Oh Jazz, For Goodness Sake!
Tee hee. Nothing quite went to plan today. He loaded fine. He travelled well as long as I stayed within four feet. This is three feet further away than he used to be happy with, so solid progress.
We got there and he was fine and quite calm. He was very bouncy in the warm-up but sane and manageable and he was popping the little fences really well. Then we went into the arena proper, which is where we did our training on Friday last week so well. The jumps were all the same ones as he jumped last week. And some of them were even in exactly the same places. But there were people where there weren't any last week. There were horses in the collecting ring where there weren't any last week. There were horses answering when he called which there weren't last week. And boy did it show!
He did consent to do one round, though not without stopping first at all but one fence, and refusing point blank to jump another one at all. We gave him a break for a while walking round out in the warm-up area before taking him back in. I fully expected him to pop around happily this time. Nope, none of it, even worse than the first time, including some amazingly stupid wild leaps of four or five feet over a two foot six fence. I gave him a wallop after refusing a third time at fence four, a tiny innoccuous upright. Then called it quits and insisted that he jump fence nine which was practically in the way of the exit.
We took him outside to the outdoor warm-up where he hadn't ever been. There were loads of distractions, other horses and the whole of the lorry park comings and going to stare at. And we worked him in there until he had got his brain straight and agreed to jump again. Which in the end he did really nicely. He took two attempts to load, refusing and backing off the first time, but in straight away the second, so that was a relief.
So it wasn't the result I had expected. Certainly not what I had hoped for. It just emphasised what a complete baby he is and how he needs to get out and about now and do a lot more little competitions with loads of distractions. There's no point training him anywhere quiet, because he is brilliant in a quiet place, so I'll be looking for the busy little local shows. There's one close by on Friday but I'm not sure Superhubby can stand it that soon!
Tia is very well and trotted in from the field sound on the concrete. I hope to get to give her some work tomorrow, she's been rather neglected again the last few days.
C
posted by cptrayes @ 5:40 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
There is absolutely nothing that can quite compare with a baby horse! The problem is, you have aboslutlely no idea how they will ultimately behave in public. All the schooling at home means nothing once you go out into the real world. All it can do is, hopefully, give you the tools to get through whatever happens with relative safety.
So sorry Jazz was naughty, but you certainly don't seem too upset. At least he didn't pull the stunts Tucker did to me with the horrible bucking.
Grand about the loading and traveling, though, so that seems to be sorted out.
As you say, it's just going to take time and experience. The more you can get him out before the real competition season starts the better. As long as you can cope with his antics, you will do just fine.
What a silly boy! And yet, what a baby. To think a critter with his size and power would be so insecure....Yeah, I ought to talk. I own 16.3hands of totally insecure Thoroughbred myself.*G*
oh dear!
he'll get there. next time will be better.
have i suggested, try a mirror?
oh well thats one to chalk up to experience.....it could have gone either way. Still probably good toget that out of the way.
I remember Korskie's first time out XC he stopped at every fence, the next time out he won, and won consistantly after that.
No I'm not upset Jean, I knew what I was taking on buying a baby even if this was a first one on me! I've never had a horse that trained so well and then fell apart in a competition environment, so it's a new experience. One I could do without but it's nothing to cry over. I am, like you say, grateful that he doesn't try and dump me, because that would be a lot worse. I was congratulated on not falling off with his extreme jumping though!
Claire I had mirrors. He smashed them into tiny pieces with his forefeet :-)
You give me hope Mandeigh!
C
ps they were acrylic safety mirrors too - he meant it!!!
As I said, it's just going to take time and experience. When you think about it he has really changed quickly about the loading and traveling. Once he begins to realize things aren't going to hurt him, he'll be fine.
Every baby is different. But "baby" is the operative word. All of that training can never change his age. *G*
You are so right Jean. On top of that, of all the babies I've ever done he is the very babiest of the lot emotionally and mentally. I was warned that Dutch warmbloods were like this and now I know what people meant.
He has made such progress though, and I have still only had him just over 2 months. He was a thrill to ride again today.
C
Hi Caroline! Just wanted to wish you, SH and lovely horses, cats and the big tiger a lovely christmas (bit late I know) and I hope 2007 is fabulous for you. Can I come see your lovely red and white horse in the new year? I am absolutely dying to see him. I also want to hear more on the possibility of a new aquisition?! Wishing you all the love, luck, health and happiness in the world, the same goes to everyone on here. Well done with Jazz so far, you're doing a great job!
"Can I come see your lovely red and white horse in the new year? "
Yes! I wish you would. I need you to come and ride him so that you can tell all these people reading that I am not going off my rocker when I keep saying how wonderful he is. My diary is in better shape than yours, name your day!
C
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