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Post by thefaddest on Apr 23, 2010 0:49:28 GMT -5
I'm currently working with 12 y/o ottb, Coquette, and we need some ideas from you guys. Her previous owner left her sit in a pasture for a year and by the time I started working with her, she was a mess. On the ground she's a little crazy, can't cross-tie because she flips herself over, doesn't like the girth tightened (only the first time), funny about being mounted. I have discovered the food is a good way to win her over, she'll stand for baths and her mane being pulled if she gets dinner too. And even though she's got these crazy moments, she's perfect with clippers and out on trails.
Anyway, we've been doing mainly flatwork, about 3 weeks ago she remembered what collecting was and now she's a whole different horse that could take 1st in a flat class. The only thing is that I feel she's getting bored with circles and figure 8s. Any work-out ideas? Our ring is being redone, so not much room for serpentines, but eventually we'll add those in. We already do a lot of lateral work, leg yielding and such. But any suggestions for things to keep her mind fresh would be great!
Also, we're now getting back into jumping. Today over some crossrails she was a little rushy, then again it was her 1st time over fences in about a year. She's a little quick before and after, so we need to work on backing her off and keeping her from getting too anxious. Obviously we won't be doing any heavy jumping for some time, but if you know of any flat/pole/tiny jump work we could do to work on this while she's still green, that would be awesome!
Thanks and sorry this is wordy!
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Post by jenarby on Apr 23, 2010 15:10:23 GMT -5
I moved this thread over here so more people could see it.
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Apr 23, 2010 15:59:34 GMT -5
Cherry Hill's 101 Arena Exercises and Linda Allen's 101 Jumping Exercises are terrific books full of all kinds of things to keep horses (and riders) interested and learning in a progressive manner. For horses who seem overly sensitive (whether to grooming, tacking, aids or training exercises) I've often found Quiessence to be a really useful supplement.
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Post by numerologist on Apr 24, 2010 6:26:49 GMT -5
An exercise that I learned from Thomas Ritter (an instructor in the German equestrian federation) might be helpful. I do ten-meter circles at each corner. If she can't do 10m, do 15. Then you can mix it up - change directions to do a figure-8, do small circles down the length of the arena (like at each intermediate letter, or every few meters, etc. It keeps them thinking but not anticipating, and helps with balance and collection. You can also do this exercise on the lunge.
good luck!
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Post by thefaddest on Apr 25, 2010 16:29:01 GMT -5
i actually have the jumping exercises book, but my parents moved a ton of stuff out of my room and now i can't find it! i'll definitely look into the other one and will check out Quiessence. i also like numerologist's suggestion, i'll work on that. thank you!
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Post by nybabyz on Apr 25, 2010 19:33:15 GMT -5
I would highly recommend Mare Magic for taking the edge off a sensitive horse. It was recommended to me by folks here on the forum and I have to say I am thrilled with the results that I've seen. It's cheap, no drugs and works!
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Post by thefaddest on Apr 26, 2010 10:41:40 GMT -5
thanks for the suggestions, i'll also look into the mare magic! here are before and after pictures, the 1st is from over a year ago, then her owner leaves her in a pasture for 10 months, and the 2nd one is where we're at now thanks guys!
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Post by niaru on Apr 27, 2010 7:07:34 GMT -5
She's cute and she looks much better in the 2nd pic, good job!
My mare was rushy and full of it when jumping and what "cured" her was a winter of boot-camp dressage lessons with an instructor who trains and rides Ottbs. I loved those lessons, wish I could have more more more !
I like the "clover leaf" exercise Numerologist mentioned. I have to mix things up too because Charm becomes bored easily in the ring, and when she's bored she grunts and sighs and she used to find ways to amuse herself at my expense (not so much anymore, thankfully, lol)
So typically, I'll do walking "squares", bending lines at all gaits, counter-bending at trot and canter, leg yield from 1/4 line to rail and canter depart at the rail, walk-canter and canter-walk transitions, (lots and lots of transitions always as it sharpens them up and builds the hind end if you don't have access to hills), spiraling in-out at trot on a circle and canter depart on spiraling out, 20m to 10m circles at canter...the possibilities are endless, really! You can also place ground poles at random places in the ring and go over them calmly at all gaits. And of course, trail riding is a great boredom/sourness breaker.
Have fun !
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Post by thefaddest on Nov 5, 2010 23:54:59 GMT -5
Hey guys, its been a while but Coke and I are back! Since this post she's come a LOONG way, she is amazing undersaddle and we've finally got her jumping consistently. However, her ground manners have reeally gone down hill. I was reading another thread about a mare who was funny about the saddle and mounting and Coke's got that problem as well. My saddle fits, but I never even thought about the sensitive skin issue! So I'll be looking into a fleece girth soon. Now her other big issue is the bridle and her face in general... she's not a big fan of feeling a pulling pressure on her face, she freaks out and her first instinct is to go up and back (she's flipped over 3 times in the aisle when she realized the crossties were on (this was with her previous owner, she stands in them now )). Sometimes she's fine with it, other days she's not, it really depends on her mood. Its becoming a problem with her showing, it just makes for a really dramatic start to the day! The other day she could have seriously hurt herself, I went to unclip her to take her off the trailer and she freaked out, pulled out of the turtle tie, backed quickly out of the trailer, was stopped by the buttbar (actually a rope), and literally tried to flintstone her way out while sitting on this rope. Luckily our barn manager had a knife and cut the rope before she could hurt herself... So long story short (and sorry about that long story), we are in need of etiquette advice when it comes to tacking up. And to supplement for my really long post, here are some pictures! this is at our first show EVER in august, we just did baby greens WT and WTC, 4th and 2nd! no issues this day, very good girl this is her 3rd show, not as pretty as the first one. this particular jump was great, but they weren't all like this... ha and this was a bad one, my friend said she looked like a wild giraffe on speed, haha! but besides her issues on the ground, she was perfect when we schooled and as the day went on she became more and more paranoid about this crazy man on a huge wb who was literally trying to kill us
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Nov 7, 2010 8:45:52 GMT -5
John Lyons has an excellent training DVD called "Leading and Loading". It addresses the issue of pulling back and shows you step-by-step how to work on it. In the meantime, I suggest you cut the risk of a major injury in the aisle and simply tie her to a ring bolted high on her stall wall. My memory isn't awake yet, but there's a specific products that allows the line to slip through gently so pulling horses don't panic. Maybe someone here can supply the name, or I'll come back later after I find it. Congratulations on your progress! MTA: Some cold-backed horses respond well to massage therapy targeting the abdominal muscles that lie under the girth/between the ribs. Have you ever had a chiropractor and/or massage therapist take a look at her?
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Post by ZenRider on Nov 7, 2010 9:29:06 GMT -5
Lots of good advice already. As for getting bored, if she's good on trail and seems to enjoy the trail, get out of the ring whenever you can and go for a ride. It's amazing how much they learn on 'just a trail ride' even when you really aren't 'trying' to train anything. Other then that, looking good and calm is always key and less is often more. Don't make her rush things she's not sure of. I'm sure you don't, but sometimes it's a little thing that can make a big difference. Zen used to make me let him sniff the saddle pad and saddle before I put them on him. Ya know, there are worst things and now he's happy to just glance at it. I also don't rush to tighten up the girth. Oh and if she's sensitive and pinchy, after the girth is tightened, you might try pulling her legs gently forward to relieve any wrinkles under the girth before riding. It's part of my routine. Guy's a little trickier, because he came with some cross tie issues when his feet are picked up. He's much better know, but I have to keep an extra eye on him yet. Talking to him makes a world of difference. Otherwise, the only other trick, if you will, I have for reasserting yourself as a leader is to push her nose or chest when you first go to get her, stall or pasture, and make her quietly back up a few steps. Also recommend doing that anytime she does something that makes you have to get out of her way. Just a way to reassert your leadership position without being a bully. It's really not about dominance as much as leadership. OK, Guy made me back him all the way out of pasture last time, silly man. She's a lovely mare and the best ones always have quirks. ;D
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Post by Deb on Nov 7, 2010 9:40:15 GMT -5
I applaud you for taking on working with a 12 year old that has been pastured for a year. Your flat work with her has come a long way from what you had in the beginning.
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Post by TeachU2Ride on Nov 7, 2010 18:08:39 GMT -5
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Post by thefaddest on Nov 7, 2010 19:42:16 GMT -5
thank you for the suggestons! my boss is all about safety ties so he'll definitely be into the blocker tie rings, much appreciated! i was on another thread about a mare with no manners and a big bit of advice there was using a fleece girth, i've used it twice now and there's already less resistance from her, so i'm happy about that. thanks again, coke and i appreciate it
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