Troublemaker!
I did something with Jazz today that I have never dared do before. I rode him when Zippy was already turned out (with George). Zippy was definitely the ringleader as the two of them pranced up and down the side of the arena trying to provoke Jazz into misbehaviour. I have to say that in the face of such extreme provocation Jazz behaved very well indeed. You couldn't exactly call him focussed, but he didn't try and go through the fence and join them, though you could tell he was bursting to do just that! There was this conversation going on between them:
- come on!!! Come and PLAY!
- I caaaaaan't, I'm wor-king.
- Oh go on, don't be such a spoilsport, come and PLAY!!
- Oh I caaaan't, she'll get cross with me, I have to wooooork.
I'm really very pleased with him, he knew what he wanted to do, but he knew he had to do what I wanted him to do. I think it's really positive behaviour from him. We did actually get to do some lengthened strides, but he is struggling to do more than a basic increase from short to longer. I have come to the conclusion that he can't understand what he's capable of in a 40m space. I think I need to get him out on a field where there is a lot more room to send him on, until he realises that he can release his shoulders and really punch away with his front end. That will be one of our summer projects, get Jazz extending. Flying change and simple change are the other major targets.
I had already ridden George, and he is learning well. He is very confused by bending in two directions. He can work out one, but then if you change he is all bent the wrong way and doesn't know how to turn himself "inside out". So serpentines were a real problem for him! We worked on them for a while and suddenly he clicked that he needed to keep his back unlocked in order to keep on changing the bend. Trot left was brilliant for day two of asking for flexion. Trot right needed me to sit and hold the outside rein before he stopped falling in. He panics when he falls in an loses his balance, so it's not always straightforward, but he does try hard. He ended up with a very respectable right trot for one side, so we stopped.
I have another possible name, bearing in mind that Jet is a black gemstone - "Jetset George". What do you think?
C
posted by cptrayes @ 3:23 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Jetset George is kind of cute. I am beginning to like George, actually, so that works for me.
Good boy, Jazz. I've had a ride like that on Tucker with a certain Chance bolting around outside the ring. It's actually good for them as those kinds of distractions will certainly show up at events.
The larger area should help Jazz. The trick will be getting him to translate that back into the arena. That's where my PJ had problems. Out in the field his extension was breathtaking, but he had trouble believing he could do it in the dressage arena.
George and Chance need to discuss this bending thing. Chance still needs remedial work on going to the right, but he is getting better about changing from one side to the other. Figure eights are really good for that along with those serpentines.
Glad you have footing to ride on. The snow is melting here into muck. I am not even sure the trails would be safe to hack.
Jetset just on its own would be good!
and well done Jazz in the face of provocation - it is scary to know what they might do, isn't it? excellent!
Jetset by itself is gone. So is Jetstream. George just suits him so much and has stuck so well since he arrived, that I'd quite like to use it.
C
No work for anyone today except me. Anyone out there who owns a Peugot 307 might like to know that they need more security. I had a thief in court today admitting guilt to over 300 thefts from Peugot 207's and no other type of car. They are apparently easy to open with a flat bladed screwdriver in the driver's door lock, also conveniently overriding the alarm system. Just though you'd like to know!!
C
well, I've a 206 and two separate bunglers have only been able to get in by smashing a window (on the old one, not the current one...)
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