issue and 'made' him go alone but Vittoria was very chilled and made it clear that each experience should be a positive one for Vinnie with no battles.
Clearly it worked as 4 weeks later for my next visit, he went storming up to the arena alone without a backwards glance and I was having to jog to keep up with him!
He has improved 10 fold since being there and is now entered for Howick BE- I have decided being an owner is far worse than being the rider as I am already very nervous on his behalf!
Few photos and a little video to show just how much he has improved;
What happens when he isn't sure- just go higher!
My favourite one, so tidy!
And a little video before my camcorder died- working on lengthening and shortening the canter while trying to get him to carry himself AND stay in front of the leg- lots to think about when you have such stupidly long legs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiVIXCY28L4
He will be staying for as long as I can afford to keep him there as the improvement has been brilliant and Vinnie is really benefiting from Vittoria's training and management- hopefully I will have a horse back that I can just crack on with and finally be out eventing again!