So next weekend we're off to Knole, sponsored ride.
Now this all well and good but this is our first day out. Taken a while to get round to it, this getting him out. Now is the time. So I realised I need to get him into a box and all these years of looking at the Monty Roberts' world seems to suggest that boxing is a traumatic event, or at least one that makes great videos for you tube.
So the question, what will my boy do?
I booked the Mascals lorry one evening this week. I eventually get there and its almost dark, still got to have a go. I open up the lorry and go and get my horse. I put the dually on him and took a lunge line, and off... We walk to the lorry which is crouching in the dark shadows of the woods at night time. Ernie walks to the van and stops at the ramp. He's not sure.
I reverse him a few steps, walk him back to the ramp, puts his foot on the ramp and another. We stop. I pat his forehead. Then back him off. We repeat this. Then I walk him half way up the ramp. He decides to keep walking so I take him on, these are Bambi's first steps.
We get him on the van and the suspension wobbles and totters like a fairground attraction, I'm a little surprised, Ernie is alarmed. He doesn't like this. But he stays with me. We turn, we admire the view for a few seconds (or what would be the view) and then I invite him off.... he leaps down the ramp.
So its time to do it again. This time Ernie really plants his feet. He raises his head, I remind him that, not doing as asked means pressure throught the dually, we stand for a while like this. Then we reverse and return, he plants - more dually pressure. I learn from the napping and weave his body, he is going to move, not straight but we turn - importantly we're not stuck. We weave our way half way up the ramp, I rub his forehead and then let him leave the ramp again. He plants again when I ask him foreward, so we repeat the exercise. This time he loads - friends offering gently vocal encouragement. Lots of praise. Stop. Turn. Admire the view. I ask him down slowly, keeping a tight hand on the dually I regulate his descent, he learns quickly walking slowly at my side.
Now he will come and go with me without complaint.
We do this half a dozen times, better each time, better again.
Then being me I have to consider showing off. I stand Ernie at the base of the ramp and mount the van myself, playing out the lunge line as walk away. I gently apply pressure, Ernie tentatively loads himself. Can we do it the other way around, we try. Bless him he does, albeit again tentatively.
We repeat this three or four times. He gets better and better. Now we have one happy boy. The lorry is just another home from home.
This 30 minutes has moved me closer to Ernie. Working this way touches the soul, it moves me, in my heart I smile an intoxicated smile, an intoxicated smile that seems to continue for days.
It must be love....
We still have to teach him to position his very large body in the van partitions but lets celebrate our victories.
The continuing learning curve that is my life with Ernie
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Friday, 2 September 2011
Echoes of a whisper
So one week on from my session with Rosie Jones, how have things gone?
Ernie is learning quickly to work with his dually - probably quicker than me - and his ground manners are improving again. He will reverse in hand without protest, albeit in small "bites", which makes a big difference because this means that reversing is now what he does when I ask and not what he does to protest. I've schooled him in his dually too, if honest he responds better than to a bit, in all gaits. Am seriously thinking about this as a more permanent option. The key is me learning more about it. It is really a very delicate tool, but this what he is always asking for, less always being more.
We are making fantastic hacking progress. He is definitely still napping and quite a lot as we leave home, particularly as we move up into the woods. But is has ceased to an impasse. And certainly no more 30 mins in the bushes!
I have hacked alone twice this week and never got close to being stuck. He was quite a pain when we went out with Nero on Saturday, but that was partly me settling too I think. The short rein 'weaving' is proving excellent, we just don't get stuck or locked in conflict. I also now have my own shaker (a tic tac box with stones in it) which is great if a last resort really required, and it works, give him the rein and he certainly jumps forward after a quick shake.
I think the one thing at the moment is that it takes a while for him to settle once he's broken from the nap so its about waiting to feel that before asking for too much, too much leg, too early seems to cause another nap.
I even managed to get him two thirds of the around the woods, turn him and after a little weaving, but no shaker, he walked forward. I stopped after about 15m, patted him, and turned him for home.
We've also changed farrier this week - less said the better here. Am waiting for the 'ripples' but hey, I pay, I am happier and horse seems better shod! Sadly mine being too busy the week I asked him to do it.
The downside this weekend was the loss of show just before MM summer show, damn and blast. This premeditated the above change, but perhaps it's all for the best. That said I was dissappointed at not competing. Still we have the MMRC dressage event this Sunday and we're up for an Intro B and Prelim 7, haven't done any practice, and won't get the opportunity tomorrow so as ever we'll wing it! I suppose there has to be a time when I stop saying, this is just for the experience!
Ernie is learning quickly to work with his dually - probably quicker than me - and his ground manners are improving again. He will reverse in hand without protest, albeit in small "bites", which makes a big difference because this means that reversing is now what he does when I ask and not what he does to protest. I've schooled him in his dually too, if honest he responds better than to a bit, in all gaits. Am seriously thinking about this as a more permanent option. The key is me learning more about it. It is really a very delicate tool, but this what he is always asking for, less always being more.
We are making fantastic hacking progress. He is definitely still napping and quite a lot as we leave home, particularly as we move up into the woods. But is has ceased to an impasse. And certainly no more 30 mins in the bushes!
I have hacked alone twice this week and never got close to being stuck. He was quite a pain when we went out with Nero on Saturday, but that was partly me settling too I think. The short rein 'weaving' is proving excellent, we just don't get stuck or locked in conflict. I also now have my own shaker (a tic tac box with stones in it) which is great if a last resort really required, and it works, give him the rein and he certainly jumps forward after a quick shake.
I think the one thing at the moment is that it takes a while for him to settle once he's broken from the nap so its about waiting to feel that before asking for too much, too much leg, too early seems to cause another nap.
I even managed to get him two thirds of the around the woods, turn him and after a little weaving, but no shaker, he walked forward. I stopped after about 15m, patted him, and turned him for home.
We've also changed farrier this week - less said the better here. Am waiting for the 'ripples' but hey, I pay, I am happier and horse seems better shod! Sadly mine being too busy the week I asked him to do it.
The downside this weekend was the loss of show just before MM summer show, damn and blast. This premeditated the above change, but perhaps it's all for the best. That said I was dissappointed at not competing. Still we have the MMRC dressage event this Sunday and we're up for an Intro B and Prelim 7, haven't done any practice, and won't get the opportunity tomorrow so as ever we'll wing it! I suppose there has to be a time when I stop saying, this is just for the experience!
Friday, 26 August 2011
Alternative therapy
So Ernie and I had the pleasure of spending half a day yesterday 1-2-1 with Rosie Jones, one of Kelly Marks' IH recommended associated. Rosie is an expert on backed issues, in particular napping.
Ernie enjoyed his summer rest quite a lot and has been a bit bolshy since my return so this was definitely perfect timing. I think the problem started when I took him on a 3 hr plus hack!
Anyway so Rosie came down to Mascal's.
First we took Ernie up to Taylors to do some groundwork and generally acquaint ourselves (and get quite wet!). And have a go at one of his favourite naps, re-entering the gate. Firstly, we put him in his new Dually and started getting the back up. Rosie showed me how to work the pressure/release process more effectively, the key being both strength and then the speed of release once willingness shown, though quite often I just wound him up at first, but we achieved more willing reverses than I've ever seen him do.
Once we had achieved some willingness and acceptance of the halter Rosie suggested long-lining him with two lunge reins. This is driving him from behind, almost as driven a cart, but from the ground. After a little sensitising of his hocks to the lines via turns on the ground, he reacted very very well to Rosie's commands. We did figure of eights, forward and back, and in/out of the gates. Me too! Rosie then tried out the shaker, a nice piece of high-tech for driving nappers forward, a plastic coke bottle with stones in. One shake and he does his bat out of hell with Rosie attached. Use sparingly! I have to say I really enjoyed long-lining, think I will defo do more.
Then Rosie got on him with a normal bridle, he was much less responsive to directional command, particularly "go back" so we attached the reins to the dually and "hey presto". Maybe its the riding school years, maybe Daddy's concrete mittens, but is overly definitely desensitised to his bit.
Next we took him to the woods - still in his dually I add - his bit unattached to reins. Rosie backed him from MM car park. We managed to get to the gate, before he showed his colours, think we took about 10 mns here, then we took him up to the top of the first fill where he has been particularly naughty over last week.
This was a long session much to the surprise of passing riders. Anyway Rosie slowly establish a weaving exercise. So when he naps, we stand and calm, then with one hand lead a tight turn, at least 90 degrees, once achieved do the opposite - very exaggerated movement, leaning motor-bike like with the turn - nominal if any leg, only to support the bend. Keep this up until he offers straight, stop and praise him. Do it again. Then let him start moving forward. We also carried the shaker here and if got really stubbon then shook it, first following from ground, then in the hand of the rider - both of us. Always remembering to be balanced and let him go when he ran.
I think we spent an hour in about 100m of joydens, stopping, turning weaving, shaking, trotting away, repeating etc. Ernie engaged with relative honesty, and by the last few times he was almost walking straight out of the weave and moving forward. :). I had the pleasure of doing it myself as well. Rosie has left me a lot of tips and I'm looking forward to working, both on ground and on saddle.
I am going to try and ride him more on dually at least for schooling - until I've achieved a better "stop" - which worked ok away from home in the woods but towards it was a lot more difficult.
A technical observation too, his saddle needs refitting. I felt good here having worked this out myself and already sorted and booked. Rosie thinks this will help his mind too.
Tips
1. break it down into things you can win - therefore avoid the fight
2. praise
3. variation and more leading, even with hack
4. school sometimes in the dually
5. it is ok to get off to pass points of stress when riding out
6. hack in company, but lead
7. when he naps, no legs, right now he reacts against them
8. when weaving only focus on the turn
9. release has to be exaggerated and immediate
We haven't cured things but we have an opportunity to train them out without conflict. This is central to my first promise on taking Ernie so I'm happy. I have always wanted to do some proper instructed horsemanship, long before I had my own horse, and now I have. In fact it was my http://www.leadchange.com/ experiences that told me horses had to come back to my life. I can't express how much I enjoyed that morning. This is why I ride, this is why I so wanted Ernie. It is worth all the misbehavior to be able to experience days such as these! (Though we now move on of course).
Happy days....
Ernie enjoyed his summer rest quite a lot and has been a bit bolshy since my return so this was definitely perfect timing. I think the problem started when I took him on a 3 hr plus hack!
Anyway so Rosie came down to Mascal's.
First we took Ernie up to Taylors to do some groundwork and generally acquaint ourselves (and get quite wet!). And have a go at one of his favourite naps, re-entering the gate. Firstly, we put him in his new Dually and started getting the back up. Rosie showed me how to work the pressure/release process more effectively, the key being both strength and then the speed of release once willingness shown, though quite often I just wound him up at first, but we achieved more willing reverses than I've ever seen him do.
