tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post2906911006749023188..comments2024-03-04T00:09:29.299-08:00Comments on Time in the Saddle: Riding Diary: 46Louisa Valentina;http://www.blogger.com/profile/03635679863212377114noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-74123977844908668092013-03-04T21:30:38.594-08:002013-03-04T21:30:38.594-08:00Haha what a comment Robin! Thank you for your insi...Haha what a comment Robin! Thank you for your insight!<br /><br />Jingle definitely doesn't fatigue into submission... this, we have learned. The problem is, he can also be really, really deceiving. I can work on slow work for 20 minutes to 2 days, he can be going perfectly, softly, all that jazz, we can both be relaxed, and the second I ask for a lope - he's gone, completely whizzing around like a lunatic. Then it just turns into a bracey, gross mess, and back to slow work we go. I don't mind slow work, but I also think that there comes a time when a horse should also be listening to me when he's speeding up.<br /><br />So, for now, we're doing lots of slow work, but the whole "can't slow down" thing will still be nagging at me. haha.<br /><br />Louisa Valentina;https://www.blogger.com/profile/03635679863212377114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-5661902440978797512013-03-01T06:15:18.513-08:002013-03-01T06:15:18.513-08:00Holy cow I think my comment is longer than your po...Holy cow I think my comment is longer than your post! lolRobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05318359901770452986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-53365122287914891212013-03-01T06:13:04.721-08:002013-03-01T06:13:04.721-08:00First, thanks for posting about a ride you didn...First, thanks for posting about a ride you didn't want to write about. I've had plenty of those myself, and as much as it sucks admitting what you're struggling with, in the long run it is always helpful to have an honest record of what you were dealing with (for when you get to look back and laugh at your old problems. :))<br /><br />Second, I think your assessment of the situation sounds quite correct, and your plan is a good one. To me it sounds like both you and Jingle are a bit overwhelmed, and that what you lack is a foundation of simple exercises you are both comfortable and confident with that you can return to when a ride start to go bad. It can be hard to stand up to an expert, but it does seem like your trainer might have you riding Jingle at a level he's not really ready for. <br /><br />In my experience, with nervous horses, speed is never your friend, because going fast is the direct opposite to thinking. You often say in your posts that Jingle is sweat covered by the end of your rides, but you are in a cold environment. What this says to me is that he's sweating more out of nerves than physical exertion.<br /><br />It seems like what you need to find is a way to ride Jingle without pushing him over the rim into being stressed. If he's spending each lesson in an anxious state, he's literally incapable of learning. He's just responding to being overstimulated, and his take home message is going to be arena = confusion/fear/fatigue. Once he makes that mental link, any ride is going to cause trauma until you can help him form a new association with work.<br /><br />I used to think you can't work on your trot or your lope from the walk, but now I know this is not true at all. I spend at least half of all my rides walking. And I don't meant just wandering around, but working on quality movement, variation in speed and stride length (all walking), precision, bends, round circles, precise stops, leg-yields, short serpentines, etc.. And I also work on non-moving exercises, like pivoting on individual feet, backing straight, backing circles, moving the front without the hind, moving the hind without the front. You can easily rack of an hour of quality work without ever trotting.<br /><br />I see so many people at my barn come into the arena, get on, and go straight into the trot. And these are usually the same people who are a little out of control, whose horses brace on the bit, pin their ears and look miserable the whole ride. When the trot becomes too crazy they run their horses in circles until the horse is tired. And most horses do tire out, and then become a little more pliable, so these people think they are on the right track.<br /><br />But some horses you can't fatigue into submission. My horse Steen is one of those. I never made relevant progress with Steen's training until I started focusing on the walk.<br /><br />Now, I assess the horse I'm riding a the walk each ride. I don't move to faster work until I've got everything at the walk working pretty well. If I introduce more speed and my horse shows he can't stay focused, back to the walk we go. It sounds boring but actually I've learned walking rides can be a whole lot of fun, particularly after your horse gets the idea that there is a right answer and starts hunting for the way to do things right.