Having had the wee guy on a grass free diet, I somewhat tentatively put his name down for an eventing clinic (intro level only of course)
First day was SJ exercises - turns onto jumps, angled jumps, skinnies, even a bounce.
To be honest, he was very good, and tried really hard.
He did get quite resistant in the mouth to start, but improved.
There were also some problems in standing still....he just didnt want to do that....we had a few moments where I thought he would go up, and some leaps, but he did improve. I just kept him moving after that. But he was absolutely fine with the others cantering away, towards, jumping or going past him, so that was great.
Second day, being a bit mentally and physically tired, he was an absolute angel.
I was able to stand on the buckle, wander around on the buckle and he was just such a good pony.
We did, skinnies, turns, ditch, baby trakener, banks, some logs, a couple of mobiles, and the water.
He had a wee look at the ditch, but nothing major, pretty much straight over everything else apart from the banks down. He was genuinely concerned about them, but he did go in the end....was also a bit worried about patches of dirt and changes of colour in grass etc.
Water....a few strides away from the bank I have had a HUGE argument with him before, and he started to say no, reverse, about to go up, etc....and I CLOUTED him....."ooops, better go hadnt I".....and in he popped, and after that happy to go off the other banks as well, and over the wee log off the bank.
Excellent couple of days for him; he learnt so much.
And VERY good to know that being off grass was the answer!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Bucking Bronco - 26.11.12
The Midget Ginga had been getting quietly more confident with his jumping, Saarin having jumped him and found him very obliging, and said that he never questioned, and she never doubted him.
However, the following week he just seemed to be a little less confident, more spooky at the jumps, and jumping with a lot more 'suspicion' (concerning as these were jumps he was used to jumping).
Then the next week, he seemed a little worse, including stopping at the jumps, even in the middle of a grid (depositing me in the process)
I was starting to get worried, as I could not understand why he would be going backwards - nothing had happened to dent his confidence (to my knowledge), and he should have been improving. His resistances were also getting a little worse.
Then the clincher.....
Get on, long stirrups, long reins, chatting away.......BOOM!!
Real bucking bronco stuff, back arched , grunts on each post four legged landing, to repeat, no slowing down, no diminishing, indeed each buck bigger than the last.....I think I lasted about three or four consecutive bucks (which I guess is not too bad considering I was not AT ALL expecting that!)
Had no idea what the problem could be.
Hindsight!! - he had also been getting very grumpy to handle, would just about eat you if you brushed him, and just putting the saddle on was a death wish.
Thanks to Kelsey for getting on him....at which there were the couple of staggery strides....and some stops at jumps, with google eyes.....hmmmm STAGGERS!!
Looking back through the riding diary, after the time Saarin jumped him, I had been away competing with Sampson, and so he had been given free access to grass (having been inside and off grass, or yarded off grass)....and the weekend before the bucking bronco escapade, as Saarin had been home, he also had his tape moved each day....even more tummy length grass!!
So, it was back OFF the grass again, and onto dirt patch with twice daily feeds plus hay.11
However, the following week he just seemed to be a little less confident, more spooky at the jumps, and jumping with a lot more 'suspicion' (concerning as these were jumps he was used to jumping).
Then the next week, he seemed a little worse, including stopping at the jumps, even in the middle of a grid (depositing me in the process)
I was starting to get worried, as I could not understand why he would be going backwards - nothing had happened to dent his confidence (to my knowledge), and he should have been improving. His resistances were also getting a little worse.
Then the clincher.....
Get on, long stirrups, long reins, chatting away.......BOOM!!
Real bucking bronco stuff, back arched , grunts on each post four legged landing, to repeat, no slowing down, no diminishing, indeed each buck bigger than the last.....I think I lasted about three or four consecutive bucks (which I guess is not too bad considering I was not AT ALL expecting that!)
Had no idea what the problem could be.