Once we had achieved some willingness and acceptance of the halter Rosie suggested long-lining him with two lunge reins. This is driving him from behind, almost as driven a cart, but from the ground. After a little sensitising of his hocks to the lines via turns on the ground, he reacted very very well to Rosie's commands. We did figure of eights, forward and back, and in/out of the gates. Me too! Rosie then tried out the shaker, a nice piece of high-tech for driving nappers forward, a plastic coke bottle with stones in. One shake and he does his bat out of hell with Rosie attached. Use sparingly! I have to say I really enjoyed long-lining, think I will defo do more.
Then Rosie got on him with a normal bridle, he was much less responsive to directional command, particularly "go back" so we attached the reins to the dually and "hey presto". Maybe its the riding school years, maybe Daddy's concrete mittens, but is overly definitely desensitised to his bit.
Next we took him to the woods - still in his dually I add - his bit unattached to reins. Rosie backed him from MM car park. We managed to get to the gate, before he showed his colours, think we took about 10 mns here, then we took him up to the top of the first fill where he has been particularly naughty over last week.
This was a long session much to the surprise of passing riders. Anyway Rosie slowly establish a weaving exercise. So when he naps, we stand and calm, then with one hand lead a tight turn, at least 90 degrees, once achieved do the opposite - very exaggerated movement, leaning motor-bike like with the turn - nominal if any leg, only to support the bend. Keep this up until he offers straight, stop and praise him. Do it again. Then let him start moving forward. We also carried the shaker here and if got really stubbon then shook it, first following from ground, then in the hand of the rider - both of us. Always remembering to be balanced and let him go when he ran.
I think we spent an hour in about 100m of joydens, stopping, turning weaving, shaking, trotting away, repeating etc. Ernie engaged with relative honesty, and by the last few times he was almost walking straight out of the weave and moving forward. :). I had the pleasure of doing it myself as well. Rosie has left me a lot of tips and I'm looking forward to working, both on ground and on saddle.
I am going to try and ride him more on dually at least for schooling - until I've achieved a better "stop" - which worked ok away from home in the woods but towards it was a lot more difficult.
A technical observation too, his saddle needs refitting. I felt good here having worked this out myself and already sorted and booked. Rosie thinks this will help his mind too.
Tips
1. break it down into things you can win - therefore avoid the fight
2. praise
3. variation and more leading, even with hack
4. school sometimes in the dually
5. it is ok to get off to pass points of stress when riding out
6. hack in company, but lead
7. when he naps, no legs, right now he reacts against them
8. when weaving only focus on the turn
9. release has to be exaggerated and immediate
We haven't cured things but we have an opportunity to train them out without conflict. This is central to my first promise on taking Ernie so I'm happy. I have always wanted to do some proper instructed horsemanship, long before I had my own horse, and now I have. In fact it was my http://www.leadchange.com/ experiences that told me horses had to come back to my life. I can't express how much I enjoyed that morning. This is why I ride, this is why I so wanted Ernie. It is worth all the misbehavior to be able to experience days such as these! (Though we now move on of course).
Happy days....
Sunday, 14 August 2011
The good, the (slightly) bad and the dreamy ...
It's been a while.... and lot's to tell. We have some real progress, an illness scare and my first absence.
So I've just been on holiday. The emotional envelope to that first concerned-owner absence was the dreaded strangles. Thankfully full symptoms never manifesting (limited to lymph swelling beneath the jaw), and cleared my vets both before and after holidays, but some hairy moments in between. The lowest moment was definitely arriving back a Stansted and fearing the worst, noting his swelling had burst two days before. But all said and done, we're good. God knows what caused it, but it wasn't as bad as it might have been and he confirmed non-contagious. All breathe long sigh of relief.
Notwithstanding this, he seems to have "happily" managed his couple of weeks between turn-out, horse-walker and staff lunging. In fact he seems to have relished the rest.
Anyway back to the good stuff....
About 10 days before going away we suddenly worked out how to establish and maintain a proper school canter. Ok it needs refining, but it is now there, and it is there whenever asked for. Can't believe it. He has such a light canter (which I knew from hacking) which sometimes feels like flight as he covers so much distance with one stride. So we quickly dropped in a Prelim 18 and interdressage WTC test before we went away, all video'd for posterity, lest it all dissappear or be forgotten in my absence (by me I hasten to add not the big E). See youtube. But no.... Today my teacher noted the best canter she had ever seen him do, both on the straight track and 20m circle. It seems so common place to state it here, but we have to remember this has seemed some holy grail for what seems so long. And we've done it our way, gently and smoothly, without a fight, domination or coercion... this why I got my own horse. And as if by magic the bucking has almost completely dissappeared too. I am smiling a lot these days.
I rode when away in France, three very different horses which I have ridden before and loved, still loved them but they really weren't my Ernie and they seemed hard work by comparison. That is the school horse, I should note they are very capable talented animals. In the last weekend I taught myself to leg-yield in canter and whilst this was quite a feeling in itself it had the interesting side effect of so engaging the horse's hind quarters that I felt an unbelievable strong impulsion that I have never felt before (really like there was a force behind me, lifting me and driving us forward, I've read about this but what a feeling).
Having got over the sickness scare I'm pleased to say we're back on the road: I was pleased to discover our progress remained fresh on my return, Sophie has been around to ride him which is really good for him, and he has been treated to a three-and-a-quarter hour hack (mascals, tile kiln lane, piggeries, cabbage farm, golf-course, joydens, chalk woods and then the whole thing in reverse). It should be noted he was very tired and I think his muscles a little sore this morning, though he (very honestly) still carried around my lesson up at Taylors.
He remains a source of wonderment to me, as I have said before he is waiting for me to work out how to ask. That said, I think I can see how we will start to focus on improving through this winter, however for now the rest of this summer is for enjoying!
One small cloud, he rather hurt a small boy's finger this morning - bruised and broke skin I think. I felt terrible, especially when the boy was still crying very loudly 20mins later... needless to say I apologised quite a lot (perhaps a bit much) though I have to say I don't really think it was Ernie's fault particularly. I think he'd been trying to give him a polo whilst I was talking to the mother. I have to say she was very understanding and supportive. That can be trouble with a busy and very public yard.
We have some great highlights ahead, the MM summer show, definitely some jumping there are probably some "handsome gelding" again, so need to do some more in-hand. Also the MMRC dressage the next weekend where we're booked for Intro B and Premin 7.
I am going to have a session with Kelly Marks' reps too to try and find a route through the napping - which to be honest is really really reduced, but I want to do this with them. I promised myself. Rosie Jones coming on the 26th, so lets see.
So bring it all on. Watch the big E take on the world! For he can for sure.
So I've just been on holiday. The emotional envelope to that first concerned-owner absence was the dreaded strangles. Thankfully full symptoms never manifesting (limited to lymph swelling beneath the jaw), and cleared my vets both before and after holidays, but some hairy moments in between. The lowest moment was definitely arriving back a Stansted and fearing the worst, noting his swelling had burst two days before. But all said and done, we're good. God knows what caused it, but it wasn't as bad as it might have been and he confirmed non-contagious. All breathe long sigh of relief.
Notwithstanding this, he seems to have "happily" managed his couple of weeks between turn-out, horse-walker and staff lunging. In fact he seems to have relished the rest.
Anyway back to the good stuff....
About 10 days before going away we suddenly worked out how to establish and maintain a proper school canter. Ok it needs refining, but it is now there, and it is there whenever asked for. Can't believe it. He has such a light canter (which I knew from hacking) which sometimes feels like flight as he covers so much distance with one stride. So we quickly dropped in a Prelim 18 and interdressage WTC test before we went away, all video'd for posterity, lest it all dissappear or be forgotten in my absence (by me I hasten to add not the big E). See youtube. But no.... Today my teacher noted the best canter she had ever seen him do, both on the straight track and 20m circle. It seems so common place to state it here, but we have to remember this has seemed some holy grail for what seems so long. And we've done it our way, gently and smoothly, without a fight, domination or coercion... this why I got my own horse. And as if by magic the bucking has almost completely dissappeared too. I am smiling a lot these days.
I rode when away in France, three very different horses which I have ridden before and loved, still loved them but they really weren't my Ernie and they seemed hard work by comparison. That is the school horse, I should note they are very capable talented animals. In the last weekend I taught myself to leg-yield in canter and whilst this was quite a feeling in itself it had the interesting side effect of so engaging the horse's hind quarters that I felt an unbelievable strong impulsion that I have never felt before (really like there was a force behind me, lifting me and driving us forward, I've read about this but what a feeling).
Having got over the sickness scare I'm pleased to say we're back on the road: I was pleased to discover our progress remained fresh on my return, Sophie has been around to ride him which is really good for him, and he has been treated to a three-and-a-quarter hour hack (mascals, tile kiln lane, piggeries, cabbage farm, golf-course, joydens, chalk woods and then the whole thing in reverse). It should be noted he was very tired and I think his muscles a little sore this morning, though he (very honestly) still carried around my lesson up at Taylors.
He remains a source of wonderment to me, as I have said before he is waiting for me to work out how to ask. That said, I think I can see how we will start to focus on improving through this winter, however for now the rest of this summer is for enjoying!
One small cloud, he rather hurt a small boy's finger this morning - bruised and broke skin I think. I felt terrible, especially when the boy was still crying very loudly 20mins later... needless to say I apologised quite a lot (perhaps a bit much) though I have to say I don't really think it was Ernie's fault particularly. I think he'd been trying to give him a polo whilst I was talking to the mother. I have to say she was very understanding and supportive. That can be trouble with a busy and very public yard.
We have some great highlights ahead, the MM summer show, definitely some jumping there are probably some "handsome gelding" again, so need to do some more in-hand. Also the MMRC dressage the next weekend where we're booked for Intro B and Premin 7.
I am going to have a session with Kelly Marks' reps too to try and find a route through the napping - which to be honest is really really reduced, but I want to do this with them. I promised myself. Rosie Jones coming on the 26th, so lets see.
So bring it all on. Watch the big E take on the world! For he can for sure.
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
A join-up and the honesty of children ....
Had a wonderful chat with a young girl at Mascal's this weekend who advised me that I really had brought the right horse, and why .... beautiful synchronity of movement as we are schooling? a easy willingnwess of horse to submit to rider request? effortless appearance of rider in action? .... no, we actually look the same! .... my beard is the same colour as his coat and my too long salt n pepper hair the same as his mane ... so apparantly we're twins!! Don't the humourists always suggest that owners end up mirroring their pets. It was a lovely observation, one delivered with the honesty and simple innocence of childhood
Have finally achieved join-up with Ernie, ironically by accident but hey, we got there. After some rather clumsy, slightly over-assertive, body language on my part during a lunging session down at Slades, Ernie decides that we're gonna do join-up, and so proceeds to come-in and stand at my shoulder ..... thankfully I spot the offer and exploit, 15 minutes of free walking and following me around the pen in great sweeping arcs ensues. How many years have I wanted to do that with a horse? I could have cried. Aaah, me and my luvverly pony! This is another example of my increasingly over-used phrase, "Ernie has all the answers and he's just waiting for me to ask the right questions".
