Yesterdays long reining session.......

[Armas]

Yesterday was our 4th long reining session he is starting to relax more and stretch. The trainers comments are at the end of the video

[video=youtube_share;831AJ0DV_7M]http://youtu.be/831AJ0DV_7M[/video]

 

[milliepops]

Nearly missed this in the new forum

*Lots* to like here IMO. Looks like he's now finding the forward-out stretch a natural and comfortable place. The more forward he goes, the more truly he seeks the contact out there.

I expect some people will think she's rushing him again in the work on the circle but I think with the forward trot and canter he's beginning to see how to really engage and push, staying soft in his body and relaxed in his frame. At times in the ridden work earlier he wasn't quite able to accept that energy and became stuffy instead, or hopped into canter rather than really work.

This looks like a good step for him. Really interested to see next ridden session Thanks for posting this one. I hope you're happy with him, I think they've come a long way together so far. I'm really quite jealous!!

 

[DabDab]

Yes, agree with your opening remarks Armas and Milliepops' observations. He also seems to be in much more of a working frame of mind with this trainer now, rather than getting in a tiz with her.

 

[Caol Ila]

Did anyone else think he looked okay in the stretchy work at the beginning but looked really unlevel/uncomfortable behind in the collected work?

 

[Armas]

Did anyone else think he looked okay in the stretchy work at the beginning but looked really unlevel/uncomfortable behind in the collected work?

Not to me but I don't have such a good eye. The ridden session this morning went very well once the video is process ill post it. I think the storms in the UK have just made it to France. The wind and thunder and lightening in the distance during the session was amazing. I got distracted and took some pictures of the most amazing cloud formations.

 

[milliepops]

I think the unlevel steps become apparent when the tension returns. I thought it was better in this session because he was relaxing more quickly each time, and then the right hind stepped through properly

 

[Caol Ila]

My understanding -- and I could be wrong or there could be other equally valid points of view -- is that a horse should be slowly built up and developed in order to maintain collection. Otherwise, you risk injury. I think (correct me if I am wrong, James), that while Armas might be fit enough from hacking, beach rides, and so on, he hasn't been asked to do this sort of schooling since the Spanish trainer was working him back in January.

 

[_GG_]

And this is why I have, despite my concerns about this trainer, agreed with James that she should be given a chance. I think if you asked her and she replied honestly, working with Armas is as much a learning curve for her as it is for him. What I see from this is that she has listened to what he has been telling her and she is changing her approach accordingly, fine tuning and now, in the 4th session, a partnership is starting to develop.

I am very interested to see what the ridden session from today is like.

As for the hind action in the collected work, it is not surprising. If you watch any horse start this work in the early stages they are like this. It is not necessarily an issue.

Nice to also see that when she does ask for a little collection at the end, she is only asking for baby steps and she is letting him have a really relaxed rein and loosen up in between. This is a great way to approach it. Quick reward and never asking too much at once.

In general, he seems much more accepting of everything.

 

[_GG_]

My understanding -- and I could be wrong or there could be other equally valid points of view -- is that a horse should be slowly built up and developed in order to maintain collection. Otherwise, you risk injury. I think (correct me if I am wrong, James), that while Armas might be fit enough from hacking, beach rides, and so on, he hasn't been asked to do this sort of schooling since the Spanish trainer was working him back in January.

No, I think you are right. If you are saying this because of the collected work at the end, then I don't think it's a big worry. What she has done ridden like this I have not agreed with at all. However, in this video, she is only asking for baby steps and allowing a good stretch afterwards. Nothing is so much that it is putting him under any strain that I can see, but mentally, it is encouraging him to seek the reward at the end and take the contact forward...which is the ultimate aim for the time being.

If she were to really push for bigger, more expressive steps, then yes...I would say that he is just not muscled enough.