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Post by Johnnie on Mar 6, 2003 0:56:48 GMT -5
RC- At this point, you are probably correct about the rider's anxiety. She says "I'm not scared of him", but then she'll say things like "maybe we won't freak out this time". I mean who wouldn't be worried about it a bit after a few times?
I just want to say that I hope no one thought that I was being ungrateful about the information being shared. It was all very helpful suggestions.; some we had tried, and some we will try. We've just been working on this since November, so we've exhausted alot of options already. Thanks to everyone!
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Post by leeann on Mar 6, 2003 9:34:42 GMT -5
Hi Johnnie,
I train a lot of Juniors, one was the IEA Intermediate champion (did the NAYRC **), one was the reserve Prelim champion (qualified for the MSCTDA *, but her horse injured herself in the stall the morning of dressage), another one Training, and Novice for 2002. They all had a successful year! I only say that so you know I've got a little background on doing kids in eventing--I always feel like such an idiot giving a response on these things!
Anyway, my suggestion would be that your kid is rolling her knees out & grabbing the horse with her calves, thus giving a very big GO! in the air. I'd shorten her stirrups up 3 holes (turn a deaf ear to the whining ;D) and see if that helps her stay a little more centered over the saddle. A gripping calf combined with leaning the shoulders and a snug hold of the bit propels a horse forward. Lots of bounces in gymnastic schools with help stablize her position and aid her timing.
After she has a more solid base of support, you can try several different bits to see if that will help her--I have found good luck with the happy mouth 3 ring pessoa or a slow twist snaffle for kids who don't have the strength or leverage to hold an overly cheerful horse, but I'd be very leery of giving her a lot more bit until her leg is stable or you'll get a horse that starts stopping. Also teach her to properly bridge the reins and rate the gallop--this is extremely helpful when the horse is stronger than the person.
You're absolutely right to address this issue, the number one reason I see kids get turned off of eventing is being overmounted and out of control.
Good Luck!
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Post by Smay on Mar 6, 2003 9:52:09 GMT -5
I feel like we should be paying for your advice when you write these good posts! Do you do clinics? How far are you from Columbus Ohio.? hahahaha
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Post by niaru on Mar 6, 2003 10:08:18 GMT -5
Johnnie--great pics! Was that at your barn? Such a nice course...I long for those sunny, dry days...I long for actually SEEING the ground again LOL. Here's some things that might be useful to your friend, that a clinician had me do with Rita on X-country last year when she was a little hyper (to say the least!). Anytime Rita was rushing a jump, she had us circle several times in front of it, and I mean RIGHT in front of it, until Rita relaxed. It was actually more of an oval than a circle. Then when Rita relaxed we would jump it quietly. This clinician was a jumper rider, not an eventer. She also had me establish a nice canter rythm then go to a jump without changing anything. When I managed to not change anything, it worked great. She also wanted me to stop Rita before the jump when she felt she was rushing, but I never could do it!! Deep down I just HATE stopping a horse right before a jump, I'm probably wrong but to me it's like teaching them to refuse...anyway, it was a great clinic, and Rita jumped so well... *sniff*.  Also, I know a lot of people who event use a different (stronger) bit for X-country than for stadium. |
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Post by niaru on Mar 6, 2003 10:10:54 GMT -5
Oops I posted before seeing LeeAnn's post!
Hey, LeeAnn, want to come on the Training to Concentrate thread? We need you there!!!
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Post by allie on Mar 6, 2003 16:33:18 GMT -5
I'm usually a snaffle girl--all the way, But when hunting or going XC, I just dont like getting pulled on. No matter how schooled my horse gets, out in the open they like to boogie! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the Pessoa happy mouth three ring. Even using just the main big circle does wonders for the speed demons. I actually ride a lot in this bit--all of my horses like it. It works as a snaffle when i need it, but puts some brakes on when i REALLY need them! I'd rather have too much than too little out there  |
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Post by Einstein on Mar 6, 2003 18:32:51 GMT -5
Yeah I can see the pics now! Well the excersize we did was with rails. I don't event so I later realized it's a lot more dangerous for a horse to rush a 3 foot solid fence then a jumper rushing a 4'6 fence with saftey release cups! My bad ;D
Anyway, that chestnut is gorgeous! Is he still for sale? Not looking wormy at all from here!! You go tell us snobby know-it-all hunter/jumpers to stick it!