Hindsight!! - he had also been getting very grumpy to handle, would just about eat you if you brushed him, and just putting the saddle on was a death wish.
Thanks to Kelsey for getting on him....at which there were the couple of staggery strides....and some stops at jumps, with google eyes.....hmmmm STAGGERS!!
Looking back through the riding diary, after the time Saarin jumped him, I had been away competing with Sampson, and so he had been given free access to grass (having been inside and off grass, or yarded off grass)....and the weekend before the bucking bronco escapade, as Saarin had been home, he also had his tape moved each day....even more tummy length grass!!
So, it was back OFF the grass again, and onto dirt patch with twice daily feeds plus hay.11
Kihikihi Dressage / Show Jumping 20 Oct 12
Decided to take the wee guy to the Pony club dressage / show jumping/ show hunter / ribbon day.
The plan was to do a couple of dressage tests, and a couple of show jump rounds.
I entered for two prelim tests, and the 70 and 80 show jumping.
We did our 70 with just a couple of faults, one in which I turned a full circle (crossing my tracks) before presenting him to the double. As the steering was still not great, and it was a tightish turn from the previous jump, I preferred to get him straight to have every chance to see what he was doing.
He did argue a bit, but jumped confidently enough for me to be happy to take him in the 80 round.
However, unfortunately our dressage draw clashed terribly so he missed out on doing an 80cm round.
His dressage was somewhat less than desired, and he was resistant in both tests, particularly the second one, although didn't ACTUALLY do anything awful. He worked beautifully between the tests, and I think to be honest, that by the second test he had simply had enough.
However, he was very well behaved in general, and I'm sure will only improve with each outing.
I think the worse thing of the day was trying to get on him for his dressage....what a mission - he was awful, and wouldnt stand at all, but we did somehow get there in the end!
The plan was to do a couple of dressage tests, and a couple of show jump rounds.
I entered for two prelim tests, and the 70 and 80 show jumping.
We did our 70 with just a couple of faults, one in which I turned a full circle (crossing my tracks) before presenting him to the double. As the steering was still not great, and it was a tightish turn from the previous jump, I preferred to get him straight to have every chance to see what he was doing.
He did argue a bit, but jumped confidently enough for me to be happy to take him in the 80 round.
However, unfortunately our dressage draw clashed terribly so he missed out on doing an 80cm round.
His dressage was somewhat less than desired, and he was resistant in both tests, particularly the second one, although didn't ACTUALLY do anything awful. He worked beautifully between the tests, and I think to be honest, that by the second test he had simply had enough.
However, he was very well behaved in general, and I'm sure will only improve with each outing.
I think the worse thing of the day was trying to get on him for his dressage....what a mission - he was awful, and wouldnt stand at all, but we did somehow get there in the end!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Woodhill HT 7 October 2012
FIRST outing for the wee guy - first time ever in a dressage arena, first ever show jumping round, and first ever cross country.
No idea what to expect, and was very pleased that apart from getting a little strong in the trot (gets strong into the contact and stiffens through his back) he was exceptionally well behaved warming up for dressage. Unfortunately all his schooling went out the window, but that was to be expected with all that was going on. At home he has become very consistent in the contact, lovely and soft, and his transitions improving all the time.
However, he didnt seem at all concerned about the dressage arena, didnt really spook at the piping, although didnt want to go tooo close.
Obviously not too great a score, but very pleased with his behaviour, and to know that next time in an arena I can really 'ride' him, rather than sitting tentatively and 'babying' him.
Test L1 = 54.2%
Comments:
Shows some nice movements when allowed to move forward freely.
Tries hard but lack harmony
Onto the SHOW JUMPING...
Cute wee course, with enough fillers to make it interesting for him. He barely looked at the fillers and jumped a lovely wee round with just one rail when we got it completely wrong. Started off trotting round, but when he cantered I just allowed him to keep going, and he got better and better as we went around.
Again, his behaviour was exceptional for an off the tracker.
