Whoaaa ohhhhhhh oooaaaaa
That was hairy :-) !!! I took Radar up onto a local hilltop to do some canter work. He has really only cantered on flat ground, and this was bumpy, and on straight lines, and we needed to circle. In addition "home", the favourite direction of most horses, was down a very, very steep hill. To start with I really had very little control. He was all over the place and running faster and faster as he lost balance. I tried to swing him to slow him down but he panicked and ran even faster. The saddle was slipping, he was twisting about and pulling very hard and for a moment I thought my life was going to flash before my eyes :-00000
I managed to stop him and did the girth up as tight as I could wrench it. I put him on a smaller circle and held on tight. On the left rein he did about five minutes, maybe more I wasn't exactly in a position to look at my watch!, and then tired. After he got his initial steam out of his system it was really quite nice canter on difficult ground.
Round the other way was a nightmare to start with. First he kept taking the wrong lead and nearly falling over because he was then on a pronounced "adverse camber". Then he took the correct lead but ran for it and the only way I could stop him was to turn him the wrong way, risking him falling flat on his face. Finally he got the idea, took the correct lead, realised that he needed to keep his bum directly behind him and his hind legs under him, and did a few minutes canter circles. He learnt an AWFUL lot from those few minutes.
Back at home, as I took him through the gate onto the yard the little Butterbomb ran between his legs and straight into the barn like a furry little cannonball! He is so motivated to get food right now that he's getting quite a devious little devil. Can't help laughing at his antics though.
Jazz has done two runthroughs of his test and then practised a bit of medium. He now has two completely different working trots. The first is his natural bouncing pace, but the second is something else again! He switches into another gear and punches up off the floor with huge energy. It feels brilliant, like the horses I saw at the Nationals. I'm looking forward to seeing it on video.
C
posted by cptrayes @ 3:49 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Oh, my goodness...and you want to take him hunting in a month or so??? Or less??? Would it help to take him out on a lunge line or something and work him on the hills and uneven terrain? Ironically, he almost sounds as if he has no clue sometimes. Does he do all right frolicking around your hilly pastures on his own? Glad you stuck with him, although that instant replay of your life must have been interesting. Anything special you'd like to reveal? *G*
Super feeling when the horse "gets" the lengthening. PJ had an awesome one, but only gave it a few times in the arena. Out on hacks, though...wow! It's as if they go into another gearing or something. Wonder if a whole different set of muscles go to work?
Now, remember at the show...it's kind of like when "Ms. Yellowtights" came before you. You kept a straight face while laughing inside. Picture her in the judge's booth and everyone else around as....well, maybe her live in? You've been picturing yourself as "Ms. Yellowtights" in the past when you show, so just shift it around and sit on the bench instead.
Honestly, the only person really worthy of judging your own performance is you. Everyone else has absolutely no idea how far you've come.
It does feel like a whole different set of muscles, doesn't it? He's not even in true medium yet, but it feels amazing.
Radar will be fine out hunting - mostly straight lines, certainly no circles.
C
Post a Comment
<< Home