Relaxed today.
Jazz and I had a lovely long-rein relaxing hack today. I can hardly believe that at this time last year I was crying in frustration and unable to get him down the hill away from home without a right ding-dong dangerous battle. I don't even have to watch out for him spinning any more, the most he ever does is stop. Whipping around seems to be a thing of the past, as is climbing banks, as long as we don't go to Buxter Stoops, which he still hates because of the building work going on there.
I gave Radar another day off, I really don't feel he needs the work after being ridden for four hours on Saturday. I must get you a picture of his legs, there is an amazing network of lines of hair loss from the wire :-00000
My guess that the curb chain was hurting and frightening him seems to have been borne out. I checked when I got home and found nothing, but this morning a whole strip of hair and dead skin has peeled off from where the chain was hurting him. No wonder he is happier in a stirrup leather curb.
I am extremely happy about the way things went yesterday. He felt like a different horse from Saturday, but not only that, he felt like a different horse from the last time he was allowed to gallop alone on that field. I really am looking forward to going out again on Saturday. The opening meet - hounds, plaits and red coats for the first time!
I hope it doesn't rain, but it is so important to get him more exposure to horses in bulk that we'll be going anyway.
C
posted by cptrayes @ 3:21 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Live and learn. Hindsight is always the greatest teacher--speaking of the curb chain, of course. Lucky all Radar has are scratches on his legs...whew!
And Jazz! Now that he has found his calling in life as a big time dressage horse, he is happy. How wonderful to be able to hack him out with such relaxation. Good for him and even better for you.
Now, see how good blogging is? You can look back on the "bad old days" and treasure the new good days even more.
Good progress, and fantastic luck that the friend was there yesterday to test Radar's control in the new combination. Lovely to hear how well Jazz is doing too. Enjoy the lovely weather this weekend on the hunt, what a treat.
Tracey B
It was a "meant to be" moment when she turned up Tracey. I couldn't have been more pleased to see Father Christmas!
20-20 hindsight - It's a wonderful thing! The curb, the martingale, the double reins .... we'd have had a grand day if I'd only known!
C
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