OK, just kidding. Well, sort of ;D ;D
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Post by Lynne on Mar 6, 2003 18:38:59 GMT -5
Heh heh...I dunno know anything about any of it except that the pictures alone terrify me and I really really really love the pony for sale  Oh, and I don't think the chestnut looks wormy either! Geesh, please don't look at my horses....LOL |
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Post by kmmom on Mar 6, 2003 18:57:05 GMT -5
I too find my horse a whole lot stronger hunting and on xc, and have used a short rubber Pelham for several years with good success. The extra reins could be annoying, but I'm used to them. However, when I broke my hand last spring, I really couldn't deal with the extra rein and tried a 3-ring snaffle, on the third (most severe) ring, thinking it would be less control than the Pelham. Wrong, it was considerably stronger, and although I had great brakes, Ferrari didn't like it. Way too much flexion. I didn't try a higher ring, I just went back to the Pelham. I like having the ability to ride solely on the snaffle or apply as much curb as needed.
I'll try fine tuning with the 3 ring next summer, maybe. She goes fine in a snaffle at home.
As far as the chestnut horse goes, I think he looks great. An eventer that is "show horse fat" is at a big disadvantage galloping xc. Even if his wind is okay with the extra weight, he'll have a tough time releasing all the heat from his tissues, and his legs and feet have to take all the stress of the extra pounding! Really fat riders don't fare so well either, but for us it's more our dignity that suffers. And we tend to splat rather than roll when we fall off. And I have some personal expertise on that.
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Post by relativecolor on Mar 6, 2003 19:31:28 GMT -5
Johnnie - No doubt I'd be nervous too! It's a hard thing to control when you are expecting the worst! Maybe squeeze her eyes shut and pray? I find that works when I think I am going to get hurt! |
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Post by Johnnie on Mar 6, 2003 21:35:06 GMT -5
LeeAnn- great advice! We have actually had quite a battle over stirrup length in the past. Thanks! Niaru-No, those were taken at a place that we like to school and show at about 3 hours away from our barn (closest place). It's a very pretty facility, especially in the summer. Those pictures were taken on FEb 2nd of this year. www.pinehilltexas.com is the addy if you want to look around. Our trainer's son has us do circles when the horse is pulling/rushing, but our trainer doesn't seem to like it. Not sure why. She definitely will not let us stop before jumps, especially not with this horse, but I have seen people do it. I was just putting my X-mas cards away today and came across the picture of you and Rita. How sad  . Thanks Allie- we have a few horses at the barn that go in the Pessoa 3ring happy mouth bit. Everyone seems to like it. Michelle- kind of a funny story on the chestnut. He is currently at the barn of the trainer who said he looked wormy. (just got there yesterday) It seems the father and daughter told the trainer, "we are not buying the $13k horse you want us to buy, we love this horse, and he will be vetted on Monday". The trainer has already called and said that she loved the horse's temperament, but that as soon as they pulled him off of the trailer, after a 5-6 hour ride, one foot was warm. I'm hoping that it's not an abcess as we've had a few of them come through on different horses lately. Surge is not lame though, and maybe the heat is just from the trailer trip. I guess we will find out Monday. Dad and daughter have already sent a certified check, so I'm thinking the trainer doesn't have much say so. Lynne-posting some more pics of the pony soon. Thanks! kmmom- exactly my point on the chestnut. The horse is just fit. He can go out and gallop a mile with no problems. I didn't mean to make the generalization about "fat show hunters" either. I've just heard alot of flack about event horses being too skinny lately from Hunter people. Sorry. I agree RC. |
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