*Sez*
25th Jul 2006, 08:33 AM
Salsa seems 100% better after his latest physio appointment. His trot is so much more balanced, he's no longer resisting the transition or laying his ears back. The Steady Up also seems to have made a massive difference. In fact, he was so calm that I trotted over some poles between wings (I think they were someone's jumps that fell down). He was perfect - calm, relaxed trot up to the pole, a little extension over it and a calm trot away. Spot on! So I got brave, trotted up to a little half cross (you know what I mean - probably a straight pole that fell on one side) and just trotted over the lowest point. Next time round, I aimed for the middle, gathered up my reins and prepared myself to sit back and hang on once we were over it. The last time I jumped him, he got so excited he took off around the school, banked sharply at the corner and deposited me in the sand, complete with partially dislocated shoulder.
We trotted up to the jump, lovely arc over it and trotted away. :eek: I was utterly in shock, and was so prepared to lean back and keep him from galloping away from the jump that I was a little left behind. To prove it wasn't a fluke, we went over the poles again in a little course around the school, ending on the jump. Perfect! Suddenly realised that a friend I hadn't seen for a while had spotted us, and we got a lovely compliment on our "pop" over the jump :o . We got chatting, and Sal stood perfectly still and didn't fidget - in fact he was falling asleep! Utterly shocked - who has stolen my horse and replaced him with this calm creature?? We decided to go together to the local winter dressage series and play "back up crew" for each other.
To top it off, I had decided to try him without his flash noseband last night, since I can't use it in dressage! So I think we'll be leaving that off for schooling sessions in future and just stick it on for hacking until I'm confident he won't open his mouth and bolt. :D Everything is starting to come together.
When I got back to the barn, I was telling a friend about how his trot had improved and that I had been worried it was my riding unbalancing us both, and she said that I shouldn't be so paranoid - my riding is lovely and square and it shows because Sal is usually nicely balanced on both reins :o . So I had another blush moment I'm so pleased that I decided to persevere with him when everyone was telling me to sell. :D What a good boy!
We trotted up to the jump, lovely arc over it and trotted away. :eek: I was utterly in shock, and was so prepared to lean back and keep him from galloping away from the jump that I was a little left behind. To prove it wasn't a fluke, we went over the poles again in a little course around the school, ending on the jump. Perfect! Suddenly realised that a friend I hadn't seen for a while had spotted us, and we got a lovely compliment on our "pop" over the jump :o . We got chatting, and Sal stood perfectly still and didn't fidget - in fact he was falling asleep! Utterly shocked - who has stolen my horse and replaced him with this calm creature?? We decided to go together to the local winter dressage series and play "back up crew" for each other.
To top it off, I had decided to try him without his flash noseband last night, since I can't use it in dressage! So I think we'll be leaving that off for schooling sessions in future and just stick it on for hacking until I'm confident he won't open his mouth and bolt. :D Everything is starting to come together.
When I got back to the barn, I was telling a friend about how his trot had improved and that I had been worried it was my riding unbalancing us both, and she said that I shouldn't be so paranoid - my riding is lovely and square and it shows because Sal is usually nicely balanced on both reins :o . So I had another blush moment I'm so pleased that I decided to persevere with him when everyone was telling me to sell. :D What a good boy!