Hello, all! I'm glad to see a few more of you posting your introductions and rides. This is exciting!
Yesterday (on Pro's birthday) I split my ride with Andrea, the other graduate student who rides him 2x/week. I'm SO fortunate to have such a wonderful lease person riding him, and she takes lessons with my trainer so it's even better! It was really helpful to watch her ride and share tips/tricks/hints face to face as we rode. Pro felt great. My dear sweet boyfriend, Erik, graciously took some more pictures.
Today I went back out and began my ride by hand-walking (briefly) over by his trouble spots - the infamous Bunny Tree and the jump poles by the side of the arena. Yes, we've been here since September. Yes, he still tries to pull crap in these saaaame spots. Car roaring down the road? Geese chasing him? Neighbor's dog snarling at him? Nah, not a problem. Inanimate jump poles that have been there for months? OOOOH, SCARY.
However, he was super!! I'm still astounded at his progress. There have been days when I've seriously contemplated driving out to I-40 and dumping him on the highway to fend for himself. But thanks to Gayle, I have a COMPLETELY different horse. I never thought I'd gain control of that squiggly neck or get rid of that BULKY underneck. And yet now, not only has he submitted his head, the underneck is mostly gone, he's developing a beautiful topline...Gayle's rebalanced his feet 100% so he moves better and has developed a super butt and back. I mean, check out that cantering picture. BALANCE! Pro! Finally!Tonight was one of those rides where he felt light, responsive, and eager. Not easy - not for a second - I have to stay right on top of him (watch those ears like a hawk for any signs of ADHD) and adjust constantly. He's always testing...asking if he can throw his HQ's one way or the other, asking if he can tilt his head to look for something spooky, asking if he can drop his balance forward, ask for any evasion. Simply to keep him forward, rhythmic, and straight is a huge commitment to FOCUS...intense focus. But I'm finally seeing the payoffs.
I won't lie - my grand goal is Grand Prix. Yup, I said it. My 16yo Arab...I want to go Grand Prix. With him. I don't care if he's 30 when we get there. Heck, maybe he'll be a bit more QUIET when he's 30!!! Gayle told me yesterday that she's never had a horse where her work didn't pay off. She assured me that he will return my work in full, someday.
I'm posting this (ugh) picture from last summer - check out the complete morph his body has undergone. Check out that underneck, GROSS! Look at the lack of butt!!! So when I get discouraged, I remind myself that he looked like this only a year ago. If that's how much progress I can make between September and May (my time with Gayle), imagine two years. Three. Ten. I feel like we can do it!!!! And with tonight's ride, it felt within reach. Someday. I can do this! Gayle said we'll be ready to (correctly) (re)introduce lateral work in our next lesson. Grand Prix...here we come!!! ;)Alright now...there are some hot and humid days coming up in the future. Temptation to chill out inside with the AC is going to get bad!!! Let's keep motivated! :)
-Kate & Pro
11 comments:
WOW what a change!! I actually have some pics of Pro on my computer. haha
There is nothing wrong with your goal. Why can't you do Grand Prix with Pro? Its a great challenge and a good goal. Just think, it'll give him more to think about.
You guys look GREAT!!
WOW Kate! Are you sure that's the same horse? You didn't pull a fast one on us did you? Or photo shop or something? What a difference!
You guys really do look awesome!
"Alright now...there are some hot and humid days coming up in the future. Temptation to chill out inside with the AC is going to get bad!!! Let's keep motivated!" :)
You said it right there! Get on my case! Yes, I'm asking for it! :)
Kate, seeing the before and after pictures are amazing!!! Wow, he looks great. That ewe neck is gone.
You could totally ride at Grand Prix, Pro just needs more despooking (like making the dressage letters and rails fall over, lol).
I love the pics, they are just great!
SAME horse! He's also had an attitude transplant which isn't quite as visible in pictures. ;) I think the neck is the biggest thing - even his Coggins shot (where he's just standing) shows a totally different neck. Oh and Alex, that confo shot is awful! He's also no longer over at the knee, thanks to Gayle's trimming (he used to have his heels too short so he stood funky).
Alex - I like the mentality that GP will give him more to think about. True! Alright, now I feel remotivated toward my goal. :)
And Christie, we WILL make you ride in this heat!!!
Kate, you just need to take that scary bunny tree engery and covert it into a nice half-pass. ;)
Thats an awesome change and proof it can be done at any age with the right people, the right tools and the time and effort !!!
And Christie, we WILL make you ride in this heat!!!
I'll remember that and hold you to it! :P
The difference in the photos is AMAZING! I truly wish I could afford to work with Gayle.
Btw- if you want to get to Grand Prix, you'd better start rollkuring now!
(juby runs away from Kate who is chasing after her with a dressage whip for that last comment!)
Hahaha, no rolkur for me!!! ;) I actually have to be careful with curling now that Pro has (finally and with much reluctance) submitted his neck. He used to evade by doing giraffe face, now it's evading by curling.
Mary - if you're near Gayle at all you should SERIOUSLY consider at least one lesson with her. Trust me - you will not regret it!!!!
And thanks for the change compliments...it just makes me glow to hear them. :)
For those not "in the know," who is Gayle and where is she located? :)
Also, does she train and trim?
Christie - Gayle Dauverd is north of Durham...she's my trainer and my trimmer. And not too bad at nutrition either, since she helped me rework Pro's diet! She's an exceptional all-around horsewoman and I credit so much of Pro's success to her brilliance. :) I can never say enough good things about her.
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