| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| arabianrio |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 1:35:35 PM
Last Tuesday we had our third lesson of this year and it went very well. We only started in November with a long break because of the weather and so this is only number six together "ever." Today I thought I would try and do some practice but now I wish I hadn't! Firstly we thought we would behave more like a donkey (sorry donkey lovers) than an Arabian. Forwards is not a description of our going!So then we did lots of transitions ...not too bad and we were going quite nicely.... But after about 20 mins it all went downhill. Circles became squares, corners treated with contempt and must be avoided at all costs.....I got cross he got cross...ran on and tossed his head about! We did however finish on a good note ...a nice trot around the school and steady walk.So very frustrating
Just wish I hadn't bothered today!Cannot even blame the high winds for the disaster as he was as cool as a cucumber! |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Smiler |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 6:27:09 PM
ah not a youngster but all the same not supple yet a you say personally i would do ten to fifteen mins schooling then do some thing else hack out etc or go for a hack and do large circles and things while your out so as not so boring in a school for him with time you will get there just stay calm and if he is not in the mood certain days do something else to take his mind off it |
| arabianrio |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 5:40:02 PM
He is 12 yo but is an ex racehorse and I know from his previous owner he hasn't done any school work for years - if any at all! I had him in May and we only started our lessons at the end of last year.It is all new to him. He has been in work (lunge work and hacking out now for some 7 weeks) so is reasonably fit....but not yet supple. I think it was just a not a good day. I agree I probably should have left it at around the 20min mark. |
| xsara |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 5:13:43 PM
It sounds very familar to me Xsara is the exact same some days she cant be bothered or gets bored and stroppy so I try not to school too long to encourage boredom and as others have said if not in the mood i Tend to find out rather quick and just dome something else like pole work or a hack with the later nights, or do something different like leg yielding and touce wood her flatwork is finally starting to go some where though it only took her a year to come round to my way of thinking lol and I never pushed it on her concentrated more on strengthening her and obedience, and jumping which she loves and left her head carraige till this year which she is now so much more willing to ride on the bridle |
| Roseanne |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 4:09:29 PM
Well done for ending with some nice work. That's probably the most important thing.
If you've only done a little work in the past, I'd say 20 mins is good enough. All horses have days when they go better than others. Most have days when they are not consistent. Those are the opportunities to practice staying calm and concentrating on asking the horse to attend and do even one thing nicely. You may have to right back to a decent walk and halt down the centre line, especially if the wind is making things around the edges of the arena a bit frightening.
If you can get some good work in these conditions, you're doing well. Regularity, without boring him, will help him accept school work and his surroundings. |
| Smiler |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 2:46:32 PM
I agree you finished on a good note and horses have off days like us etc ,
but just wanted to check how old he is ? has he been in work long etc maybe it was too much for him to concentrate for too long got bored then naughty if he is not a youngster maybe just not fit enough to cope with 20 mins of transitions ? but tomorrow is another day 
good luck |
| Callisto |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 1:59:01 PM
The attraction of Arabs is that they have minds of their own, there is also a downside to this  . As everyone has said, at least you finished on a good note, and hopefully he will be more in the mood next time.
Lily shows these tendencies as well, you are not alone. |
| Pasha |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 1:55:23 PM
We all have days like this!!! I've learn't (especially with the Arabs) that it doesn't pay to force the issue and you both end up getting more and more frustrated and so if it isn't going well (can normally ascertain this in the first 5 mins) then I go for a hack, or lunge or do pole work instead... sometimes you have to give them the benefit of the doubt. I am sure they have off days and days where they just feel bleugh, just like we do
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| erica giles |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 1:52:07 PM
So tomorrow is another day. You finished well that is the main thing |
| Goldenmane |
Posted - 10 Mar 2011 : 1:43:06 PM
You finished on a good note...well done. |