So I'm trying to do a lot more jumping with him - lessons and on my own. I intend to have a bash at the August show - probably minimus at least. All this regular jumping is definitely making the big lad happy; this is something that is very close to Ernie's heart you can tell, be it from the interest with which he watches others jump, his willingness to stand quietly in the school while I potter around erecting fences, or to the surge of excitement you feel in his muscles as he locks on to a jump during approach.
At the moment I'm preparing for dressage tests, the last of the MM summer series. Am only doing Intro class at the moment as the Prelims just have too much canter work; we would be setting ourselves up for "a fall" (never a good metaphor in Equestrian circles to which my ongoing physio bares testement). We are definitely making progress, but the competition quality is rising with increasing numbers registering so the rosettes not so forthcoming. Not in all cases what I'd call intro level partnerships, but there you go. Also doing some more Internet dressage courtesy of http://www.interdressage.com/ - my last attempt available for view on my youtube page, going to restrict us too walk and trot.
So I have a very undisciplined approach to a very disciplined sport, I do not do lots of practise runs, just learn it in my head then do it. Could certainly do with some more exactitude around the guide letters and transitions - dressage judges don't seem to be at home to Captain Approximate. Not exactly the Carl Hester way I suspect! Still it keeps Ernie interested and if honest I think he does enjoy it - I just want him to keep moving forward. We need to work on suppleness and I need to focus a little more on contact.
Been getting him out hacking a bit more again - making new friends. In so doing I have decided he really needs to learn some manners! His competitiveness is back in spades with some very high bucking should anyone overtake where he thinks its time for a canter, or should they actually try and lead in the canter. We tried cantering side by side with Nero this weekend, that's shows promise, but first of all you have to stay on through the transition!
Methinks perhaps I let him stretch to the gallop a little too frequently.
Have finally achieved join-up with Ernie, ironically by accident but hey, we got there. After some rather clumsy, slightly over-assertive, body language on my part during a lunging session down at Slades, Ernie decides that we're gonna do join-up, and so proceeds to come-in and stand at my shoulder ..... thankfully I spot the offer and exploit, 15 minutes of free walking and following me around the pen in great sweeping arcs ensues. How many years have I wanted to do that with a horse? I could have cried. Aaah, me and my luvverly pony! This is another example of my increasingly over-used phrase, "Ernie has all the answers and he's just waiting for me to ask the right questions".
So I'm trying to do a lot more jumping with him - lessons and on my own. I intend to have a bash at the August show - probably minimus at least. All this regular jumping is definitely making the big lad happy; this is something that is very close to Ernie's heart you can tell, be it from the interest with which he watches others jump, his willingness to stand quietly in the school while I potter around erecting fences, or to the surge of excitement you feel in his muscles as he locks on to a jump during approach.
At the moment I'm preparing for dressage tests, the last of the MM summer series. Am only doing Intro class at the moment as the Prelims just have too much canter work; we would be setting ourselves up for "a fall" (never a good metaphor in Equestrian circles to which my ongoing physio bares testement). We are definitely making progress, but the competition quality is rising with increasing numbers registering so the rosettes not so forthcoming. Not in all cases what I'd call intro level partnerships, but there you go. Also doing some more Internet dressage courtesy of http://www.interdressage.com/ - my last attempt available for view on my youtube page, going to restrict us too walk and trot.
So I have a very undisciplined approach to a very disciplined sport, I do not do lots of practise runs, just learn it in my head then do it. Could certainly do with some more exactitude around the guide letters and transitions - dressage judges don't seem to be at home to Captain Approximate. Not exactly the Carl Hester way I suspect! Still it keeps Ernie interested and if honest I think he does enjoy it - I just want him to keep moving forward. We need to work on suppleness and I need to focus a little more on contact.
Been getting him out hacking a bit more again - making new friends. In so doing I have decided he really needs to learn some manners! His competitiveness is back in spades with some very high bucking should anyone overtake where he thinks its time for a canter, or should they actually try and lead in the canter. We tried cantering side by side with Nero this weekend, that's shows promise, but first of all you have to stay on through the transition!
Methinks perhaps I let him stretch to the gallop a little too frequently.
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Variety is the spice of this relationship
Up for the dressage most of last weekend.
Not our best and no ribbons :( ; 60% in Intro A, 50% in Prelim 10. All said and done really the best possibility given that I had a back with all the suppleness of a concrete python.
Intro could have been better, what have I learnt - more warm up, suppleness in me is important too! But we did improve on the exactness and balance of downward work from last month :). As for the Prelim, it was actually all I was hoping for, given the need for a little more collection plus quite a bit of canter work. I got one canter which was one more than I was hoping for.
All really good experience. I remember complaining to Sophie about the whole getting dressed up bit .... but you know I think I really enjoy it! And generally Ernie seems to raise his game too - one or two noted exceptions of course! Most of you have seen the jump vid on FB.
Anyway am up for doing some Internet dressage next week. Video it, post thru youtube, get judged! Nice and easy, keep doing it till you get it right!!
We're looking for some new hack-pals for Ernie as well. Nero and Pru have both been out with us this week though perhaps in latter case we might have been a little too flirty - though actually I put it down to Ernie's good old "Oi, I wanna go first!" which to a degree seems to be returning - evidenced by a couple of sizable bucks around canter time - undoing some of my prudent investment in physio this week.
But we've schooled, hacked and jumped this week - a really good combination for the chap and we've avoided napping circumstances as much as possible - though there have been a couple, but put another horse in front and we're done. I think we're happy boys. I'm riding 5 times a week at the moment and you know what I love it, but we are doing less than we were, need to look at that. Ernie has a couple of days off and I think he loves that too.
His schooling this week has been better, the lightening of the forehand last week is definitely helping and we keep building on that. I have been working more on lateral work as well, leg-yeilds, starting shoulder-in and something cowboy called milling (like turn on the forehand around a small circle), I'm hoping this will develop more suppleness in him, a constant theme coming out of our dressage tests And my maintenance of contact, not a strength of mine. Starting to get some good canter transition work in the school for the first time, and no bucks. I think jumping is teaching me a little bit more about motivating and balancing the big man.
Famous last words!
My big panic is summer hols - I need to arrange cover for our US odyssey. Plus the poor sod will have to put up me returning from releasing the ever-slumbering cowboy in my heart!
Trot on y'all!!
G
Not our best and no ribbons :( ; 60% in Intro A, 50% in Prelim 10. All said and done really the best possibility given that I had a back with all the suppleness of a concrete python.
Intro could have been better, what have I learnt - more warm up, suppleness in me is important too! But we did improve on the exactness and balance of downward work from last month :). As for the Prelim, it was actually all I was hoping for, given the need for a little more collection plus quite a bit of canter work. I got one canter which was one more than I was hoping for.
All really good experience. I remember complaining to Sophie about the whole getting dressed up bit .... but you know I think I really enjoy it! And generally Ernie seems to raise his game too - one or two noted exceptions of course! Most of you have seen the jump vid on FB.
Anyway am up for doing some Internet dressage next week. Video it, post thru youtube, get judged! Nice and easy, keep doing it till you get it right!!
We're looking for some new hack-pals for Ernie as well. Nero and Pru have both been out with us this week though perhaps in latter case we might have been a little too flirty - though actually I put it down to Ernie's good old "Oi, I wanna go first!" which to a degree seems to be returning - evidenced by a couple of sizable bucks around canter time - undoing some of my prudent investment in physio this week.
But we've schooled, hacked and jumped this week - a really good combination for the chap and we've avoided napping circumstances as much as possible - though there have been a couple, but put another horse in front and we're done. I think we're happy boys. I'm riding 5 times a week at the moment and you know what I love it, but we are doing less than we were, need to look at that. Ernie has a couple of days off and I think he loves that too.
His schooling this week has been better, the lightening of the forehand last week is definitely helping and we keep building on that. I have been working more on lateral work as well, leg-yeilds, starting shoulder-in and something cowboy called milling (like turn on the forehand around a small circle), I'm hoping this will develop more suppleness in him, a constant theme coming out of our dressage tests And my maintenance of contact, not a strength of mine. Starting to get some good canter transition work in the school for the first time, and no bucks. I think jumping is teaching me a little bit more about motivating and balancing the big man.
Famous last words!
My big panic is summer hols - I need to arrange cover for our US odyssey. Plus the poor sod will have to put up me returning from releasing the ever-slumbering cowboy in my heart!
Trot on y'all!!
G
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Another dip in the sand.... And this time it hurts!
It's almost like he's learnt a new trick. If I think about everything I've sat through for the last year or so with Ernie, particularly when he was a school horse, to have been unseated twice in 10 days seems a tad concerning. I'm going for coincidence because I have to believe that ...... the alternatives are too much to bear!!!
In both cases it really seems to have been the slightest of bucks.
Ironic really he has been very good all week. We've concentrated on gentle hacks and school work. I have been working on the "hey, its fun to be together" strategy, which generally seemed to be paying dividends. Then on Sunday, a little fresh in spirit but with all the makings of what would be a very positive schooling session, 5 mins into warm up and i'm on the floor, a slightly excitable canter transition as the Taylor's horses were being turned out. Clearly my fruity young man had mares on his mind!
Landed on my seat, never done that before, bloody hell it hurt. Someone pointed out to me this week that it's ok there it's nice no soft. Yeah right. You try dropping 13 stone from a height of just under 2 metres and you see .....
Wednesday night now and I'm still drugged and trussed up. Still I've been riding both Tuesday and tonight. Used the opportunity for some more subtle schooling and tuition - not un-needed. I believe Ernie really enjoys being taught new things - at least when I can muster up the right instructions.
Nancy rode him for 10 mins tonight and really lightened the forehand. Some good instruction on teaching him more self-carriage, issue the right instruction and he quickly shows respect, will I remember it? Lifting him through the bit quickly with a supporting "up!up!", then quick release as he cedes. He does tend to collapse into his downward transitions and this begins to feel like a solution as ride it afterwards. This delivers a real the change in feel around his transitions, both up (which feels genuinely "up") and down.
Am now preparing for dressage this weekend, an opportunity to improve our performance discipline - particularly downward transitions - in Intro A and to create all sorts of mayhem in Prelim 7 - the latter is about 25% canter work .... at this point this weeks blog descends into wild hysterical almost villaineous laughter, which slowly fades to silence as the image draws to ever smaller dot in the middle of the screen .....
