He's cooked!
Radar is cooked right through to the middle. We have just done the farm ride, most of it twice , to give him a really hard workout and make sure he is fit enough to hunt next weekend. We have cantered down hills and around sharp corners and on uneven ground and moving between grass and sand/stone. He has learnt an awful lot about how to balance himself. He slipped once behind when he wasn't slowing down like I asked him to, and he almost said "ah, I understand, THAT's why you asked me to slow down". He was passed by people and he didn't even jog though it was clear he would have liked to go with them. He didn't even think about running out at any of the fences, though he did get a bit cocky a few times and take off very early, which was interesting to say the least :-% !
All we need to do now is simmer gently for five days and take him to the pre-season meet on Saturday and hope he behaves as well in a big group of horses as he did today. He is clearly a follower, not a leader - he makes no attempt to catch up other horses who are in front of him - so my fears of him wanting to overtake the Master are receding. I think he is going to be an awesome hunter when he's got some experience!
I watched the Totilas freestyle on uTube last night. The horse is enthralling. The ease with which he does phenomenal movements is unbelievable. His down transitions, from full extension in trot into a halt with no intervening stride in a smaller trot, for example, are extraordinary. BUT. I am unhappy about where dressage is going with this. Wonderful as he is, he is not natural. He is an extreme of selective breeding that I fear will end up like the worst of show dogs. In fact it may already have done so. I wonder just how many horses are not staying sound to his age, nine, and how much longer he himself will be able to go on producing such incredibly extravagent movement without getting arthritis or tendon strains. It just doesn't feel right to me, it feels as if we are heading for future international dressage competition to be full of genetically engineered freaks........
Off out to ride my own chestnut freak now.
C
posted by cptrayes @ 2:34 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Very interesting...Jane Tweedie has posted the same sentiment on her blog, after watching the dressage in person...Interesting comment by her OH as well (non-horsey) on how the horses looked...
Can you point me to her blog Nic?
A certain British trainer I know does not like the way he goes at all. The feeling is that he is not correctly engaged in the back end and all bottled up in front. Thus the extravagant front end and not big tracking up behind.
Been a bit of controvery on Chronicle of the Horse discussiou board about all of this. Seems there is a great divide in the dressage world at this point as to what is correct and what is not. It will be interesting to see how all this pans out.
I am still awed watching him go and I do agree about the transitions. Really quite amazing. And he is surprisingly relaxed. Notice how he exits the arena on a long loose rein.
Meanwhile, we all just muddle along, enjoying our horses for who they are. I am pleased to hear Radar behaved so well on the farm ride. Perhaps the worry of overtaking the Master will be put to rest? And perhaps is seems he will be able to manage the terrain just fine.
I just watched it, looks very impressive but it kind of...creeped me out, for want of a better way to explain it. Just seems so unnatural a way of going, i could sort of "feel" those extensions in my joints. Hmmmm. Never the less, incredible, it didn't look like he was being forced into it as some do.
Excellent about Radar the star hunter-in-the-making. I'll bet you had a big grin on your face after that!
x
on the ability of young dressage horses to keep going - these days, you pay a premium to do dressage above medium, apparently; that has to tell you something, since dressage correctly understood should, of course, ensure that the horse as the physical strength not to be injured .. as a result of a lengthy training! i think they're all out far too early, myself.
someone else pointed out that he only did a relaxed walk on the way out of the arena! when he was finally allowed to! he's supposed to do that IN the arena as well!
I think once he has been out a few times he will understand how to manage himself Jean, he is learning fast now.
Grin is still there Sarah :-)
Do you know they compete three year olds competitively at Affiliated Prelim level Claire?
Elementary and above puts up your insurance premiums.....its shocking!
It's just a reflection of the risk of paying out on vet bills. The risk is higher, so the premium goes up. Easy solution - don't buy insurance :-)))
ps this is a joke, it is not recommended for the one horse owner to be uninsured unless you also happen to be very rich indeed!
C
Don't worry Caroline; I won't make Tetley go like Totilas :-)
BD rules say " horses must be four years old or over in order to compete ".
I was amazed too, but thought his hock action was good, he was really stepping under, and he also looked very pleased with himself. I was wondering where they go with a 9 year old now, since presumably he is aiming at the Olympics in 2012 and if he is getting 9s now - well!
I was interested in his extended trot, as I had seen a bit of this when watching Carl Hester's demo at last years Your Horse Live and though I hadn't seen anything like it before - except with the Morgan horses. Although the Morgans tend to up and down rather than reach outwards.
Glad Radar is being a good boy and sounds sensible in company. Trouble is they are sometimes good to start with and then more excited as they realise what it is all about.
But maybe all my hunters have been lunatics. A good hunter is a real pleasure.
Anon on the continent they have affiliated competitive THREE year old classes.
ML I am still laughing. If only!
Judith second time out is always the one to watch out for, isn't it??? Should be fun :-))))))!!
N, yes of course.
C
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