I need a good critique !

[Leena]

Yah ! I need a good critique, a quick in my butt from all of you !

So this is a 3 yrs, Hanoverian cross, 16.3 hands I just start undersaddle in july. I love his character...a big sweatheart. This is a short video at the end of a training seance in August and I would love to have your comments on him and I.

http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/Leena_photos/?action=view&current=Domingole23aot08.flv

I have got bad news about my cancer situation and really, I want to talk and hear something else.

[keana]

How many rides has he had on him?

He is cute :)

[Leena]

Keana, I would say around 10 rides on this video.

[keana]

Thats about how many my horse has on her, I put five rides on her last year and five this year. how funny, I need to get brave and ask for canter under saddle but I keep putting it off.


Did you start him yourself?

[Leena]

Yes I did. I am not cantering yet, just a little bit on the longe. My ring is too small for him and when i'll do, that will be in a very large field.
He has no problem at canter; it is just I feel he has a lot to learn just at walk and trot, just going on trails right now. I have another 2 months to go and then he will return to pasture for winter.

[J-Lu]

A training seance?? I want to do that! If I can channel the spirits of great horses and riders, I'd be all set. :lol:

But really, for 10 rides, I think your guy looks good. He looks steady and not fussy, looks like he steers well and takes training well. Pat yourself on the back.

I'd say that it might help if you keep a steady but giving contact with your hands in order to teach him to reach for contact and keep it, and that contact is good. All the while, focus on using your body to primarily balance him. And all the while, keeping it relaxed and fun and easy and confidence-building. For a 3 year old with 10 rides, you are definitely on the right track. Do you work with a trainer with experience with young horses? It's totally worth the investment as your horse's career (whether competitive or just an excellent riding horse) is built on the foundation you're providing now.

He IS cute. ummm, what's up with the canter? :)

J.

[Leena]

The canter discussion is because Keana has an issue on another thread so she was asking for my boy.

He has no problem at all ...we are getting there.

I broke and train my own since a couple of years so J-Lu, I take the compliments. This one is very good I think. Looking for rythm and steadiness was my primary goal. I am getting him in the contact as I write and he pleased me with some steps on turn on haunches last week, some spiraling circles.

I get coaching about 3 times a year.

[keana]

I think he is doing great also, he is lacking in rhythm and it's throwing you off as he changes his speed but he is getting there and is understanding what you want , at 16.3 and three years old I'm sure he will be even better next spring, he has a lot of growing to do.

He looks like a big sweatheart.

Are you going to show him next year?

[Leena]

I wish to be in health to show him.

Thanks Keana and J-Lu, your comments are helping me ! Sometimes, just another eyes is helping a lot.

[Ambrey]

Leena, I am so sorry to hear your health is not good. Your boy is cute!

[keana]

I am also very sorry you are sick and wish you the best.

I know what you mean about health problems and how frustrating it can be not knowing.

While mine is not any way as serious as yours I do have days where I can't get out of bed or drive, that's why five rides last year and five this year.

I think that is so neat we both have ten rides on our horse's that we are going basically alone with.

Here is my girl on our 7th and 10th ride. She is a wiggle worm and I'm flopping like a fish! She is done growing other then longer in the tooth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGHKcRboZuk

I also hope to show as she will be my first dressage horse that I've trained, but I have not had any training for 13 years I really really need some.

Heres to good health or at least making the best out of good days and getting our horses green broke this year!

[Hazelnut]

Hello, I am not qualified to kick your butt with critique, so I'll just say...cute horse, going well and your look is focused. Other than that, Keep on riding and lose yourself in the horses. I look forward to more photos when you have 30 rides (right about the end of September?).

[thatmoody]

I am also starting a young horse, and after 30+ rides mine is not as steady as yours, so I'm envious! He is coming, though - just tends to avoid and fight contact, so we've been working him w/sidereins in the roundpen. That seems to be helping him find his balance - he is older (6) and has grown so fast in the past year that he's just awkwardly trying to find his legs!

