Not ridden in a few days, but back in the School with Remy this morning.
It's been windy for a few days too and today was no different. It's not the best weather to school a youngster (or any horse for that matter), but Remy, apart from wanting to keep his eye on the little wood, was pretty attentive.
I started with a little lunge session, I've been doing this recently just to warm him up and get him bending and relaxing. It's an M de J kind of session, first at walk asking for relaxation and even bend and then at trot trying to keep the same looseness and relaxation. There's not much power there, in fact it's quite a slow, underpowered trot, but it's working for Remy as he's starting to stretch and let go.
When I got on he was soft in his mouth immediately and we did some walk work including shoulder-in to counter shoulder-in on the circle, shoulder-in down the long side, a little travers and some reinback.
We then worked on trot transitions, some were good, some not so good, but all were responsive and we're heading in the right direction.
I've also been thinking about his saddle. I'm using it with a high wither suber pad, ensuring distribution of weight and that it won't cause him any problem, but I would really like to have a good saddle fitter to come and assess him. That may be easier said than done here in france, but I'll look into it. Having high withers and a curvy back will, I think, make him tricky to fit and I want to get it right.
I'm quite tempted by the new Heather Moffett flexible tree saddle, I'd just like to be able to try one first.
My Life, My Horses and My Attempts to Train the Classical Way
Showing posts with label Suber Pad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suber Pad. Show all posts
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Super Suber
I've gone back to basics and for the last few days I've been working with Anky in the stables, simply asking for a release and relaxation of the jaw from an upward, gently vibrating rein on the corners of her lips. She's guarded, and you can feel the tension in her lips, but we've been making some progress.
Today I took her up to the school and we had the same session in-hand. It seemed like suddenly it clicked, but I know that she's been mulling it over and coming round to it for the last few days and has now decided that it's ok and she can do it. She released, relaxed and stretched her head and neck down to the ground. A modest start, but I'm hoping that this will be the start of work with less tension and more relaxation mentally and physically. After this short session, I sat on, asked for the release down whilst onboard and then rode her back home down the lane and I don't think I imagined the lighter, more relaxed feel in the rein.
I tried the Suber Pad under the saddle and even though it looks bulky, it doesn't feel that way. In fact, it felt very good.
A short session with Remy on the yard, working on the same thing, relaxation of the jaw, followed by stretching the head and neck and taking the rein down. He's quite happy with it all and doesn't have any reservations like his mum. I just have to try to keep his attention as he's so easily distracted, but he's learning to listen and wait quietly for my signals. The swelling under his knee seems to have settled so I'll start taking him in the school again.
Another short session for Bonbon with the bridle, she's settled with it now, holds the bit nicely and relaxes her jaw when I lightly vibrate the ring.
Today I took her up to the school and we had the same session in-hand. It seemed like suddenly it clicked, but I know that she's been mulling it over and coming round to it for the last few days and has now decided that it's ok and she can do it. She released, relaxed and stretched her head and neck down to the ground. A modest start, but I'm hoping that this will be the start of work with less tension and more relaxation mentally and physically. After this short session, I sat on, asked for the release down whilst onboard and then rode her back home down the lane and I don't think I imagined the lighter, more relaxed feel in the rein.
I tried the Suber Pad under the saddle and even though it looks bulky, it doesn't feel that way. In fact, it felt very good.
A short session with Remy on the yard, working on the same thing, relaxation of the jaw, followed by stretching the head and neck and taking the rein down. He's quite happy with it all and doesn't have any reservations like his mum. I just have to try to keep his attention as he's so easily distracted, but he's learning to listen and wait quietly for my signals. The swelling under his knee seems to have settled so I'll start taking him in the school again.
Another short session for Bonbon with the bridle, she's settled with it now, holds the bit nicely and relaxes her jaw when I lightly vibrate the ring.
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Twilight Zone
It's been a funny weekend. Yesterday was so hot it was unbearable outside (for me, anyway,). Today, I awoke to faint rumblings of thunder and a bright, luminous, really weird, almost green light shining into the bedroom. I went to bring the horses in and they were very edgy, expectant of the impending storm. It started to rain just as we'd finished getting them into the stables.
The last few days I've been continuing my sessions with Anky, asking for a release to the bit. It takes lots (and I mean, lots) of patience and I do believe Anky is teaching me well. I think we're making progress though, we'll continue and we'll see.
The Suber Pad has arrived, so, hopefully tomorrow we'll have chance to test it out. I've tried it on Remy's back and the saddle seems to sit well.
We've also introduced Bonbon to the bridle over the last few days and, as expected, she accepted it with her usual grace. :-)
Couldn't stop Jim taking pics.
He said he couldn't resist taking this one of the 'big fat arse' - Bonbon's I hope!
The last few days I've been continuing my sessions with Anky, asking for a release to the bit. It takes lots (and I mean, lots) of patience and I do believe Anky is teaching me well. I think we're making progress though, we'll continue and we'll see.
The Suber Pad has arrived, so, hopefully tomorrow we'll have chance to test it out. I've tried it on Remy's back and the saddle seems to sit well.
We've also introduced Bonbon to the bridle over the last few days and, as expected, she accepted it with her usual grace. :-)
Couldn't stop Jim taking pics.
He said he couldn't resist taking this one of the 'big fat arse' - Bonbon's I hope!
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Acceptance
Continuing from yesterday, I took Anky in the school. She is in season and, in complete contrast to yesterday, she was very spooky. She spooked and spun round twice before I even got her through the drive gate. We continued up to the school and I dismounted for a short lungeing session. She relaxed a little and when I got back on she was pretty calm.
It's very basic work in walk, asking for softness,relaxation and bend. Today was a huge positive as we started the session where we left off yesterday with her soft and accepting. It felt good.
By the time I'd finished it was red hot so instead of a session in the school, I took Remy onto the yard to the mounting block and sat on for a few minutes, asking for bend left and right, walk on and halt. I tried the Suber pad under the saddle and I think it's going to work. He was a good boy.
It's very basic work in walk, asking for softness,relaxation and bend. Today was a huge positive as we started the session where we left off yesterday with her soft and accepting. It felt good.
By the time I'd finished it was red hot so instead of a session in the school, I took Remy onto the yard to the mounting block and sat on for a few minutes, asking for bend left and right, walk on and halt. I tried the Suber pad under the saddle and I think it's going to work. He was a good boy.
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