In both cases it really seems to have been the slightest of bucks.
Ironic really he has been very good all week. We've concentrated on gentle hacks and school work. I have been working on the "hey, its fun to be together" strategy, which generally seemed to be paying dividends. Then on Sunday, a little fresh in spirit but with all the makings of what would be a very positive schooling session, 5 mins into warm up and i'm on the floor, a slightly excitable canter transition as the Taylor's horses were being turned out. Clearly my fruity young man had mares on his mind!
Landed on my seat, never done that before, bloody hell it hurt. Someone pointed out to me this week that it's ok there it's nice no soft. Yeah right. You try dropping 13 stone from a height of just under 2 metres and you see .....
Wednesday night now and I'm still drugged and trussed up. Still I've been riding both Tuesday and tonight. Used the opportunity for some more subtle schooling and tuition - not un-needed. I believe Ernie really enjoys being taught new things - at least when I can muster up the right instructions.
Nancy rode him for 10 mins tonight and really lightened the forehand. Some good instruction on teaching him more self-carriage, issue the right instruction and he quickly shows respect, will I remember it? Lifting him through the bit quickly with a supporting "up!up!", then quick release as he cedes. He does tend to collapse into his downward transitions and this begins to feel like a solution as ride it afterwards. This delivers a real the change in feel around his transitions, both up (which feels genuinely "up") and down.
Am now preparing for dressage this weekend, an opportunity to improve our performance discipline - particularly downward transitions - in Intro A and to create all sorts of mayhem in Prelim 7 - the latter is about 25% canter work .... at this point this weeks blog descends into wild hysterical almost villaineous laughter, which slowly fades to silence as the image draws to ever smaller dot in the middle of the screen .....
Monday, 6 June 2011
The ups and downs of a first outing away from home
So we ventured a whole half a km down the entrance road to Old Bexley to give Ernie the chance to try out competing at an unfamiliar venue.
The plan was simple... walk him down, warm him up, Graeme competes in minimus, Sophie completes him in Novice and home we go. And back home for a late lunch. Should have sensed things were up as those promising to cheer from the sidelines slowly dropped away .....
So Saturday I took him up to Taylors, we did some good school work and did a dozen or so jumps just to get us into the spirit, a completely perfect warm up, then comes Sunday....
I get down to the stables early to muck-out before going to the competition and Ernie siezes the opportunity to escape, barging wheel-barrows and pitchforks this was and that, harrassing Mary-Lou on route - much squeeling ensues - and then moves on. Eventually stupidly corners himself in another stable which was open, where he has been enticed to enter and enjoy another breakfast - then on the way back trys to squeeze himself into pony stall for similar reason! I discover controlling a 17.1 horse with just a rope wrapped round his neck is quite challenging.
I walked him down inhand with a rucksack containing extra bits of tack, cameras etc. As we arrived he became a little more excitable, but it took me serveral hours to understand that one! So there I was one man and his slightly nervous horse, admin to sort and nowhere to put him! You try tieing a number to the arm of your jacket whilst holding a horse - actually in the fog of memory I can't actually recall how we did that in the end. Some sort of Harry Potter trick.
Finally got rid of my ricksack I decided it was warm up time. The mountain block here seemed to be an old piece of iron-work from an external fire escape - getting him to stand there was a destined loser. So the poor chap's getting more and more wound up. Eventually we cheat him when someone produces a chair and I precariously mount from them. We go to the warm-up arena, which seemed to be a mixture of sand-dune and quarry, depending on where you rode. Ernie not settled. Children arrive and start galloping their ponies around, this doesn't calm the big E. After they've gone we start some trot work, next thing I know I'm flying over his shoulder. One well timed buck and I'm off -- the first time! Am not sure which one of us is more surprised.
Sophie arrives and discovers that we hadn't posted ourselves for our round - long wait ensues. Anyway it is eventually our time. By this time I've done my course learning, am a little surprised about my earlier intimacy with the sandpit and am thinking the jumps are a bit higher than I thought. Chaos ensues, Ernie naps and has to be led in, we immediately start jumping around which after refusing fence 2 develops into bucking, rearing and more refusing - then we start spooking at the bottom corner (see above on arrival) of the sand school. On refusing fence 4 we are technically eliminated, I don't hear this or the wise advice been shouted from behind the camera. I continue. Of the remaining five fences I think we get over about three (a few more bucks n spooks), more me just wanting to settle things a bit rather than actual competition. And I do, and there's a lot of applause.
Sophie tags on to the end of the class and gets him to do it properly! Nice! I suspect driven by the need for survival when the bigger fences come along - quite reasonably. A little irritation on the part of the judges about horses only entering each class only once. Next painful wait ensues, jump-off of 15 horses! ....
Although they're up second they are cursed with a clear round and then have to penultimate position in the novice jump off. Another long wait. Anyway Ernie's perfomance this time is much better, Sophie has calmed him down, got him focussed and deliver the sort of performance we know he can do. After the long wait for the jump off, he's cold and wet (rain having started) and brings down a couple of jumps, so we breathe a sigh of relief and head home with him.
So in the middle of all this hanging around I offer to take the big E for a walk. Not thinking I take him out towards the road, and in horse psychology, towards home. Dumb move 1. I have to walk him past the other jumping horses, this gets him on his toes. As he senses home he picks up the pace. I realise the error of my ways and turn him in the car park and I find the source of our spooking, a cockeral stands on a fence and crows, Ernie rears. The cock crows, Ernie rears, the cock crows, Ernie rears ..... in the middle of this I am barking calming instructions and offering calming pats when he stands and the cock crows again.....
Monday morning - I am beaten up, hands raw from the lead rope, toes bruised from hooves landing on them, back and inner thighs screaming from being bounced here and there.... oh and a bruised shoulder .......
Link to youtube and Sophie's great rounds http://www.youtube.com/graemebesgreen
The plan was simple... walk him down, warm him up, Graeme competes in minimus, Sophie completes him in Novice and home we go. And back home for a late lunch. Should have sensed things were up as those promising to cheer from the sidelines slowly dropped away .....
So Saturday I took him up to Taylors, we did some good school work and did a dozen or so jumps just to get us into the spirit, a completely perfect warm up, then comes Sunday....
I get down to the stables early to muck-out before going to the competition and Ernie siezes the opportunity to escape, barging wheel-barrows and pitchforks this was and that, harrassing Mary-Lou on route - much squeeling ensues - and then moves on. Eventually stupidly corners himself in another stable which was open, where he has been enticed to enter and enjoy another breakfast - then on the way back trys to squeeze himself into pony stall for similar reason! I discover controlling a 17.1 horse with just a rope wrapped round his neck is quite challenging.
I walked him down inhand with a rucksack containing extra bits of tack, cameras etc. As we arrived he became a little more excitable, but it took me serveral hours to understand that one! So there I was one man and his slightly nervous horse, admin to sort and nowhere to put him! You try tieing a number to the arm of your jacket whilst holding a horse - actually in the fog of memory I can't actually recall how we did that in the end. Some sort of Harry Potter trick.
Finally got rid of my ricksack I decided it was warm up time. The mountain block here seemed to be an old piece of iron-work from an external fire escape - getting him to stand there was a destined loser. So the poor chap's getting more and more wound up. Eventually we cheat him when someone produces a chair and I precariously mount from them. We go to the warm-up arena, which seemed to be a mixture of sand-dune and quarry, depending on where you rode. Ernie not settled. Children arrive and start galloping their ponies around, this doesn't calm the big E. After they've gone we start some trot work, next thing I know I'm flying over his shoulder. One well timed buck and I'm off -- the first time! Am not sure which one of us is more surprised.
Sophie arrives and discovers that we hadn't posted ourselves for our round - long wait ensues. Anyway it is eventually our time. By this time I've done my course learning, am a little surprised about my earlier intimacy with the sandpit and am thinking the jumps are a bit higher than I thought. Chaos ensues, Ernie naps and has to be led in, we immediately start jumping around which after refusing fence 2 develops into bucking, rearing and more refusing - then we start spooking at the bottom corner (see above on arrival) of the sand school. On refusing fence 4 we are technically eliminated, I don't hear this or the wise advice been shouted from behind the camera. I continue. Of the remaining five fences I think we get over about three (a few more bucks n spooks), more me just wanting to settle things a bit rather than actual competition. And I do, and there's a lot of applause.
Sophie tags on to the end of the class and gets him to do it properly! Nice! I suspect driven by the need for survival when the bigger fences come along - quite reasonably. A little irritation on the part of the judges about horses only entering each class only once. Next painful wait ensues, jump-off of 15 horses! ....
Although they're up second they are cursed with a clear round and then have to penultimate position in the novice jump off. Another long wait. Anyway Ernie's perfomance this time is much better, Sophie has calmed him down, got him focussed and deliver the sort of performance we know he can do. After the long wait for the jump off, he's cold and wet (rain having started) and brings down a couple of jumps, so we breathe a sigh of relief and head home with him.
So in the middle of all this hanging around I offer to take the big E for a walk. Not thinking I take him out towards the road, and in horse psychology, towards home. Dumb move 1. I have to walk him past the other jumping horses, this gets him on his toes. As he senses home he picks up the pace. I realise the error of my ways and turn him in the car park and I find the source of our spooking, a cockeral stands on a fence and crows, Ernie rears. The cock crows, Ernie rears, the cock crows, Ernie rears ..... in the middle of this I am barking calming instructions and offering calming pats when he stands and the cock crows again.....
Monday morning - I am beaten up, hands raw from the lead rope, toes bruised from hooves landing on them, back and inner thighs screaming from being bounced here and there.... oh and a bruised shoulder .......
Link to youtube and Sophie's great rounds http://www.youtube.com/graemebesgreen
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Blimey ... what can good partners do?
So we competed this week in the MM combined training day. We came 2nd. Stunned!! If I was surprised by the last dressage outing, this went off the scale.
All of this made all the more amazing when you note that my lack of discipline threw away the first dressage event, picking up 6th place. What miracle produced this outcome then. Our jumping, OMG our jumping.... say it again and let me hear the friends ring it out. 1st place, and 1st place on one and a half weeks practice.
But lets set the context. Ernie knows how to jump. We've discussed that many times before, though not with me in the same sentence. I entered with supreme confidence of his ability and as such let him get on with it, pointing in the right direction and nudgung forward at the appropriate, assisted by Sophie making scary noises from the touchline at appropriate times. All beautifully captured by Courtenay, new job there I suspect.
Really he was wonderful. All morning actually. He has a wonderfully mature workmanlike approach to competition. Whatever we may say about his schooling, he knows what to produce and when. What will stick in my mind for the day was sitting on him waiting to go into jump and watching him watch all the preceding horses follow the course and do every jump. It was really as if he was studying form or learning the course or both..... He is an intelligent animal.