Trail riding is good for the rhythm and steadiness - I need to have more access to trails. As I may have to change barns anyway, that's one of my priorities - do you ride him alone or with a friend?

I always had access to wilderness to ride, and when I would start a young horse I would just take them out and work trails. I had a flat patch of ground where I could stop and work circles, and it was far enough out that the piss and vinegar was usually out of them by that time :D. Now, though, as I age, it's harder to make myself go out alone, and our trail access is limited by a very deep ditch that I'm having difficulty nerving myself to cross. I feel like the Man from Snowy River going down the bank, and that's not fun on a young one.

Congratulations on bringing him along, and I am happy to commiserate with you on the young ones - I always said I'd stick to steady eddies until the opportunity to ride this one came along.

[Leena]

Well I find that 80% of riding problems come from lack of focus and education from the horse, horse that is not ready or too much dominance.

Since my journey with chemios, I realise we are often too strong for the green beans. I am working alone all the time. In trails, I begin by hand walking and normally he tells me when ready.

This one has a very good mental and he wants to please. The only thing I had to do is just keep him forward, trying not to bother him, stay the more stable as possible and ask very very softly but stay firm.

Hazelnut, I got you ! I took him for a trailer ride and went to another barn with more traffic; he was very very kind and stayed focus on me.
I'll ask hubby for another one.

As my health goes..I am heading to a biggest cancer center to get a second opinion since my oncologist has used all his medicine already and it failed.

Riding this huge young boy is helping me to forget, he is giving me another challenge.

[goeslikestink]

[QUOTE=J-Lu;3520041]A training seance?? I want to do that! If I can channel the spirits of great horses and riders, I'd be all set. :lol:

But really, for 10 rides, I think your guy looks good. He looks steady and not fussy, looks like he steers well and takes training well. Pat yourself on the back.

I'd say that it might help if you keep a steady but giving contact with your hands in order to teach him to reach for contact and keep it, and that contact is good. All the while, focus on using your body to primarily balance him. And all the while, keeping it relaxed and fun and easy and confidence-building. For a 3 year old with 10 rides, you are definitely on the right track. Do you work with a trainer with experience with young horses? It's totally worth the investment as your horse's career (whether competitive or just an excellent riding horse) is built on the foundation you're providing now.

He IS cute. ummm, what's up with the canter? :)

tend to agree with j lu hes nice horse to, chin up your doing ok
can i say something--without being offensive you have one body which you know and are fully aware which is our personal belongings and we have to look after it as best as we can perhaps an investment of a hat then perhaps it wont worry you so much about cantering him or jumping him wouldt want to see you get hurt just becuase you didnt wear a hat and with youngsters they more unprictable than an older horse

good luck anyways and good bless you to

[Leena]

GWTL, I am a 100% with you on this !

I wear my hat most of the time but forgive me on this one: the sun was so good on my new hair !!!!! I did not have hair for almost a year and it was such a feeling...

[snbess]

I think he's cute! Going forward in a generally regular rhythm and going where you want him to go...and stopping when you ask him to stop. What more can you ask from 10 rides? He looks like a fun boy and will look great when he starts to push more from behind over his back to the bit. Your horses always look like such fun to ride.

I'm sorry about the bad doc news... :(

Sandra

[monstrpony]

This one has a very good mental [mind] and he wants to please. The only thing I had to do is just keep him forward, trying not to bother him, stay the more stable as possible and ask very very softly but stay firm.


And this is exactly what you want to be doing, and you're doing it well! The best thing is your sound judgement about what you can and cannot do well, and so not rushing things that you know you aren't able to help him with as much as someone else might. Just keep on with what you are doing and he will be fine.

As I hope you will, as well. I always ride with a helmet, but I'm looking forward to allowing myself one ride with the wind in my hair, as well ... when I finally have some again! I'm at the peach-fuzz stage and carefully examine it each morning in the mirror to see what progress it's making.