<br /><br />Anyway, hang in there! You are doing the right thing, which is paying attention and forming a new plan when you notice things aren't working.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05318359901770452986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-4508823238099962202013-03-01T01:06:41.245-08:002013-03-01T01:06:41.245-08:00Thanks for your comment :) It is completely spot-o...Thanks for your comment :) It is completely spot-on to everything i'm feeling right now & although I know everyone goes through it... it's nice to be reminded that i'm not alone in this hair-pulling frustration.<br /><br />You're so right - it's just about the two of us, so we have to figure this out one step at a time... safely, and more happily than wanting to murder eachother haha.Louisa Valentina;https://www.blogger.com/profile/03635679863212377114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-65496923930017789442013-02-27T23:01:59.506-08:002013-02-27T23:01:59.506-08:00I like that you made a list/gameplan!!! :)
I am e...I like that you made a list/gameplan!!! :)<br /><br />I am excited to read/hear more about how your "intensive" week goes and that right lead too of course! I have absolute confidence in you and Jingle, you know him the best! :) Brigittehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14655059710186043825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-29237587074027288722013-02-27T09:33:48.794-08:002013-02-27T09:33:48.794-08:00**bits aren't violently hurting him anymore (n...**bits aren't violently hurting him anymore (not are haha)Louisa Valentina;https://www.blogger.com/profile/03635679863212377114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-2435664529557777432013-02-27T09:32:56.331-08:002013-02-27T09:32:56.331-08:00I really wish it was that simple - all of the thin...I really wish it was that simple - all of the things you have mentioned have been tried. I work with a very reputable dentist who suggested all of those things, and then told me there will be a point where I will know when Jingle says "No" to a bit, and he did around November. Going "bitless" has, in the long run, given me a much calmer, more relaxed, easier horse to work with (although... this particular post doesn't really show that haha). <br /><br />The thing with Jingle is that the minute you add any pressure associated with a bit he will lose his mind, even in the absolute mildest, nicest, most expensive snaffle I can find (trust me.. I have like 5 snaffles all worth over $100 i'll never use again haha, so sad). Because it is so mentally ingrained in his pysche, I don't think reintroducing bits is really an option anymore. I wont totally say "No bit. EVER again" because you never know, maybe once he figures out how to be a broke horse, he'll also figure out bits are violently hurting him anymore, but for now it's "no bits, for now."Louisa Valentina;https://www.blogger.com/profile/03635679863212377114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-18407813498007351602013-02-27T09:27:48.585-08:002013-02-27T09:27:48.585-08:00That might be an idea, although very rarely does m...That might be an idea, although very rarely does my trainer ever ride anymore.<br /><br />ps. Love bobby's dorky braids :) Jingle is always in braids, they just make me laugh haha. I especially liked the shot of you guys on your hack, and his braids are just flinging into the bottom of the shot haha.Louisa Valentina;https://www.blogger.com/profile/03635679863212377114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-86141700897075777552013-02-27T09:24:17.254-08:002013-02-27T09:24:17.254-08:00I know what you mean about just 'feeling' ...I know what you mean about just 'feeling' their discomfort. I still think you should try using a bit when there is no pressure on it. Perhaps you could try putting a bridle on him with no reins connected and putting him in the arena. Or put on a bridle with no reins connected with a side pull underneath and only use the pressure from the sidepull. I think that him having no pressure on the bit itself will show him it's not that big of a deal and there is no pain. I would also keep the rides short and easy if there's a bit in, soon he will associate it to be easier to have a bit in! Of course, if it were me I would do these exercises maybe once a week, I think that it would be slow going but he would eventually become more accustomed to the bit not being painful, especially since his reaction is learned, it takes just as much to unlearn it!Marissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09209197198281908402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8743416867781673656.post-68068074562185110782013-02-27T09:00:16.912-08:002013-02-27T09:00:16.912-08:00Can you have your trainer ride him for a lesson? M...Can you have your trainer ride him for a lesson? Maybe she'll understand what you're feeling and better be able to help you.Carlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17308477892024999793noreply@blogger.com