It has become in two days my most popular ever youtube post, but hey look at the competition, lets not go there!
It was a fantastic weekend of learning, jumping everyday, even jumping Barney as well. I have received a lot of compliments about my riding which has wonderful of course, I try in my way to defer to a willing horse, a great trainer etc. But hey, I was there too. My one regret is that these are truly one off occasions, these feelings will never happen again in quite the same way. Why, because these were just so unexpected, but these things go with you to your grave and bring a richness of experience to ones existence; that I may somehow have missed them is unthinkable. If I think how much I tried to persuade myself not to buy Ernie for example, then that I wouldn't compete him etc etc.
On the more day-to-day elements of our life our lessons on Tuesday have become more exciting as we move towards prix caprilli dressage (dressage incl jumps - woo-who, guess who likes that). Ernie very much playing up this week and found myself riding direct from spook to jump, all seat strengthening stuff! Not for the feint hearted, especially with something as large and (now) strong as Ernie.
As for hacking, took him out alone this morning and won a very significant napping situation in the chalk woods :). His mounting block rudeness irritates a little, so have just started getting on the wrong side to catch him out. He hasn't worked out that one yet - not sure what his next move will be there - hoping he'll just get bored.
Also today we had our first bolt since I brought him - had one once as well when he was a school horse. Quickly realised how much fitter and stronger he now is. A good 500m or so at flat out gallop, up hill and down dale as they say - only stopping at the main gate into the woods literally, which I was seriously worrying that he was going to jump ... in my attempts to stop this I discovered that horses can do shoulder-in or something like it at gallop (why - I decided if he couldn't focus both eyes on it he couldn't set himself up to jump - watch how he lines himself up pre-jump in video). We stopped in the last metre, his nose touching the gate and amazingly me staying on board. Not a recommend experience, but one really brought on by myself, although sensing him to be a little lively I still encouraged him to canter towards home, but quickly he got away from me!! Best comparison, Disney's thunder mountain ride without the safety harnesses.
All these challenges I seem to relish, good or bad. There is no questioning that the Big E is no average: his tricks, his talents, his personality.....
All of this made all the more amazing when you note that my lack of discipline threw away the first dressage event, picking up 6th place. What miracle produced this outcome then. Our jumping, OMG our jumping.... say it again and let me hear the friends ring it out. 1st place, and 1st place on one and a half weeks practice.
But lets set the context. Ernie knows how to jump. We've discussed that many times before, though not with me in the same sentence. I entered with supreme confidence of his ability and as such let him get on with it, pointing in the right direction and nudgung forward at the appropriate, assisted by Sophie making scary noises from the touchline at appropriate times. All beautifully captured by Courtenay, new job there I suspect.
Really he was wonderful. All morning actually. He has a wonderfully mature workmanlike approach to competition. Whatever we may say about his schooling, he knows what to produce and when. What will stick in my mind for the day was sitting on him waiting to go into jump and watching him watch all the preceding horses follow the course and do every jump. It was really as if he was studying form or learning the course or both..... He is an intelligent animal.
It has become in two days my most popular ever youtube post, but hey look at the competition, lets not go there!
It was a fantastic weekend of learning, jumping everyday, even jumping Barney as well. I have received a lot of compliments about my riding which has wonderful of course, I try in my way to defer to a willing horse, a great trainer etc. But hey, I was there too. My one regret is that these are truly one off occasions, these feelings will never happen again in quite the same way. Why, because these were just so unexpected, but these things go with you to your grave and bring a richness of experience to ones existence; that I may somehow have missed them is unthinkable. If I think how much I tried to persuade myself not to buy Ernie for example, then that I wouldn't compete him etc etc.
On the more day-to-day elements of our life our lessons on Tuesday have become more exciting as we move towards prix caprilli dressage (dressage incl jumps - woo-who, guess who likes that). Ernie very much playing up this week and found myself riding direct from spook to jump, all seat strengthening stuff! Not for the feint hearted, especially with something as large and (now) strong as Ernie.
As for hacking, took him out alone this morning and won a very significant napping situation in the chalk woods :). His mounting block rudeness irritates a little, so have just started getting on the wrong side to catch him out. He hasn't worked out that one yet - not sure what his next move will be there - hoping he'll just get bored.
Also today we had our first bolt since I brought him - had one once as well when he was a school horse. Quickly realised how much fitter and stronger he now is. A good 500m or so at flat out gallop, up hill and down dale as they say - only stopping at the main gate into the woods literally, which I was seriously worrying that he was going to jump ... in my attempts to stop this I discovered that horses can do shoulder-in or something like it at gallop (why - I decided if he couldn't focus both eyes on it he couldn't set himself up to jump - watch how he lines himself up pre-jump in video). We stopped in the last metre, his nose touching the gate and amazingly me staying on board. Not a recommend experience, but one really brought on by myself, although sensing him to be a little lively I still encouraged him to canter towards home, but quickly he got away from me!! Best comparison, Disney's thunder mountain ride without the safety harnesses.
All these challenges I seem to relish, good or bad. There is no questioning that the Big E is no average: his tricks, his talents, his personality.....
Sunday, 22 May 2011
A pause to reflect ....
With Ernie now just turned 6 and me realising this weekend that we're now 3 months into this relationship I felt it time to consider the overall picture - yes that means I will try and balance my autistic obsession with napping. I realise that a lot of wonderful things are going unrecorded as i focus on this one problem - but hey I think my children might recognise that behavior!!
So 3 months in and 3 rosettes. Ernie knows when to deliver the goods for sure. We're signed up for the rest of the summer dressage series, if the next one goes well I might try and move him up from Intro for the last show. I have been rediscovering my old library of dressage literature and watching Carl Hester (as well as some old classics such as Nuno Olivera) vids on youtube, Ernie's increasingly positive response to subtle softer commands is making me feel we have some real opportunities here.
All this said I had a jump lesson on him this week and if truth be known did get myself quite excited and still found myself still smiling when the alarm went off on the following morning. Then watched the hunter trials today and kicked myself for 3 hours for not just "going for it" and doing the novice pairs with Marble. Let us see, eh? how many challenges can we have at one time.
He is teaching me a lot about what it feels like to work with a horse. He is teaching me a lot about him. I am now calibrating my approach to what seems to work well for him. For example, he is clearly a lot more sensitive than perhaps he has been given credit for, as I mentioned he is showing a real positive response to the softer command, voice and a slight squeeze. For note: when the formula isn't followed resistance ensues, and that resistance increases with the strength of the demand. So give him a big kick, rest assured there will be a big buck.
I continue to work on the napping, but as said am trying to do it in a non-conflict type of way, this is fine, but you need plenty of time. We are often found standing around in different parts of Mascals and Joydens, waiting for Ernie to be bored of sodding about, for sure not everyone agrees the approach, but in each case we end up doing what I ask and the scale of the resistence is reducing for sure. So this is a few months rather than a few weeks but it will be fine. At the end of the day he is always good follwoing in company anyway, so the real problems are only "alone", but I do love the spiritual bond of hacking alone with him so will not be letting up too soon.
I chose not to buy an older developed and experienced horse, and there is the challenge, I am learning to accept it for that. I have the satisfaction of ownership around our successes (and the pride of watching his great performances with Sophie too). The subtlty of controls and voice activation, improving balance and lateral work, a real build in his physical strength and stamina (to the extent that his 'roaring' really feels like a non-issue). As for me, my understanding around communication, a real new love of ground-work out of the saddle and tying that back to mounted work, a much more balanced seat of own and a burgeoning appreciation of what can be achieved around that. And realising that my commands need to be clear and absolute, not being a school master he doesn't filter mulitple commands in the same way as older horses.
Sometimes it actually feels like he knows everything and that he is just quietly waiting for me to ask the right question. But there can be satisfaction in discovery regardless of which one of us has the epiphony! When it comes down I love Ernie and I love owning him. I can't recall how long of wanted a horse and now I have one. I didn't believe it would be so satisfying, I still just stop and stare at him or just sit on the floor next to him in his stable and pinch myself to say yes he's mine.
I cannot know for sure what new challenges lie ahead, or when the current will pass. I cannot know what achievements await us, but I do know that the time we share is without price, it cannot be valued or measured it just to be experienced. To live in the a fixed present, just the now, which you are on horse back is the most amazing escape. He has become a really special part of my life, sometimes I do wonder if the feeling is actually mutual though!! :-)
So 3 months in and 3 rosettes. Ernie knows when to deliver the goods for sure. We're signed up for the rest of the summer dressage series, if the next one goes well I might try and move him up from Intro for the last show. I have been rediscovering my old library of dressage literature and watching Carl Hester (as well as some old classics such as Nuno Olivera) vids on youtube, Ernie's increasingly positive response to subtle softer commands is making me feel we have some real opportunities here.
All this said I had a jump lesson on him this week and if truth be known did get myself quite excited and still found myself still smiling when the alarm went off on the following morning. Then watched the hunter trials today and kicked myself for 3 hours for not just "going for it" and doing the novice pairs with Marble. Let us see, eh? how many challenges can we have at one time.
He is teaching me a lot about what it feels like to work with a horse. He is teaching me a lot about him. I am now calibrating my approach to what seems to work well for him. For example, he is clearly a lot more sensitive than perhaps he has been given credit for, as I mentioned he is showing a real positive response to the softer command, voice and a slight squeeze. For note: when the formula isn't followed resistance ensues, and that resistance increases with the strength of the demand. So give him a big kick, rest assured there will be a big buck.
I continue to work on the napping, but as said am trying to do it in a non-conflict type of way, this is fine, but you need plenty of time. We are often found standing around in different parts of Mascals and Joydens, waiting for Ernie to be bored of sodding about, for sure not everyone agrees the approach, but in each case we end up doing what I ask and the scale of the resistence is reducing for sure. So this is a few months rather than a few weeks but it will be fine. At the end of the day he is always good follwoing in company anyway, so the real problems are only "alone", but I do love the spiritual bond of hacking alone with him so will not be letting up too soon.
I chose not to buy an older developed and experienced horse, and there is the challenge, I am learning to accept it for that. I have the satisfaction of ownership around our successes (and the pride of watching his great performances with Sophie too). The subtlty of controls and voice activation, improving balance and lateral work, a real build in his physical strength and stamina (to the extent that his 'roaring' really feels like a non-issue). As for me, my understanding around communication, a real new love of ground-work out of the saddle and tying that back to mounted work, a much more balanced seat of own and a burgeoning appreciation of what can be achieved around that. And realising that my commands need to be clear and absolute, not being a school master he doesn't filter mulitple commands in the same way as older horses.
