I've got to many blogs.. and all of them are hickle pickle... I'm not a good blogger...
But I have thought I should do one, so I can look back on the progress I'm making with Spider... the new boy. Turbo sold back in Jan.. I spent a month in Thailand.. and here I am...
He is a roughly 16hh if not 15.3 gelding TB, maybe 10yrs old... grey so I need to shave his shoulder to see his brands.. they are currently under cover.
He spent his early years racing on the flat, then won something decent as a steeplechaser.... I wonder why they call it steeple chasing.. I'm mean the jumps don't move so how can they be chasing them....
Once he retired from a tendon injury, rested, re-raced, and layed up again from the same injury.. he went to a home where he lived a good life.. eating to much, and hacking around town... however he was at times i get the impression to much for the rider, so the owners of the grazing took him... and I know her quite well (nakinator on here) she hasn't had time to ride him, and hopped on occasionally in the last few years to ride around the paddock.
Since I sold turbo and was looking half heartedly for a new one - browsing because I don't quite have the $ for what I really wanted.. I took him... and now he has a job for the first time in years.
He has never been on a float... and went on fine first time round... not so good to get off... missed checking that part when we put him on... but thats ok he cameoff eventually albeit sweating and shaking like a leaf from the 20 min trip... so I assume he is only used to trucks and being "closed in" so to speak... next trip 'll close the cover over the back door to see if it goes better.
He has had two weeks to sit in his new location, and get used to being paddocked alone... he has the mini to talk to over the fence which he loves dearly...
He got some hand walks over the farm initially to gauge his reactions to all the scary machines etc... a few puffs and huffs but nothing major...
Then it started.. the lunging lessons...
Day one: how to stay out on the circle....
Day two: trotting
Day three: side reins introduced
etc etc rinse repeat etc etc
Week 2: Canter.. but we won't go into to much detail on that. A few issues, the whip being one, balance and co-ordination another, and understanding what I'm after.
Week 3: the lessons have sunk in, properly adjusted side reins for the trot work, canter voice aid installed, and all the whoas
Week 4: Proper under saddle work starts
That was last weekend. The first proper ride was a hourish hack over the farm with the old owner and mum coming out as well. I decided this was a good option. Given the lack of understanding of the leg aids, and the non-use of a whip (I can carry one but not use it yet) they would give him a incentive to go somewhere if he wasn't sure.. and it was needed a few times he lagged behind they others he would trot to catch up with out to much giddy up's needed. But he was exceptionally well behaved and I can't say a foot out of place was had. No jigging, spooking or launches into space. I was pleased.
The next day keeping in mind the fitness levels a short burst of work on foward and contact followed with a 10min walk abouts.
Monday, I thought we would do our first outing, even if it means we don't get a ride in. But never matter - it went without a hitch, got him in the trailer by myself and a bucket of food, it was a exceptionally short trip. Came off ok, and took a look around and went to completly chilled out - BRILLIANT. Had a short but intense ride in the arena, and did our first serious cantering. Well more than a straight line and letting it happen if it comes. I asked for it and got it, and I felt I had won the olympics YES.
Break yesterday, and I rode today. I have to say I hate the treeless saddle I'm borrowing it make me work against it... need to get a decent one ASAP. One unfortunate thing happened.. the neighbours herd of 2yr old horses were next to the paddock I chose to ride in today... while I was mounting spider was distracted and kept moving off.. so i was making him work each time he moved. Halfway through asking him to backup I got distracted by kids in the house behind me andI got taken advantage of... whoops spider went for a wee canter to meet the neighbours. Finally got on ( and he stood stock still) and more work to occur... contact, foward, leg aids, and attention... attained all of those as well as could be expected, and did a few canters.. all went well - I just have to remember if he leaps foward quickly because I've given him a fright by asking to much/to sharp whatever that I can't pull him up to quick. The first time I did.. and its essentially telling him off for listening to the foward aids - whoops oh well lesson learned.
Tomorrow is another day.. and I do hope to keep updating a blog.. its funny enough reading back through some posts on turbo:wink:
