So now I only need Mum to hold the Bill while I get on. And to help enforce my go aids. I'm a little reluctant to get after Bill about it at this point, but I'm really going to have to soon. The problem is she will come back at you, she is a tough little mare. She is also pretty slow to forget and I can't afford to pick a battle I can't win, so at this point I'm sort of just feeling her out. At least she is very relaxed about everything.
So I'm cruising around my ring, trotting by myself, with Mum on the ground acting to back up my aid for trot. Though I can hit her lightly with an open hand behind the saddle and she will go from that also. so by the end of this ride I was basically doing it all without ground assistance. She is still looking to stop, but I think she will just get better and better and more comfortable. When I remember how hard it was to get a single trot stride out of Connie, compared to what she is like now, I'm pretty confident I will get there.
Now of course we have a new issue. The more I do, the closer I get to having to leave my little security round pen and start facing the outside world, and I'm so not as brave as I used to be. So the closer I get to that, the more my enthusiasm wanes. I know that if I just get out there and go forward it wont be too much of an issue, but both Mum and my roundpen are my security blankets. I guess next time I need to make a concentrated effort even to just walk around outside the pen. Oh man I have a video of the trotting that I haven't uploaded yet but will, and my hands are abysmal. Blerk. Just moving way to much, it's horrendous. Not a good way to develop a young horse who trusts the contact. So I definitely need to work on that. She wants to work in the right shape which is nice, but she is still very downhill, so I suspect she is going to get a wee bit bigger. Sorry the last picture is sideways, but if you just kink your head over it will be the right way up. She is just having a piece of apple. Seriously though, what the hell is up with her sideways ears? She has the most mobile ears I have ever seen and this sideways donkey flop is pretty unusual.
Looks like she's still figuring out the rider thing, and is uncertain about whether you really want her to go forward - as you're consistent about how you ask she'll get it. Ah, the downhill thing - we had a mare that had to wear bell boots for several years or else she would step on herself - she's OK now! Perhaps when you go outside the first times you could have Mum with a lead on the halter just to be sure.
ReplyDeleteOh - One thing I forgot (sorry to monopolize your comments!) - ground driving - I've had great success with this for young horses or older horses in new situations. With a young or sensitive horse, I generally don't drive off the bridle but use a halter with some padding on the noseband instead. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteGreat progress on the trot work!! Keep up the deep breaths and just be brave or at least safe and brave!
ReplyDeleteI had a mare that had ears just like that! Have never seen ears like that since I owned her. All her pictures would be awesome except those goofy ears!
Go Bill! She looks like she's coming along really well, congrats!
ReplyDeleteHa thanks Kate, it is very good advice. She does ground drive pretty well but I should ground drive her out and about the place.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
ReplyDeleteYou'll have so much more fun when you get out of the yards and into the open - it is easier for a young horse to work in a straight line with a rider - so if you have a big paddock where you can just trot down a fenceline or something I'm sure you'll find the 'go' button is much easier to hit :)
she's a nice looking horse too - I bet you'll have lots of fun on her
Well, I *love* those ears. To me they are the ears of a horse that is happy and relaxed in herself. I occasionally glimpse them on my girl and it is wonderful to see.
ReplyDeleteHave a look at the video of Reiner Kilmke at the 1984 Olympics and see the wonderful floppy ears on his great horse Alerich. And all while doing Grand Prix dressage!
Thanks Perfk, I'm sure I'll be fine once I get going.
ReplyDeleteAnd Sharon that would be my favourite dressage video ever, Klimke was the most incredible rider. Still Bill has the floppy ears when she is relaxed but also holds them sidways and turned down when she is upset. It's odd.
so weird seeing someone on bill.. haha cant wait cant wait cant wait
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