SnowGo
Active Member
I suppose as a bit of an add on to the 4Y/o thread below: what would you be focusing on/ adding to the training of the following horse (oversized pony), rising 5? Don't get me wrong there's lots to work on, but I always wonder where my focus should be. I currently just pick an area and work on it or see what she seems to be struggling with during the warm up. She likes being kept busy hence the "bit of everything" going on.
Will be having more lessons when student loan comes through, but they're generally focusing on getting me going well not pony!
She currently walk, trots, canters with pretty decent balance. Impulsion stills needs work but its well on its way. She's beginning to work from behind and not lean on my hands so much. Transitions are generally nice, downward ones need work, but i think that will come with impulsion/more balance. Her walk to canter is like magic (we had a patch with no fitting saddle and I can't sit her trot without one so she had to learn!)
Bending and straightness are well on their way. She's just about mastered turn on forehand and haunches. Reins back. Can do counterflexion on the straight, beginning to manage it on a circle.
Leg yield is currently our biggest challenge. She can't quite compute straightness, sideways and forwards all at once!
Pops a jump nicely. Did our first "proper" course at the weekend (the very impressive 60cm clear round!). Did about half in trot half in canter, nice and relaxed. Looked at few fences with fillers, but popped over with a nudge. Realised I don't think she's ever done a bounce when we got there so grid work is in order!
We do a fair amount of pole work as she's quite tight over her back (dubbed the picnic bench by friends!).
Hacks out well in company, you might end up on the verge a few times when out on your own but that is improving. Is nanny to older horses off road. Will walk, trot, canter, gallop in an open field (and you do generally get to pick which!).
She was backed at 2 1/2 (not by me and probably wouldn't have bought if i'd realised at the time- she was sold to me as 3 1/2 when she was rising 3). She's generally just been sat in the field for the best part of 2 years, maybe doing 20 mins in the school or a hack once a fortnight on average. She's been ridden about twice weekly since she was 4 and now about 4-5 times a week since Jan.
She's a lovely little mare so I want to do her justice! Is there anything glaringly obvious that I've missed that you would be expecting her to be able to do now or in the next year? She lives to please and is the most chilled out youngster I've come across. I don't necessarily have any big dreams for her, just want to see what we can do together. I would include a video of our most recent ride but the camera slipped a few minutes in and its just her stumpy legs going round haha!
Will be having more lessons when student loan comes through, but they're generally focusing on getting me going well not pony!
She currently walk, trots, canters with pretty decent balance. Impulsion stills needs work but its well on its way. She's beginning to work from behind and not lean on my hands so much. Transitions are generally nice, downward ones need work, but i think that will come with impulsion/more balance. Her walk to canter is like magic (we had a patch with no fitting saddle and I can't sit her trot without one so she had to learn!)
Bending and straightness are well on their way. She's just about mastered turn on forehand and haunches. Reins back. Can do counterflexion on the straight, beginning to manage it on a circle.
Leg yield is currently our biggest challenge. She can't quite compute straightness, sideways and forwards all at once!
Pops a jump nicely. Did our first "proper" course at the weekend (the very impressive 60cm clear round!). Did about half in trot half in canter, nice and relaxed. Looked at few fences with fillers, but popped over with a nudge. Realised I don't think she's ever done a bounce when we got there so grid work is in order!
We do a fair amount of pole work as she's quite tight over her back (dubbed the picnic bench by friends!).
Hacks out well in company, you might end up on the verge a few times when out on your own but that is improving. Is nanny to older horses off road. Will walk, trot, canter, gallop in an open field (and you do generally get to pick which!).
She was backed at 2 1/2 (not by me and probably wouldn't have bought if i'd realised at the time- she was sold to me as 3 1/2 when she was rising 3). She's generally just been sat in the field for the best part of 2 years, maybe doing 20 mins in the school or a hack once a fortnight on average. She's been ridden about twice weekly since she was 4 and now about 4-5 times a week since Jan.
She's a lovely little mare so I want to do her justice! Is there anything glaringly obvious that I've missed that you would be expecting her to be able to do now or in the next year? She lives to please and is the most chilled out youngster I've come across. I don't necessarily have any big dreams for her, just want to see what we can do together. I would include a video of our most recent ride but the camera slipped a few minutes in and its just her stumpy legs going round haha!