Sometimes it actually feels like he knows everything and that he is just quietly waiting for me to ask the right question. But there can be satisfaction in discovery regardless of which one of us has the epiphony! When it comes down I love Ernie and I love owning him. I can't recall how long of wanted a horse and now I have one. I didn't believe it would be so satisfying, I still just stop and stare at him or just sit on the floor next to him in his stable and pinch myself to say yes he's mine.
I cannot know for sure what new challenges lie ahead, or when the current will pass. I cannot know what achievements await us, but I do know that the time we share is without price, it cannot be valued or measured it just to be experienced. To live in the a fixed present, just the now, which you are on horse back is the most amazing escape. He has become a really special part of my life, sometimes I do wonder if the feeling is actually mutual though!! :-)
Monday, 16 May 2011
A quick nap! (Not!!)
OMG!
Did we have a nap or what this morning. But decided to confront it head on, or sort of .... my way or no way!
So it took 50 minutes to get out of MM car park. A lot of very polite help offered, a lot declined. But we continued and eventually got down the lane... after many long periods of standing still pointing in our intended direction, then punctuated by much jumping around and reversing! He can park between cars in reverse better than I can! In the end it was a good old fashioned stand off, or boreeach other to death, with occasional bursts of frantic conflict and loud hoof scraping on tarmac. But we got there.
The first time we almost succeeded we met a post office van, so i had to turn round and come back! The air was filled with excessive use of the F word. Audible up at Taylors and down in Bexley village I expect.
But we got there.
Next we had 10 minutes to get back on him after the woods gate. That was a little more physical, not too proud of that one! In the end it was the more passive approach that won the day.
After all this ... we still had to have a hack! Only had half day off!!!
Did we have a nap or what this morning. But decided to confront it head on, or sort of .... my way or no way!
So it took 50 minutes to get out of MM car park. A lot of very polite help offered, a lot declined. But we continued and eventually got down the lane... after many long periods of standing still pointing in our intended direction, then punctuated by much jumping around and reversing! He can park between cars in reverse better than I can! In the end it was a good old fashioned stand off, or boreeach other to death, with occasional bursts of frantic conflict and loud hoof scraping on tarmac. But we got there.
The first time we almost succeeded we met a post office van, so i had to turn round and come back! The air was filled with excessive use of the F word. Audible up at Taylors and down in Bexley village I expect.
But we got there.
Next we had 10 minutes to get back on him after the woods gate. That was a little more physical, not too proud of that one! In the end it was the more passive approach that won the day.
After all this ... we still had to have a hack! Only had half day off!!!
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Classical riding and classic character development
Ernie and I have done our first dressage test - the BD intro (B). Why did we do it? I decided I loved the competition spirit and wanted to do more, so ...... The idea: lets do it and get used to the competition environment, no expectation of performance. And then we ended up second! 60% test score overall, and that included a big spook. As they announced the results I became increasingly surprised, Bash even stopped to observe the look of disbelief on my face.
So the preparation, never my strong point. I have never really "My Little Ponied" properly though I accept that I now must. I would like to take pride in his presentation, but ..... After hacking on Saturday Lucy and I decided to get them platted in prep. Whilst Lucy beautiful coiffured Marble, I tied Ernie up and quickly started trying to tie my chubby inflexible digits into some kind of living cats cradle,whilst pretending to tussle with his mane. After the swearing started, Lucy sweeps in (to save the sensitivities of the young children working on the yard) and works her magic along his neck, whilst I professionally issue elastic bands on demand.
And of course, what might this blog be without an update on the napping....
We have definitely made some progress, but it is to be slow. Have tried to follow my basic rules, previously identified. The best story on naps from this week (which actually best illustrates what seems to be Ernie thinking) was yesterday at the Ship pub. Returning from the piggeries as we walk down the country lane Ernie spots The Ship pub, and this is where he wants to be, and so we stop, he walks back, we turn and try again, he walks back again, we march into a parked car (thankfully unalarmed) .... eventually we are led, lead-rein by Marble - "how old are we??!" Ironically I recall my reasoning behind buying the big E - because if he was a person then I'd look forward to spending evenings propping up bars and politicing, exchanging irrelevant and non-PC observations of the world around us. Part of me wants to go " 'as ma boy!". And why such behavior, somebody knew there was grass in a paddock out back.
So what have we learned ...
1. his napping is largely bloody-minded
2. there are no fear or spook behind it
3. ernie naps when he has "better" ideas - i don't want to go round the woods again; i've schooled so it's not hack-time; i've already jumped once today; i like it here!
So we have a stubbon teenager on our hands who has decided it is time to assert his burgeoning character.
In summary the napping might still be there but in most cases he seems to be less determined, "this is the place in woods where I'm naughty, so off I go" but sometimes it seems to be follwed by a "why" .... so we stand him still and he seems to either get bored or to forget why he didn't want to go. The pub mentioned above was he only real bad show. I am optimistic we will move on from this, over time.....
Call me niaive.
I seem to have pointed a lot recently that we get the horses (and pets for that matter) we deserve! Anyone know an occasionally stubbon, slightly-willful man who might just believe that he knows best! Tell me, I need a chat with him.
Love that 'orse!
So the preparation, never my strong point. I have never really "My Little Ponied" properly though I accept that I now must. I would like to take pride in his presentation, but ..... After hacking on Saturday Lucy and I decided to get them platted in prep. Whilst Lucy beautiful coiffured Marble, I tied Ernie up and quickly started trying to tie my chubby inflexible digits into some kind of living cats cradle,whilst pretending to tussle with his mane. After the swearing started, Lucy sweeps in (to save the sensitivities of the young children working on the yard) and works her magic along his neck, whilst I professionally issue elastic bands on demand.
And of course, what might this blog be without an update on the napping....
We have definitely made some progress, but it is to be slow. Have tried to follow my basic rules, previously identified. The best story on naps from this week (which actually best illustrates what seems to be Ernie thinking) was yesterday at the Ship pub. Returning from the piggeries as we walk down the country lane Ernie spots The Ship pub, and this is where he wants to be, and so we stop, he walks back, we turn and try again, he walks back again, we march into a parked car (thankfully unalarmed) .... eventually we are led, lead-rein by Marble - "how old are we??!" Ironically I recall my reasoning behind buying the big E - because if he was a person then I'd look forward to spending evenings propping up bars and politicing, exchanging irrelevant and non-PC observations of the world around us. Part of me wants to go " 'as ma boy!". And why such behavior, somebody knew there was grass in a paddock out back.
So what have we learned ...
1. his napping is largely bloody-minded
2. there are no fear or spook behind it
3. ernie naps when he has "better" ideas - i don't want to go round the woods again; i've schooled so it's not hack-time; i've already jumped once today; i like it here!
So we have a stubbon teenager on our hands who has decided it is time to assert his burgeoning character.
In summary the napping might still be there but in most cases he seems to be less determined, "this is the place in woods where I'm naughty, so off I go" but sometimes it seems to be follwed by a "why" .... so we stand him still and he seems to either get bored or to forget why he didn't want to go. The pub mentioned above was he only real bad show. I am optimistic we will move on from this, over time.....
Call me niaive.
I seem to have pointed a lot recently that we get the horses (and pets for that matter) we deserve! Anyone know an occasionally stubbon, slightly-willful man who might just believe that he knows best! Tell me, I need a chat with him.
Love that 'orse!
Thursday, 5 May 2011
The good, the bad and the nappy
So let's start with a the high points. Ernie's bank holiday weekend was one of incredible achievements - 6th place in the MM Royal wedding challenge with Sophie, then at the Mayday show two 3rd place rosettes with me (on inhand classes) and the 6th and 4th on novice and intermediate jumps respectively with Sophie - selective bits will be available on my youtube page soon (http://www.youtube.com/graemebesgreen ). What a horse. What potential. Inspired we take on intro dressage next weekend.
So there's the good. Now the bad, now the heartache..... Now the napping!
I recall my celebrations around this horse that would go anywhere. Now I rue one single ride which seems to have turned all that around. At heart I am devastated by this, it feels like some real incredible achievements just blown apart.
One saturday morning we refused to go. Not just refused but stopped and learnt to march backwards at speed - straight back, round into trees and towards (so far just parked) cars! Ironically we were not alone but our fellow rider had to leave us the effect it was having on his mount. Truth be known it is un-nerving me, more than a little.
Worst cases - having to be chased out of mascal's car park by staff to get to the woods; finding myself stuck in the chalk woods for 20 mins; on bad days not being able to pass junctions without a fight and throwing Sophie off in competition (so far I have proved too fat and heavy and/or too nervous to push that hard!).
So where now. I am trying to take this on in a non combative way. Getting overly physical heavy with Ernie just leads at the moment to fights which I am destined to lose. The irony of all the voice training I have done is that we now work together in a minimally physical way which just makes this the harder to resolve, and if that physical pressure escalates it undermines our achievements. This is hard!
I have increased my ground work - am undertaking the natural horsemanship goal of controlling personal space and control of the movement of the feet as a non confrontational approach. I borrowed an 15m round pen and went for join-up the other evening - which involved Courtenay (who'd come to watch) running away because she thought he was going to attack me, great to have support in a crisis! That said there was some very directed and high kicks when I moved in front of him at canter to force a 180 degrees change in his direction.
Also there is a lot of inhand lateral and transition work - these things have gone very well and I can turn him around his front and rear quarters from the ground as well as perfect transitions from little light voice and posture change. These are wonderful, sometimes we almost begin to play together trotting up and down roads and round schools together - though personally I find jogging in the sand very hard!
Is this spiritual cowbay stuff working? I don't know yet if honest but these things aren't supposed to be overnight. The nappiness seems to be worse at times, especially when he has decided he's done enough, for example taking him to the woods after he's been schooling becomes an all-star wrestling feature. So what's the plan....
1. Continue the horsemanship
2. Try to minimise conflict opportunities (eg dismount for gates where I know he might fight, beforehand; do not try 'round the woods twice').
3. When alone make sure I have time to address problems - ie if he decides to not go forward then make him stay until he is bored, even if this means 30 mins standing in the same spot - Lucy telling me of people taking books out hacking with them to kill time! I have now put tetris on my phone!
4. Hack with more mature and sensible animals when not alone.
I am on my own with this for most of this month (May) with Sophie away, and then Lucy and Marble are moving away which is really saddens me and I think will upset the big E. So the challenge is there. I am determined to get through this without further impact on relations.
People remind me he is young. I know this unconsciously, especially when he is really stubborn when by default I find myself calling him Quentin! The other male (slightly headstrong) teenager in my life.
And so dear readers to work....
Friday, 22 April 2011
Opening communication lines....
