Oh Jazz!
Jazz was in a "funny" mood today and it wasn't "amusing" funny! He warmed up in walk and trot in a long low outline. He did canter to the left. But then when I tried canter right he would not drop his head and hold his balance. He was pulling at my hands. After a couple of attempts he left the arena and cantered around into the croft. I had a little chat with SH who was working there on the gate, and surprised to see me. Then I took him back to the arena. Just as we were about to go through the gateway, he spun and took me back to the croft again. When he did it a second time, (the third time we had ended up back in the croft), I gave up and put a pelham on him.
He went onto the arena and I got up. He left the arena in spite of me telling him not to. I hauled him to a halt, turned him around and made him go back on. He tried to leave again and again I hauled him back from the gateway. Then he gave in. Did some fabulous canter right, immediately. Now what was hard about that Jazz?
If he carries this on this summer I shall put a double bridle on him and stop the fight. A curb works every time and he is a joy to ride in one. He can compete elementary in a double, and has to compete in a double above advanced, so we may as well go straight to a double.
We finished on flying changes on both reins. Counter canter for half the side and one bend, bent in the direction of the circle (boy does that get him bouncing or what!) and a change half way up the other side. Brilliant. Bang on the aid. Changing behind first for the first time ever, onto the right rein. One or two kick-backs, but some real decent efforts on each rein, right when it was asked for. Progress indeed!
Radar had also made progress. He learned yesterday how to hold his head and neck rounded in the trot, but he has also learned how to fake it!! Today, it wasn't genuine and he was stiff, stilted and short-striding even though his head was in "the right" place. I did the same as yesterday, taking trot and stopping as soon as the shape was dropped, but it wasn't nearly as succesful today. So out of curiosity, I put him in shoulder in. I expected him to fall over his own feet, but to my surprise, it worked! I was really shocked - he got a decent shoulder in, in trot, to the left, and a shoulder-fore to the right. And he followed each of those with some balanced and rythmic trot in a decent balance. Good boy Radar!
C
posted by cptrayes @ 7:04 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
No fun when Jazz takes charge. The double is a good idea. As long as you can compete in it, why not? Wonder what in the world he was up to??
Good news about the changes! I am far behind at this point, but that's OK. Tucker will get them sooner or later.
We too often think of the schooling exercises as something to teach--such as shoulder in. But their purpose is to teach and supple the horse, so using them to fix other problems instead of exercises in isolation is an excellent idea. I would think Radar would benefit a lot from shoulder-in and haunches in to supple up both ends. Glad it worked so well!
Oooh but I'm tense today! No way I'm getting on a horse, we'll end up in a pickle if I do!
The vet is messing me around and has put the vetting back to 12.30. Since we are supposed to take him to the hospital for x-rays if the vet wants some, then we would be getting short of time if he turns up at all late. And they are delaying so they can do an operation tomorrow, so anything could happen. Instead, I have arranged to take him there for 12.30. That will keep me busy from 10.30, getting him ready and getting him there, which is much better for me than hanging about biting my nails! They only have a grass paddock for him to be eercised in, but that's OK,the vet isn't checking h how wonderful his paces are, only that he's sound.
My next posting should be about how he passed with flying colours ..... or what he failed on!!!
C
OK, I'm nervous too. Considering what Stacie and my trainer have been trough with vettings, I too am paranoid.
We KNOW Zip is sound and healthy. We KNOW it!!
Wishing you well tomorrow......*hugs*
ooooooooooooohhhhh you are so nnot going to sleep tonight!
Make sure you let us all know the moment you get back home!
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