I feel that he now has a solid base and we can start carefully asking for more height.
CROSS COUNTRY
Again very well behaved warming up...of course got a little strong into the contact, but lots for a young lad to cope with and he was super.
I was really excited to see how he went, and it was a super little course with plenty of variety, although FAR too short. In actual fact he finished without even having sweated under the saddle - in spite of my large weight on him.
Was of course very looky and distracted by the people, trees, things etc...but was super over the jumps. He did get one stop, but only because he was spooking around a barrel immediately in front of the second jump and ended up side on to the jump...I felt I would rather re approach and let him see what he was doing and he happily popped over it.
He was VERY slow to get his feet wet in the water, but after that happily cantered around, popping over the jumps, although mud patches brought about a sudden braking! ... he also felt that the white wall was a bit scary to be cantering into, but never even backed off when trotting.
And flew the last jump beautifully.
Am hoping to take him out at pre training in a couple of weeks, and see how he copes.
No idea what to expect, and was very pleased that apart from getting a little strong in the trot (gets strong into the contact and stiffens through his back) he was exceptionally well behaved warming up for dressage. Unfortunately all his schooling went out the window, but that was to be expected with all that was going on. At home he has become very consistent in the contact, lovely and soft, and his transitions improving all the time.
However, he didnt seem at all concerned about the dressage arena, didnt really spook at the piping, although didnt want to go tooo close.
He did everything asked. It was a little confusing for him to be asked for a canter transition in the corner and it didnt happen until we had commenced our 20m circle when he clicked and went, "oh now I know what you want".
Obviously not too great a score, but very pleased with his behaviour, and to know that next time in an arena I can really 'ride' him, rather than sitting tentatively and 'babying' him.
Test L1 = 54.2%
Comments:
Shows some nice movements when allowed to move forward freely.
Tries hard but lack harmony
Onto the SHOW JUMPING...
Cute wee course, with enough fillers to make it interesting for him. He barely looked at the fillers and jumped a lovely wee round with just one rail when we got it completely wrong. Started off trotting round, but when he cantered I just allowed him to keep going, and he got better and better as we went around.
Again, his behaviour was exceptional for an off the tracker.
I feel that he now has a solid base and we can start carefully asking for more height.
CROSS COUNTRY
Again very well behaved warming up...of course got a little strong into the contact, but lots for a young lad to cope with and he was super.
I was really excited to see how he went, and it was a super little course with plenty of variety, although FAR too short. In actual fact he finished without even having sweated under the saddle - in spite of my large weight on him.
Was of course very looky and distracted by the people, trees, things etc...but was super over the jumps. He did get one stop, but only because he was spooking around a barrel immediately in front of the second jump and ended up side on to the jump...I felt I would rather re approach and let him see what he was doing and he happily popped over it.
He was VERY slow to get his feet wet in the water, but after that happily cantered around, popping over the jumps, although mud patches brought about a sudden braking! ... he also felt that the white wall was a bit scary to be cantering into, but never even backed off when trotting.
And flew the last jump beautifully.
Am hoping to take him out at pre training in a couple of weeks, and see how he copes.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Another Newbie
So Gina has
this 16.2 Chestnut 5 year old for sale....ok, lets go and have a look
Seems pretty quiet, and although I ride like a complete muppet, I felt happy enough for the wee lad to join our mob.
However, I did need to see pictures first to ensure that I wasnt going to totallly squish him, and look out of place on him....satisfied that he could cart my carcase around I picked him up.
Interestingly, Wilson t
hought he was a likeable chap, while Sampson was not so
However, Monday morning and my six year old wee niece, who has no experience of horses and is intimidated by the big boys, was happy to lead the new boy all around the place, and he was
the most polite of ponies with her. So Sasha I think approves of him.
Now for the long hard yards to develop this greenie into something which might come somewhere near (in time) to filling Wilson's shoes - a big ask!
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