success

[skye]

Hi Heather,
I thought i would up date you on our progress.The snatching has almost stopped.Last couple of rides he didn't bother.Which is just as well really ,we were stuck in a blizzard for 20mins this morning bad enough for me to dismount because i couldn't see the path! Roll on summer PLEASE! He is responding beautifully to my seat aids and is much more relaxed.He has even started going on to the bit for a short time.I seem to be having problems keeping my lower leg still riding long,any suggestions? It doesn't help that i've started growing again as my legs are hanging just below his belly,which i'm pretty sure doesn't help!My friend could not believe how much he has changed,in the past no matter what i tried i could not get him to stop/slow down just totally ignored me,she nearly died when i managed to stop him to speak to her! big thanks heather,
i still haven't got your book,but its on my wish list!
THANKS!

[Heather]

HI Skye,

Thanks for the update and so glad that it is going well. Just shows that even with an oldie, they can still learn. A friend of mine has a 23 year old mare who she bought at 18, and you cannot believe how much rach has changed her in that time- an ex-riding school horse, rather hot and fixzzy as it happens, the old girl looks younger by the year as she has muscled up correctly!

Keep us posted on any further progress- well don.

I think that the leg problem is mostly as you say- if your leg is hanging below the belly, you are not going to have much support for it!!

Heather

[Sarah]

Heather,

I hope when you posted that you were referring to Moo as being 'the old girl' and not Rach!

Sorry, couldn't resist being silly!

bye!

[skye]

punch was also used as a riding school pony during the summer months before i had him.With more energy than sense! He is going so much better and i enjoy riding him much more as we are not having a continuous battle ,with snatching and stopping .Thanks once again
skye

[Heather]

Don't think Rach qualifies for the title yet, Sarah, but same couldn't be said for me!!

Heather

[lamprellsarah]

Hi heather i recently got your book,
you said that with a lazy horse, that a person with a long whip trailing is the best, but what happens when you only school on your own, i don't have anyone to help me!!
she is so good, otherwise, but doesn't listen to me when schooling, she doesn't care for a schooling whip she doesn't move forwards, only throws her head up!!
i won't and don't use spurs, is there any other things i can do????

[skye]

I've had to hand make him a elastic curb as they are to big or to small! He really seems to prefer the elastic one.He went superbly today .He is quite a sulky pony and if he doesn't like something his head drags on the floor and for one small miracle i managed to persuade him to lift his head up to a good level without him snatching back at me! he is so different to ride.Hes a very powerful horse and normally when i feel him building up his power it use to really worry me as i knew he was going to be to strong,but now i can feel his power and still get a good repsonse and even slow him down if i need to.I can't believe how much my horse has changed just by changing my position and by asking him to do his work a different way!

[skye]

Punch unfortunately has fallen lame.Not quite sure what he has done,and i've only just located managed to locate the trouble spot to his hip after riding him 50yrds bareback.Going to give him a few days before we call the vet in,because he has a vet phobia and i don't want to stress him out if i can help it:(

On a plus point i will soon have heathers book,thanks to lisae for passing on her copy to me!

[Heather]

HI Skye,
Sorry to hear that your boy is lame- typical isn't it, just when he was going so well. Keep us posted.

LamprellSarah, try hitting your boot with a dressage whip- make sure you have long boots or leather half chaps on though or it will hurt your own leg!. making a noise in this way by smacking your boot galvanises most horses into action as quickly as a whip behind them. I always use this instead of hitting the horse- much more effective, and also rather kinder.

Heather

[skye]

if punch is in napping mode ,i normally put my hand just behind his saddle and give him a tickle,he hates this! and is normally enough to make him move,either that or wait him out, drop the reins/feet out stirrups and just wait he normally gets bored after a minute or so and gives up! where as if i try and make him move,he always wins!:D