Another Timeline: From dreadful to decent.

[RachelEvent]

There's a long way to go yet with Ferdie's schooling. Two years ago, the first photos of me riding him were taken.. it's shocking to look back on them. I wasn't nearly as good a rider then.. I even used a flash, which is something I wouldn't do now. I said that he was on his forehand, and these photos impressively prove it.

First one: Trot

[RachelEvent]

Same day, in canter:

[RachelEvent]

A year later:

[RachelEvent]

I don't really have any photos to do the monster justice... the above photo shows significant improvement from the first.. at least we aren't upside-down any more, even if we have a lack of impulsion and a bit of tension.

I had the most fantastic dressage lesson today, he was so soft and ligth and really flexible. His travers are totally established now, and he's beginning a bit of half pass now, where he is staying soft, even if he keeps drifting in his shoulder when I don't ride properly.

But we can canter like this now:

http://img53.photobucket.com/albums/v162/RachelEvent/Larkhill%20ODE%2017th%20April%202004%20Pre-Novice/larkhillsj_1.jpg

And trot like this (but much better, I just keep falling apart in tests!):

http://img53.photobucket.com/albums/v162/RachelEvent/Lyneham%20RC%20Area%20ODE%2013th%20June%2004/d_trot_4.jpg

I'd say we're about on rung three of my personal ten rung ladder... It's just nice to think that he is now a nice balanced, co-operative, calm and responsive ride :)

Rachel xx

[Tor&Warrior]

Good God thats pretty impressive! If you'd shown me those first pics without saying who they were of I'd of never believed it was Ferdie, ever! He is just so upside down and unblanaced with absolutley no topline. You should be very very proud!
Torx

[KarinUS]

Wow! It's like his front legs got longer! :D

[drookitsheep]

You should be really proud - it's amazing the difference between the "before" and "after" pics! I hope my "year later" pics show the same kind of progress!

Best wishes,

drookitsheep

[NZhorserider]

Originally posted by KarinUS
Wow! It's like his front legs got longer! :D

Hehe, I was just thinking that myself!

You two just look so improved! It's like someone's waved a magic wand and alakazam!

You should both be proud! He's now in a nice outline instead of hollow.

Grace:)

[katieB]

What an improvement! He looks really downhill in the first two and then really balanced in the next, well done :)

[Mehitabel]

those are excellent before and after pics! what a good job you've made of it.

[Drummers mum]

Wow you look great, I'm off to inspect my photos to see how much Drummer is on the forehand. You will have to wait a year for the afters though!!:D

[Dizzy]

Wow! What a difference, brilliant job - he's a credit to you.

[louisesj]

How did you do that?!?!? :eek: thats amazing! whats your secret ;)

[RachelEvent]

Thanks everyone..

louisesj, the secret was that there was no secret! No gadgets, no whips and occasional nerves of steel.

Seriously though, It took a lot of patience, but more importantly, I had to take a lot of good advice, regular lessons with my ever cheerful instructor, always questioning is it pain is it misbehaviour (and often coming to the wrong conclusion :rolleyes:) becoming a better rider, learning to move in harmony with the horse (don't manage it all the time, but it's improving) getting the chance to ride schoolmasters and always remembering to do plenty of fun things.. for every hour in the school we would have two hours of hacking/galloping/bitless/jumping etc.

I have made a lot of mistakes on the way, and will probably continue to make mistakes - I've learnt from the experience though, and I could probably get the result a little faster now, but that's missing the point really.

What kept the improvement up, is Ferdie's constant little shimmers of brilliance, and also a little advantage on my part of not becoming nervous easily ;)

Rachel xx

[Mazpup]

Well done! All I can do is look at the pictures and ask 'how?' :D

[Janette]

the contrast is amazing. It doesn't look like the same horse. Well done the pair of you.