Wishing you the best of luck and many jingles. Your strong positive attitude will be a significant help, so keep it up! (and continue to let us help with that).

[Leena]

Thanks everybody !

Monstrpony; you will see how it feel so good !

I just need to talk about something else since I got the smack...another one last thursday. It is incredible how that news just turn my energy level down.

I am going to meet another oncologist for a second opinion this week.

So I needed badly to speak about horse, green beans, get my work checked and thanks you so much ! This help a lot !
I'll go to my coach next week with him and we will see from then.

[europa]

I think he is lovely and seems to have a lovely mind set. Have you done much lungeing with side reins. If not I suggest more of that to develop his back strength and frame. Looks wonderful though.

BTW try to enjoy the whole horse process....positive thinking and enjoying the things in daily life are the best medicine! Good luck we are all rooting for you!!

[trakehner013]

he's reallly cute!

[Leena]

Thank you everyone !

I guess i'll have to come up with another video..

[JGHIRETIRE]

Go for the wind in your hair!! Good for you.
The horse is doing great. Both of them!!

[Petstorejunkie]

for 10 rides in he has fantastic rhythm
if you would like an equitation critique please let me know... i hate to give advice on equitation when it isnt really "welcomed"

[Leena]

Well Thank you ! With my youngsters, I am looking for rythm, relaxation. I want them to enjoy the ride thats all.

I am not a very good rider, not really fancy. I shorten my stirrup but I don't like it because if this improve my balance, I cannot use my core...I am like in between and this is hard. I often fall on the forehand..and allelluiah ! And my cancer does not help too.

Also, young 3 yrs are not really balanced...

To make a short story, this one is doing better and better now and this is fun. I will go to my trainer next week so I will see !

But thanks !

[Dune]

What is the trick to view the Photobucket videos, I can never get them to work. It just flashes at me.:confused:

[slc2]

the horse looks fine.

you don't need a critique, you need a medal. :)

just keep it up, keep fighting, keep winning.

[ThatScaryChick]

I think he is looks pretty good considering you said he has only had 10 rides on him. I'm sorry that you received not so good news on your health. I hope things get better for you.

[Kathy Johnson]

Oh, no, you've got green horsitis! These green horses talk us into widening our hands until they have a margin of error big enough to drive a school bus through. The wider your hands, the more room he has to throw his shoulders around and to fail to turn.

Don't let the h/j folks talk you into it, either. Wide hands are a hard habit to break. Put your hands together and keep them there, no matter what age the horse. Teach him to turn off your legs and quit dragging him around on your inside rein like a school pony.

I love the forward energy and the nice open frame you are working in. Very nice horse, another Canadian Horse?

Keep at it. I was cantering along the other day, and thought to myself, "why in the world am I still teaching these green horses to canter?" I guess it's our duty :)

[Leena]

Kathy..I love your comment !

Actually this young bean is Hanoverian cross Canadian. I actually was looking at my hands and saw the same thing so I keep them together now.

Well I have not teach him to canter yet but he is picking up nicely on longe and I feel my ring is a bit small for him. I don't think this will be a major event.

Yes I must have the green horse mania ! (hahaha); that is a severe disease !!!!!

[Robyn]

What slc2 said...EXACTLY what she said! Please know that you are in my thoughts - especially when I'm riding MY young horse - and in my prayers. Best of luck to you!
Robin

[Leena]

Merci pour la médaille SLC !!!!

That is what I do, fighting, fighting BUT in nice company !

I just had a bad news, no hope but maybe some very good months ahead, well I am going to make sure to keep the fun in it !!!

This boy is quite something; I was almost dreaming if I could do the FEI 4 yrs next with him. I'll have to get my seat right before Hein !

Thanks so much to keep my life forward and light !

[Robyn]

Leena, always hope. Always hope!!!