What a couple of weeks for me. I've been out with Ernie nearly every day, in one way on another. What a happy boy am I! And we've been everywhere it feels. Highlight definitely being 2 and a half hours out going to the Swanley gallop with Sophie, who borrowed Marble - Ernie's new best friend by the way! Excepting yours truly of course! ;-)
I have now done some more lunging, properly this time, without losing all coordination, without feeling sick and without risking physical injury at the hooves of my pride and joy. So what is this illusive grail, what lock do I hope will be unpicked by the subtle whip-lick from the lunge line, it is voice activation. We've talked of that before.... its been a constant theme I think. It is the way I have always enjoyed working, but have only every achieved it with some of the horses I've ridden down in the Pyrenees.
So after my first lesson we're making some progress I find a way of say KAAAN-TA which seems to hit the spot - walk and trot already working. Though stopping him seems to be a little challenging, or at least I can stop the canter, stop the trot, but the walk just keeps on-going. Weird. I am beginning to realise voice commands need two distinct syllables.
So we take these learnings out into the woods where they have slowly taken on new life. At first we had to be very demanding, so I rapidly became more the Horse-Bellower than Whisperer of my dreams, but.... As a hack-horse Ernie has now become almost completely voice activated, in two weeks, gentle squeeze and say the word. To the extent that when I tried to take him for a gallop over the golf course, I forgot to ask and just kicked him so he tried to throw me off, so I kicked again this time he tried harder to unseat me - we definitely have established a clear two channel of comms and I ignore his at my peril! Despite being a big horse I think he demands gentle handling - he's not so much dead to the leg but irritated by too much of it.
I am trying to listen more and more to him, rather than tell, tell, tell.... The fuss I make the less he does, the more heavy handed I am, the more he resists. I try more and more to accept everything as a communication, he is honest and tends to act with purpose, so I now I always seek the intent. We end up in a much happier place.
I took him out on his own yesterday beyond the safe confines of Joydens, across golf course, roads and farm land. What an experience, yes he was jumpy ... builders dropping scaffold poles, farm shop shoppers emerging a little too enthusiastic about their organic acquisitions, itinerant eastern Europeans farm workers working where they don't work at weekends but .... that's a lot to get through without the safety of fellow equine company!!
So notwithstanding the challenges of young-green-horse having to put up with a rider whose competencies are the wrong side of intermediate (in text book terms) I personally have to observe that my time with Ernie ever more rewarding, every time we work he gives more, I think the feeling is mutual. Really it feels like we can take on the world (but i'll probably leave that bit to Sophie!!).
I have now done some more lunging, properly this time, without losing all coordination, without feeling sick and without risking physical injury at the hooves of my pride and joy. So what is this illusive grail, what lock do I hope will be unpicked by the subtle whip-lick from the lunge line, it is voice activation. We've talked of that before.... its been a constant theme I think. It is the way I have always enjoyed working, but have only every achieved it with some of the horses I've ridden down in the Pyrenees.
So after my first lesson we're making some progress I find a way of say KAAAN-TA which seems to hit the spot - walk and trot already working. Though stopping him seems to be a little challenging, or at least I can stop the canter, stop the trot, but the walk just keeps on-going. Weird. I am beginning to realise voice commands need two distinct syllables.
So we take these learnings out into the woods where they have slowly taken on new life. At first we had to be very demanding, so I rapidly became more the Horse-Bellower than Whisperer of my dreams, but.... As a hack-horse Ernie has now become almost completely voice activated, in two weeks, gentle squeeze and say the word. To the extent that when I tried to take him for a gallop over the golf course, I forgot to ask and just kicked him so he tried to throw me off, so I kicked again this time he tried harder to unseat me - we definitely have established a clear two channel of comms and I ignore his at my peril! Despite being a big horse I think he demands gentle handling - he's not so much dead to the leg but irritated by too much of it.
I am trying to listen more and more to him, rather than tell, tell, tell.... The fuss I make the less he does, the more heavy handed I am, the more he resists. I try more and more to accept everything as a communication, he is honest and tends to act with purpose, so I now I always seek the intent. We end up in a much happier place.
I took him out on his own yesterday beyond the safe confines of Joydens, across golf course, roads and farm land. What an experience, yes he was jumpy ... builders dropping scaffold poles, farm shop shoppers emerging a little too enthusiastic about their organic acquisitions, itinerant eastern Europeans farm workers working where they don't work at weekends but .... that's a lot to get through without the safety of fellow equine company!!
So notwithstanding the challenges of young-green-horse having to put up with a rider whose competencies are the wrong side of intermediate (in text book terms) I personally have to observe that my time with Ernie ever more rewarding, every time we work he gives more, I think the feeling is mutual. Really it feels like we can take on the world (but i'll probably leave that bit to Sophie!!).
Monday, 11 April 2011
The dizzy dummy.
So I'm now learning to lunge.
Officially it starts mid-week. Unofficially it started on Saturday. My good friend Leighton offered me a first taste. Despite a lot of man-handling sadly I could not quite stay still. Particualrly as the drunken giddiness kicked in. I ended up completely seasick, L taking the lungeline from me and trying to assume control whilst I was stumbling around trying to even take two steps in the same direction..... get out of the way.... yeah right!
More like, wobble telle-tubby, wobble Tinkie-Winkie.... wobble towards the hooves of that cantering horse!
He had said to keep looking at the horse, I did, but i was also determined to take in the beautiful spring morning scenery around me. Or was I trying to check for some kind of validation from the gawping gallery. The rest, history...
Was I pleased with my first steps into horsemanship ... well I kept my breakfast down!
I was Laurel, to Leighton's Hardy on this morning.
The real thing'll kick in this week. Light breakfasts planned.
Officially it starts mid-week. Unofficially it started on Saturday. My good friend Leighton offered me a first taste. Despite a lot of man-handling sadly I could not quite stay still. Particualrly as the drunken giddiness kicked in. I ended up completely seasick, L taking the lungeline from me and trying to assume control whilst I was stumbling around trying to even take two steps in the same direction..... get out of the way.... yeah right!
More like, wobble telle-tubby, wobble Tinkie-Winkie.... wobble towards the hooves of that cantering horse!
He had said to keep looking at the horse, I did, but i was also determined to take in the beautiful spring morning scenery around me. Or was I trying to check for some kind of validation from the gawping gallery. The rest, history...
Was I pleased with my first steps into horsemanship ... well I kept my breakfast down!
I was Laurel, to Leighton's Hardy on this morning.
The real thing'll kick in this week. Light breakfasts planned.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Lost in translation...
So I'm recommended to try and get more voice control over Ernie. Which means, when out in the woods say "Can-ter!" loudly and clearly when I ask for it and reward him accordingly if he does it. (Remember in the school when we go for this transition we tend to get lots of bucking! .... but I do tend to try and voice activate to a degree when I'm schooling anyway.... )
Off I go to the woods determined to try this out. So we're off cantering and I remember that I forgot to say anything, so I say it when I nudge him to keep going ..... And, what do you know - HE BUCKS! - mid-canter.
So it appears I have taught him voice activation, but it just activate the wrong bits! Re-learning's going to be fun (not!), god help both our backs!! :-)
Off I go to the woods determined to try this out. So we're off cantering and I remember that I forgot to say anything, so I say it when I nudge him to keep going ..... And, what do you know - HE BUCKS! - mid-canter.
So it appears I have taught him voice activation, but it just activate the wrong bits! Re-learning's going to be fun (not!), god help both our backs!! :-)
Monday, 21 March 2011
Perhaps I brought two horses ....
So perhaps there are actually two Ernies - and I brought both of them but the only let one out at a time! There is the one that I fuss over and potter about with at the weekends, trying to sharpen transitions and mumbling about how I might sustain his implusion, and then there is the other who is the focussed and motivated competitor.
Why do I say this?
Well I went to watch him show-jumping under Sophie's command at the MM Friday red-nose event... and what a performance that was - I didn't sleep most of the night - such was the impact on me. From his "on-his-toes", prancing, "i've just grown a whole hand" arrival into the arena through the determined spirit displayed and drive throughout his clear-round of the course. Even on the tighter turns and subsequent jumps, in some cases with a grace not displayed by peers.
OK, he still needs to be fitter and can definitely improve his balance but lets remember he's a very big young horse, that was one hell of a display. No rosettes but hey this is just the beginnning of the journey.
Well I went to watch him show-jumping under Sophie's command at the MM Friday red-nose event... and what a performance that was - I didn't sleep most of the night - such was the impact on me. From his "on-his-toes", prancing, "i've just grown a whole hand" arrival into the arena through the determined spirit displayed and drive throughout his clear-round of the course. Even on the tighter turns and subsequent jumps, in some cases with a grace not displayed by peers.
OK, he still needs to be fitter and can definitely improve his balance but lets remember he's a very big young horse, that was one hell of a display. No rosettes but hey this is just the beginnning of the journey.
I had expected to see a slightly laconic but neverless good-natured clearance of the jumps - clearly not so! As spectator I was stunned, as a rider I was humbled. As an owner I felt that wonderful feeling of pride that I guess TB owners experience greeting their horse and riders in the paddock after a postive first public performance over 20 furlongs - I sat there mumbling to Courtenay "that's my horse that is, that's my horse that is...."
Well perhaps there are just two riders..... So thanks to Sophie! I have seen others ride Ernie too, but never have I seen the partnership and that willingness or enthusiasm he displayed for the task on Friday.
Anyway watching that performance has convinced me of the incredible honesty and potential for the big lad - any talk of laziness should be commited to the domain of gossips and idle whispers - and I have to say the word from the saddle is similarly robust.
It also convinced me that we need to loosen his back up, his brief stint as a school horse needs to be undone. Yes Ernie bucks out of high spirits, let it always be so for those spirits are his very essence, but there was also some that came over as perhaps some slight resistance and/or discomfort. I had been willing to believe it was more my cumbersome seat. So we are starting some osteopath work this week. If by some chance he is experiencing some discomfort I want to relieve that now, not after of a few months of pushing and fighting for no reason - what's to lose.... OK I know £50!
And for my riding? Watching Sophie was the best lesson in ages. I saw the potential in Ernie and in that I saw opportunities for my personal improvement. Ernie is young and Ernie is willing. I think he wants to do what is asked of him, I am beginning realise properly through the performance of others that perhaps my sometimes lacking personal discipline as a rider is confusing this young horse, I am at best giving him too many signals, at worst conflicting ones. I have started this weekend positively trying to say less, early feedback from down below was promising. Someone remind me of this lesson next week when I have my next obsession!
Writers for centuries have observed that horses are both generous and humbling - it is that which has driven me to this place. It is that which will keep me moving forward.
Monday, 14 March 2011
Idle thoughts on hacking with Ernie
So I've been hacking with Ernie for nearly a year now - though for much of that time mainly as an escorted school horse.
