I'll keep this one short!
I got in a good long ride last night. Overall, Skate was very good. We did have some issues tracking left at the trot again - he practically refuses to allow me to set the tempo. I know this is his weaker direction, but goodness. My half halts had to be so strong to get any response at all, I felt terrible. I worked really hard to give as much as possible with my inside rein - but he only got a break once every few strides as he would slow (sorta) from the extreme half halt, then immediately get strong again. After he finally stayed at my tempo for 3 strides, we took a break. I tried it again after a few and he was much better.
I felt like I was waterskiing at times, he was blowing through my aids so much. Any leg in that direction immediately resulted in quicker choppy strides. I know I need to keep my inside leg on to encourage bending and use of the inside hind in this direction, but its difficult since he responds in the wrong way. I find myself nearly holding my leg off his side to prevent the tense rushing thing. Ugh.
Anyhoo - that's what we'll be working on in the near future. Even when Skate gives the wrong response, I can't just stop asking - I just need to find a new way to get the correct response. Maybe my outside aids are in the wrong position or my seat is telling him to go (I think this might be the case).
I got in a good long ride last night. Overall, Skate was very good. We did have some issues tracking left at the trot again - he practically refuses to allow me to set the tempo. I know this is his weaker direction, but goodness. My half halts had to be so strong to get any response at all, I felt terrible. I worked really hard to give as much as possible with my inside rein - but he only got a break once every few strides as he would slow (sorta) from the extreme half halt, then immediately get strong again. After he finally stayed at my tempo for 3 strides, we took a break. I tried it again after a few and he was much better.
I felt like I was waterskiing at times, he was blowing through my aids so much. Any leg in that direction immediately resulted in quicker choppy strides. I know I need to keep my inside leg on to encourage bending and use of the inside hind in this direction, but its difficult since he responds in the wrong way. I find myself nearly holding my leg off his side to prevent the tense rushing thing. Ugh.
Anyhoo - that's what we'll be working on in the near future. Even when Skate gives the wrong response, I can't just stop asking - I just need to find a new way to get the correct response. Maybe my outside aids are in the wrong position or my seat is telling him to go (I think this might be the case).
Just for entertainment, here is the cuteness with a kid before I bought him. See, he does jump!
And, see, he has always enjoyed ignoring his rider : ) Bad Pony! 
10 comments:
He is such a cutie!
Have you thought about doing some on the ground stretching exercises before and after you ride? It might help free up those muscles you are trying to work.
Aww, he is super cute over fences.
You could try what Kate and I have to do with Pro, which is pull our legs off his sides. We're supposed to have almost no thigh or calf contact on him. If we squeeze, he gets tense and rushes, if we relax and pull our legs off, he rounds up under us. You could give it a shot and see, though I imagine he'll be confused at first.
Sometimes when I half halt, I tend to put my hands down. So my elbows are straight instead of bent. Check to make sure your arms/hands are in the correct place when half halting. Taking your calves off him is a good idea too.
Skate is an adorable jumper!!!!
Good for you for continuing to ask when you don't get the response the first time!
Are you planning to do any jumping with Skate? He is very cute O/F :)
What a cute pony! You should join the dark side and turn him into an eventer. :)
I wish you were closer to Gayle!! I see a lot of similar issues with Pro.
Sometimes trying to actively hold your legs off his sides can make you tense up in other areas. Unfortunately it's really hard to reach through the computer and "show" you what Gayle has shown Andrea and me, but it's a deepening of the seat while not squooshing him with our lower legs. So it's not holding our legs off so much as not squeezing, and that sinks us deeper down, plugging our seatbones into the long muscles of his back.
For the pulling, have you tried not pulling? Gayle describes pulling as "horsey crack" and it can also be rider crack - it's ADDICTIVE! When Pro starts to pull on me, I half halt and give. Then, he has nothing to pull on.
I think he's an adorable jumper!
Kate - its not necessarily that he's pulling. Its more that he's ignoring my aid. The only aid he listens to when he 'fights' me (so far as slowing the tempo of the trot) is a ridiculously strong one. When he ignores my leg, I have a backup whip to go to, but what do you do when the horse ignores seat AND rein? Pull harder? That's all I can come up with - which is where my "Just DO it" phrase keeps coming in. My instructor said sometimes you have to elevate your aids to such a level until the horse finally gets it, then you can ease off and the response will be there with the whisper soft aids. I'm just hoping that comes true one day!
Alex - I've got the chiro coming on Monday to check him out and I'll ask her what sorts of stretches I can work on prior to riding.
Have you tried slowing your posting and all that good stuff too? It sounds like elevating your aids and "Just do it!" are pretty good advice right now, though. I hope he gets it soon!
Oooh okay, hmm, well that's different then! The lighter aids WILL come someday, honest! :) We all have to keep hope for that (for ourselves)!
I could help you if I was THERE, but I just can't give you enough detail over the computer, or be able to see if you're doing it wrong, and if so, tell you how to correct it.
I should head up one weekend and see your pony! Then I could help you with SOME things at least, and get a tour of your nice new barn and house...maybe make a day of it!
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