Yep - he is like riding a mare. He is so damn sensitive. My instructor thinks he's more like riding a stallion, but I've never ridden a stallion so I can't compare!
Everything I do has the potential to get him worried and fussy. It doesn't matter if I do it correctly according to 'the books', if he doesn't like it that way, its wrong. I wondered aloud in my lesson last week whether riding Skate is actually ruining me for riding other horses b/c he's so particular about how he wants things done that I'm changing everything I know. She thinks he's just teaching me how to be tactful and ride the horse I'm given. I hope she's right.
We spent a long time during my lesson on spiraling in at the trot, transitioning to a walk, and then asking for a turn on the forehand. Holy hell - you'd think I was asking Skate to suddenly do a friggin levade or something, he got so bent out of shape at this request. It was just one of those days where our frustrations overlapped until I wanted to either cry or kill him. I did finally figure out that some days my aids have to be whisper light or he'll have a meltdown. This was one of those days. He was so angry he was beginning to back up and hop up and down - and I had totally let go of my reins at this point trying to prove to him he had a door to go through! I think he just did NOT want my leg on him. I kept trying (in between go forward breaks) and finally got a semblance of what I wanted, so we moved on to leg yielding, which he likes as it's forward. He likes forward lateral, not slow lateral. I think he just feels trapped.
Intermission: Last weekend I went to Lexington Ky for Rolex. It rocked. I spent too much money - was so excited to buy a pair of leather protection boots in dressagey lookin white! Guess what? - I get to the barn to try them and I have 3 mediums and 1 large. DAMNIT. Excitement killed.
My last ride I worked on basic walking. Skate hates walking unless its on a free rein. Like I said before, I think he feels trapped. How else do you get a horse to accept contact at the walk other than just doing it? I work hard to keep my contact light and even and to walk with my seatbones. If I tense, even the slightest, he trots (same with canter, if I don't follow his hind legs with my hips perfectly, he trots). We worked on turning off the outside aids, which he does well in one direction and counterbends in the other, as expected. I played with not actually using direct leg aids, but just lengthening the inside leg down and it helped with the counterbending as he was more apt to bend around the lengthened leg and follow the direction of my hips as the turning cue. At first, I just got a lot of pissy pony and trotting. After a while, he seemed to chill out and listen to my seat. The less aids I give, the better. I think I am a fairly quiet rider, but I'm obviously not quiet enough for Skate.
As always, more work needed.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
WOW, what a tantrum! Have you ever thought of getting him looked at by someone like Animal Krackers? Maybe he is rushy and over sensitive because he is uncomfortable....
I hope you guys figure it out and have more good rides.
I agree, he does sound like maybe he's uncomfortable. Maybe it's just he doesn't have the muscle strength for collecting after the winter?
My mom's mare is super hot and sensitive, so I can sympathize with you somewhat. One of my trainers growing up wanted me to turn her into a hunter pony (my mom uses her for hacking around western) but she couldn't stand the contact in a close contact saddle or with rein contact. So at least Skate will go english!
Yep - he's been cracked by a chiro - no major issues. He's fine, his saddle is new and fits well. He's just sensitive.
I suspect he has ulcers, but I haven't decided what to do about it. He already eats just hay and alfalfa pellets! And he lives the life of Riley. Silly pony.
Sorry to hear you are having such challenges with Skate! If you wanted to ride a different horse sometime you could totally ride Jay!
BTW, are you busy this weekend? There is a YVH ride Sunday!
Oh goodness, what a fussy boy! It sounds like you're working really hard to keep your aids quiet and your leg off of him unless you're using it, so I'm not sure.
Your instructor is right - he's not ruining it for you! Just making things challenging.
When you get frustrated though, I think Gayle's words for me apply here: "Remember, at the end of the day...he's just a little red horse!" I repeat that over and over to myself when I get frustrated. ;) Just a little red horse...
Post a Comment