When I started thinking about buying I looked up some useful sites on the internet with key questions that should lead the prospective purchaser objectively to the correct decision. Not far into the list were the questions: does he rear? buck? bolt? - well what could I say, he ticked all boxes, especially when riding out and not just once! Decision made.
Yes he's been a bit of a character in the woods and certainly has earned himself quite a reputation, which slowly became more and more apparent as my escort started to bring lead ropes and get very uncomfortable when I would suggest taking the lead; this then further emphasised by comments such as "well I hadn't expected him to be that good" to the more extreme "if he did that to me I'd be on the floor now". There were times I admit where a good hack simply constituted all four feet remaining on the floor, or least never further from the floor than expectation within the measure of our employed gait.
What can I say, clearly we were meant for each other. But for all this I never really felt him more than high-spirited or playful, at the end of the day you can feel the difference between when a horse wants to do something and you're holding it back as against it's decided to unseat you.
So when he was vetted, what was the answer to, what would be his principal proposed use ..... Yes, you guessed it!
And then I brought him, and he has become Mr chilled, the equine manifestation of "Yeah, whatever..." So here I am with what seems to be the a dream hacking horse, who is equally happy alone and in company...... Famous last words.
Anyway so the I have a growing list of observations on Ernie's view of the world which I am compiling from experiences when riding out with him ....
What doesn't spook him: Gates; Girl guide troops flapping maps; Parrots in cages; Parrots not in cages; Cars; Llamas; Big lorries with cranes on them, passing him in a narrow country lane; Other horses misbehaving; Bikes; Joggers; Other horses cantering away from him; Golf carts, small dogs.....
What does flap him: Other horses cantering up from behind him (this is the life before your eyes moment usually); Ramblers sneaking through undergrowth; Plastic bags in trees; Children on the rope swing in the woods by the Joyden's gate; Other horses treading on twigs; Golfers in play (then again I never liked 'em either, even when I had an eight handicap!)....
Lets see which list ends up the longest ... the ones i'm not looking forward to trying (but previously experienced) helicopters, dog going for legs, quad-bikes and other spooked horses bolting past .....
When I started thinking about buying I looked up some useful sites on the internet with key questions that should lead the prospective purchaser objectively to the correct decision. Not far into the list were the questions: does he rear? buck? bolt? - well what could I say, he ticked all boxes, especially when riding out and not just once! Decision made.
Yes he's been a bit of a character in the woods and certainly has earned himself quite a reputation, which slowly became more and more apparent as my escort started to bring lead ropes and get very uncomfortable when I would suggest taking the lead; this then further emphasised by comments such as "well I hadn't expected him to be that good" to the more extreme "if he did that to me I'd be on the floor now". There were times I admit where a good hack simply constituted all four feet remaining on the floor, or least never further from the floor than expectation within the measure of our employed gait.
What can I say, clearly we were meant for each other. But for all this I never really felt him more than high-spirited or playful, at the end of the day you can feel the difference between when a horse wants to do something and you're holding it back as against it's decided to unseat you.
So when he was vetted, what was the answer to, what would be his principal proposed use ..... Yes, you guessed it!
And then I brought him, and he has become Mr chilled, the equine manifestation of "Yeah, whatever..." So here I am with what seems to be the a dream hacking horse, who is equally happy alone and in company...... Famous last words.
Anyway so the I have a growing list of observations on Ernie's view of the world which I am compiling from experiences when riding out with him ....
What doesn't spook him: Gates; Girl guide troops flapping maps; Parrots in cages; Parrots not in cages; Cars; Llamas; Big lorries with cranes on them, passing him in a narrow country lane; Other horses misbehaving; Bikes; Joggers; Other horses cantering away from him; Golf carts, small dogs.....
What does flap him: Other horses cantering up from behind him (this is the life before your eyes moment usually); Ramblers sneaking through undergrowth; Plastic bags in trees; Children on the rope swing in the woods by the Joyden's gate; Other horses treading on twigs; Golfers in play (then again I never liked 'em either, even when I had an eight handicap!)....
Lets see which list ends up the longest ... the ones i'm not looking forward to trying (but previously experienced) helicopters, dog going for legs, quad-bikes and other spooked horses bolting past .....
Thursday, 10 March 2011
NO WHOA WITHOUT A GO
So my teacher has come up with an approach to making Ernie a little more "off the leg". And first blush it is showing promise.
"No whoa without a go" loosely translates to don't worry about stopping if you're not going forward. So kiss goodbye to those you love and put your personal affairs in order. The approach originates from within the french classical riding school I'm advised, typical, just showing off I say!
In practice, reins in one hand, crop in the other, offer hands and relinquish contact (in novice rider world, the brakes....); then drive forward with legs, supporting with crop as required. Hope you're pointing in the right direction! Not to be undertaken in a busy school. Anyway the big E picked this up quite nicely, with only one or two uses of crop and we were off and only one buck, he does try very hard really. Personally I found this faux western style much more straight-forward and I'd say E responded in kind.
This relatively non-confrontational training approach really appeals the aspiring natural horseman in me. So am going to take my life in hand this weekend and try it up in the woods and see if we can release the canter potential which has been lying a little dorment over last week or so (or at least hiding behind some very signifcant bucks).
Lovely knowing y'all!
"No whoa without a go" loosely translates to don't worry about stopping if you're not going forward. So kiss goodbye to those you love and put your personal affairs in order. The approach originates from within the french classical riding school I'm advised, typical, just showing off I say!
In practice, reins in one hand, crop in the other, offer hands and relinquish contact (in novice rider world, the brakes....); then drive forward with legs, supporting with crop as required. Hope you're pointing in the right direction! Not to be undertaken in a busy school. Anyway the big E picked this up quite nicely, with only one or two uses of crop and we were off and only one buck, he does try very hard really. Personally I found this faux western style much more straight-forward and I'd say E responded in kind.
This relatively non-confrontational training approach really appeals the aspiring natural horseman in me. So am going to take my life in hand this weekend and try it up in the woods and see if we can release the canter potential which has been lying a little dorment over last week or so (or at least hiding behind some very signifcant bucks).
Lovely knowing y'all!
Sunday, 27 February 2011
One tired horse
So a tough weekend for the big E.
After some very successful clear round performances on Friday - with Sophie, so not at my hand I modestly point out - schooling on Saturday and Sunday, so sadly by the time we then took him out for a hack he was clearly not quite as up for it as usual. Firstly perfectly happy to drop in and follow Barney around the woods, not storming to the front or bucking till someone lets him (can this be Ernie); then the whole idea of trotting up the hill in the chalk woods was too much. Thought I broken him for one second. How many times in the next few years will I actually consider that I may be in better shape than my horse, let me have my brief moment in the sun ....
His schooling has been excellent this weekend, really trying to get back to basics - both of us. We have largely got him through his napping - the trick in this case, deep seat, look ahead and tactical crop support. Short bucking bursts on Saturday but largely clear today. However we then got compalcent and went for the the school canter, much bouncing ensued. That said there was a vague hint of promise there, especially as I began to feel for the first time that my seat (again) may make a difference .... dare I hope.
He already feels like a different horse. We are very close. It is special. I am a lucky man.
After some very successful clear round performances on Friday - with Sophie, so not at my hand I modestly point out - schooling on Saturday and Sunday, so sadly by the time we then took him out for a hack he was clearly not quite as up for it as usual. Firstly perfectly happy to drop in and follow Barney around the woods, not storming to the front or bucking till someone lets him (can this be Ernie); then the whole idea of trotting up the hill in the chalk woods was too much. Thought I broken him for one second. How many times in the next few years will I actually consider that I may be in better shape than my horse, let me have my brief moment in the sun ....
His schooling has been excellent this weekend, really trying to get back to basics - both of us. We have largely got him through his napping - the trick in this case, deep seat, look ahead and tactical crop support. Short bucking bursts on Saturday but largely clear today. However we then got compalcent and went for the the school canter, much bouncing ensued. That said there was a vague hint of promise there, especially as I began to feel for the first time that my seat (again) may make a difference .... dare I hope.
He already feels like a different horse. We are very close. It is special. I am a lucky man.
Saturday, 26 February 2011
A little background - part one
I'm the wrong end of my forties to be picking the sand from the menage out of teeth and rubbing arnica gel into bruises once a month but as happens with these things one is too frequently still compelled to act against the wise direction of common sense. I have explored this is my mind and am relatively sure it is not a mid-life crisis and so am determined to proceed.
Ernie forever represents the now to me - in his company I have no past and no future (the latter being particularly ironic given his young age and my inexperience!). In this state I am never more young or old than I feel on the day. Let it always be thus.
Thinking back to whether I should purchase him, I wrestled with a number of self-depricating counter arguments: am I worthy of him? Am I capable of developing his inate talent? Am I just flattering myself? But who cares, I asked for a price on him. Someone suggests he could be brought-on to hunt, my heart sinks, more challenges! A couple of google searches later and I now quite concerned about what this means following images of bold irish draughts vaulting hedge-rows that look to be twice their size. I am hoping that perhaps sometimes the camera does lie!
So my riding experiences are chequered and go back about 8 years, having started with children - more reflections here will follow I'm sure. We all stopped for various reasons, but after nearly 3 years out a regular saddle, I find myself once again mounted, this time alone!
Once more into the jodphurs dear readers! So sit deep, nudge gently and trot on.
Ernie forever represents the now to me - in his company I have no past and no future (the latter being particularly ironic given his young age and my inexperience!). In this state I am never more young or old than I feel on the day. Let it always be thus.
Thinking back to whether I should purchase him, I wrestled with a number of self-depricating counter arguments: am I worthy of him? Am I capable of developing his inate talent? Am I just flattering myself? But who cares, I asked for a price on him. Someone suggests he could be brought-on to hunt, my heart sinks, more challenges! A couple of google searches later and I now quite concerned about what this means following images of bold irish draughts vaulting hedge-rows that look to be twice their size. I am hoping that perhaps sometimes the camera does lie!
So my riding experiences are chequered and go back about 8 years, having started with children - more reflections here will follow I'm sure. We all stopped for various reasons, but after nearly 3 years out a regular saddle, I find myself once again mounted, this time alone!
Once more into the jodphurs dear readers! So sit deep, nudge gently and trot on.
Welcome to Ernie and Graeme's story
So here I am the owner of a 5 year old Irish draught horse called Ernie.
This is intended to be the story of our future journey as well as occasional reflections on how we got to this place. There are learning curves that need a chair lift to ascend and there is going to be a lot of 'help from our friends' on route.
I hope that you will join us on this journey and enjoy the story. I hope that you will your thoughts and comments.
This is intended to be the story of our future journey as well as occasional reflections on how we got to this place. There are learning curves that need a chair lift to ascend and there is going to be a lot of 'help from our friends' on route.
I hope that you will join us on this journey and enjoy the story. I hope that you will your thoughts and comments.
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