Rocket Fuel
Blimey. I gave Jazz 300ml of Tesco's economy rapeseed oil yesterday evening, in a feed one kilo less than his normal quantity of food. This morning, he was bubbling over with energy. Bouncing all over the place. I was so glad that I had a pelham on him. The only thing that I have changed is the food, so let's hope we can keep this level of energy because it was so much nicer to be almost run away with than to feel he just didn't want to bother working :-)
He flung himself over the cross pole with gay abandon on the first approach. Then decided that the grit surface was too much hard work and stopped at it as a small straight bar. I got him really pushing forwards and then he did it, but quite badly. He seems to hate the effort of jumping from the grit as much as Tia did. The third attempt was a lot better and we stopped. If we can keep up his energy levels then I think that daily repetition might get it into his brain some time.
Zippy was a bit flighty again for the bridle, but nowhere near as bad as he has been the last two days. We went saddle-less into the school for a leading lesson, and then I stood on the box, fed him from my hand, then leaned over his back and took my feet off the box. He was rock steady. Just as soon as he sees SH as a friend not a foe, I'll sit on him. While he was eating today, SH stood at the door and Zippy took some food from the bucket and then came to the door for a sniff, alternately, so he is making progress.
C
posted by cptrayes @ 3:35 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Bless Zippy couldnt you just throttle the person that has done this to him and all the same he will allow you over his back and put himself in a vunerable position.
Just please be careful when you put your leg over and sit up, it's amazing how many youngsters flip when they can see someone higher up onto their back, SH will have to be definately friend not foe when you come to do that job.
Good news about Jazz though he may still be little bit tired he's a big horse and may just be still growing mentally as well as physically even if it isn't apparent visually. At least the travelling is making progress, half the battle is getting them out and about if you can do that calmly then your well on your way.
By the way how on earth did you have the time to do four horses these two seem to keep you busy full time x
Anne
good progress all round, excellent.
caroline, the sit tights are in fact glue tight - whole new meaning is given to sticky bum...
I think the daily repetition of jumping is a good idea. My own horse is a not a natural jumper at all and I am a nervous wreck, but last summer a tree had blown over and I popped him over it every time I schooled him. (About 18"). At first he always stopped, but in the end he got used to doing it. Also when my daughter was home in the holdiays she jumped him nearly every day, although he seemed surprised to be asked every time and nearly always tried to stop at the first jump. These were very small jumps as I didn't want to do more than 2' 3" and my daughter isn't the best rider as she never had much practice, but she isn't nervous of jumping. So practice certainly did bring about a lot of improvement, so much that I did a 2' 3" Trec course later in the summer. Altough at the event he did stop at the practice log, which was on the ground! In contrast my partner's horse was a little cob that said "Whee, a jump, let's go ........"
Judith
Anne the growth is very apparent physically. Jazz is bulking up hugely with his work! I must get a photo of the muscles soon :-)
I didn't really "do" four horses. They lived in a barn together at night so I only picked up poo and not wet bed in the morning. I rode Jazz most days, Tetley every other day, sold Tia before Tetley started working and ignored Zippy, except for de-rugging and foot picking daily, for five weeks. And of course I don't have to work, being a lucky devil. It's nice to be down to two though.
Claire, sit tights???? have you been drinking? :-)
Judith I'm glad that it worked for you. I think it will work for us too, from the travelling experience, he is obviously a creature who learns by repetition.
And he's a fantastic experience for me - I've never met a horse like him!
C
Rocket fuel, that's a great description for those of us unknowledgeable about horse. I can picture his very clearly....
I'll be quick, sick all day with some kind of head/stomach thingie.
"Mom Lecture" Don't play around with the pelham chain/strap. Remember the past and learn by it.
Good progress. Now if can just get the vertical first time over, you will surely be on a roll.
Hi James! I'm glad you liked it.
Jean I do hope you are better soon, that sounds awful. I feel that I have to try teh leather curb when we are jumping, because he is defintely scared of being caught in the mouth if he does a wild jump. So I need to reduce that as much as possible. In an arena, and indeed on the farm ride, the leather curb was fine. I shall continue to hack him in a chain, because when I'm out on a hack I don't hold his mouth anyway unless he does something stupid. He has improved his controllability remarkably and it seems only fair to reward him for it if I can. The chain's in my pocket though, never far away!!
I've been in court all day today and still have to go and do a short session on Jazz. I have an offer of a refund on my entry fee for Bradwall if I give up my place to someone on the wait list, so I might do that if he doesn't jump brilliantly when we go training on a full course tomorrow.
C
C
kerrit sit tights - the american sticky bums that jean was talking about a few weeks ago ...
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