He's a dark horse!
Radar hid his light under a bushel when we went to buy him. This lollopy great thing clearly now has paces that would do justice to a dressage horse! As Jean pointed out, he is already balanced off his forehand, and as soon as he flexes, he lifts into a powerful trot that just needs more training to be very nice indeed. He is sharp off the leg too, which is an absolute first for me in a horse with this little schooling under his belt. At this rate, if he jumps too, he is going to be putting Jazz completely in the shade.
Not that he can string more than two or three strides together at the moment :-) And sticking to the track is a major challenge. And 20 metre "circle" does not quiiiiiiiite describe the complex geometric shape that he is making when we try! But it's all there to come out, you can feel it.
He's a bit of a devil to get on - it took about five minutes of following him with the mounting block, putting it down, standing on it, getting off and moving it again to where he had moved to. Finally he realised that it was going to follow him all day if necessary, and stood still so that I could get on.
But after only ten days he is making terrific progress.
I rode Zippy too, and my campaign of not allowing him a moment's inattention is paying off handsomely. He settled quickly today and then did some good trot and a couple of the best canter transitions he has ever done. I made the mistake of riding him first, and after that Radar felt absolutely dreadful for a few strides!
Jazz has the day off, which he cares not one jot about as long as I give him a cuddle. And cuddles for Butkins too of course :-) Radar also loves a cuddle and a kiss on the nose. Life's one big cuddle these days!!
C.
ps with his shoes off and his feet half an inch shorter too, Radar has "shrunk" to 16.3hh. As his shoulder cradle develops he will probably make 17 hands. At present, he has no shape to the withers to make the saddle stay in place, and it wobbles about badly when I ride, because he throws his own weight here there and everywhere.
posted by cptrayes @ 2:30 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
You poor dear (*G*), you just can't seem to stop buying dressage horses, can you? Who woulda thunk???
I have a good feeling, though with his breeding, that he is going to want to jump, unlike certain chestnuts we know. I think you truly have bought a diamond in the rough.
Riding Zip first is a bit of mistake, especially since he has mastered the concept of a circle. And, I'd wager they feel quite different at the moment so it's like driving a Ferrari and a Lorry--or one of those double decker sightseeing buses!
Still, all the potential is there and I think you are the rider to bring it out.
The cuddles are nice, regardless. And think, you can go from giving them on your knees to standing on tiptoes. *lol*
He looks much more impressive in your ridden pics you obviously have a keen eye for a good horse!
This is going to be a great journey to follow...
Oh I do hope that you are both right! The signs are as good as I have ever felt with a horse. He's just such a solid character with a solid body and seems so uncomplicated. Keep all those fingers crossed.
C
Quite like driving a supermarket trolley with a wobbly wheel at the moment Jean :-))
C
that is one heck of a 'hoss!
hey ......... if Zip was smaller (and less £££!) he couldve come and lived with me! :)
Ann
I still like him loads. How on earth does he manage to make you look like a jockey on him, you're kidding us aren't you, he's really 18HH isn't he?
Keep up the good work
Tracey B
I have Zip on at £7,500 now and have quite a lot of interest already. I am showing him tomorrow to a girl who competes advanced and wants a youngster to bring on. Fingers crossed!
Tracey he's shrunk! And I'm riding very short for security. He throws me everywhere otherwise!
Glad you like him.
C
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