Tootsie4U
20th Apr 2004, 01:07 PM
And that is precisely how I feel! :mad:
Foolish me, spending all these months worrying about him and his leaning issues... when all along he's been pulling the wool over my eyes! His "personality" is back in full swing!
I can say this with certainty now due to the following story:
After my latest post and the great advise given to me, I decided to just change the game plan a little bit with Bonfire. Instead of focusing on *why* he was leaning, I focused on *how* to get him to stop (in a nutshell). So, when he would lean, I'd ask for more impulsion and move the bit in his mouth so he couldnt grab it. I guess he found it easier to NOT lean because for a week now, he's been a perfect horse! Then last night happenend!
Because he has been so good, I decided to have a fun night last night. Nothing like work, just some poking around and games. Suddenly, he wouldn't go RIGHT anymore (before he wouldnt go left!) There was no such thing as "traveling on the rail" either! So what was supposed to be a nice leisurely night turned into a battle of wills. Trot? Heck no, "lets canter" says he! Walk? Heck no, Im gonna four beat! Right? Nah, I'll open my mouth and let the bit fall through! Left? Ok, but only at 90 mph!
The thing that really has me fuming though is that for months, it has always been the left rein. He'd lean on that thing so much that to match his pull, I'd have to stand up in the saddle and brace my weight against it. For a week, I've tricked him and we finally had it almost correct and now he's playing games and, instead, its now the right rein! He's leaning on that and refuses to turn! He's trying all the tricks in the book, but this time, I know what he's doing!
The little bu**ger! Im never bored, thats for sure :p
Foolish me, spending all these months worrying about him and his leaning issues... when all along he's been pulling the wool over my eyes! His "personality" is back in full swing!
I can say this with certainty now due to the following story:
After my latest post and the great advise given to me, I decided to just change the game plan a little bit with Bonfire. Instead of focusing on *why* he was leaning, I focused on *how* to get him to stop (in a nutshell). So, when he would lean, I'd ask for more impulsion and move the bit in his mouth so he couldnt grab it. I guess he found it easier to NOT lean because for a week now, he's been a perfect horse! Then last night happenend!
Because he has been so good, I decided to have a fun night last night. Nothing like work, just some poking around and games. Suddenly, he wouldn't go RIGHT anymore (before he wouldnt go left!) There was no such thing as "traveling on the rail" either! So what was supposed to be a nice leisurely night turned into a battle of wills. Trot? Heck no, "lets canter" says he! Walk? Heck no, Im gonna four beat! Right? Nah, I'll open my mouth and let the bit fall through! Left? Ok, but only at 90 mph!
The thing that really has me fuming though is that for months, it has always been the left rein. He'd lean on that thing so much that to match his pull, I'd have to stand up in the saddle and brace my weight against it. For a week, I've tricked him and we finally had it almost correct and now he's playing games and, instead, its now the right rein! He's leaning on that and refuses to turn! He's trying all the tricks in the book, but this time, I know what he's doing!
The little bu**ger! Im never bored, thats for sure :p