Brag - new horse before and after!

[GGsuperpony]

First, a little background, and then a brag and movement critique. Last February, in a series of very lucky breaks, I stumbled into buying a fantastic horse for practically nothing. To cut a long story short, I basically adopted him for next to nothing since he needed a good home. When I got him we were both super out-of-shape. As in I hadn't ridden in months and months, and he had been ridden once in the past year.

The first video speaks for itself. We look like the out-of-shape team that we are. It's awful, and I wouldn't EVER share it except that you have to see it to appreciate the improvement. Please, no critiques.

Now comes the brag! In the second video, you can see a heck of an improvement in both of us. He has improved more than I have, but overall, we are way better. (Yes, I know I am pumping my hands horribly at the canter. I am also wiggling them bizarrely at the trot. I am still figuring out how to maintain contact AND let him stretch down. He is a MUCH bigger horse than I am used to, but I'll get it. :sigh:)

Please, no riding critiques since I know I look awful despite the improvement. I just got back into a training program, and I promise I am working on it. Right now there is SO much to improve on in my riding that a critique on my position would make this thread terribly long. :lol:

I intend this as a brag, but I'd be glad to hear anyone's opinion on his movement or anything else that you notice - except my riding! :D

Fyi - these two videos represent his first and fourth times ever schooling over fences. (The second time was at a practice show at the end of March, and the third was in our lesson last Thursday when we did the same exercise shown in the video.)

Before: first video, March 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyAmaw_NyxE) - no critiques please! This is the old video.

After: second video, August 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goMsRBmw9bk) - horse/movement critiques welcome!

(Remember, please, no riding critiques! I am not ready for that until I fix the things I know are wrong.)

Thanks, everyone! I was just so excited when I saw the difference in the videos last night that I had to share.

[LShipley]

WOW what a difference. I am really not knowledgeable enough to offer a more detailed critique, but he looks much more relaxed in the second video, and it looks like the two of you suit each other very well! Congratulations!

[rabicon]

Big difference! Good job with him. He's much softer but still a little off balance, mainly in the canter but also in the trot at times. Really try to figure out the contact. He is really searching for it (could be being fussy but you said you hadn't figured out the contact yet so It could very well be that). He is really on the forehand in the canter and at the trot at times. But you don't want any rider critiques so can't help you out with that. Overall he's cute, I don't see an A or AA horse but very cute local C or B circuit horse. Good luck

[magmir]

I think you guys both look fantastic, and you are doing a really wonderful job with him :)

[Einstein]

You are doing a great job!:D

[BearWithMe]

wow what a hugeeee difference.
the one thing i noticed is that i would try to push her out more at the trot. keep her nose tucked but make her extend a bit more. if i saw you guys in a hack class i would have liked to see you moving out more. working alot on transitions will help you alot with this.
i think youre too hard on yourself!!! your leg is steady and your seat is soft and i completely understand the hands issue. once she's more consistent with her head, you will be more consistent with your hands.

[Sebastian]

Well done, GG. He's coming along VERY nicely. You guys are a cute pair, too. :yes:

Seb :)

[2bayboys]

First, congrats on your improvement and your obvious hard work! :)

Second, go forward go forward go forward!! Without power coming from behind there will never be genuine contact. Forward, straight, balanced.

[SprinklerBandit]

Nicely done! You two show a huge improvement, but as you said, there's a ways to go yet. Keep working.

[RugBug]

Wow...what a difference. Hardly looks like the same horse. Good job!


Second, go forward go forward go forward!! Without power coming from behind there will never be genuine contact. Forward, straight, balanced.

I absolutely agree with this. He's shuffling along so real contact isn't going to be possible, which is why he seems to be rooting a bit and leaning on the bit. He's a lovely mover, just needs to more impulsion to get him moving his best and moving into contact.

[GGsuperpony]

Yes, we definitely struggle with the forward part!

That is particularly useful feedback, since I am never quite sure when I've got it right unless my trainer is watching and commenting. See, I didn't mention in my original post that I have just moved up from a large pony (eight years late!), so I overcorrect and get him too quiet. I guess I keep up the half-halts until we are going pony-speed. :lol:

So really it's just a matter of (a) continuing my regular lessons so I can learn to automatically recognize the desirable rhythm for a much larger, more athletic critter, and (b) then replicating that rhythm on my own until it is absolutely automatic for me and for Charlie.

But, boy, is learning to ride a BIG horse a slow process! Years of ponies aren't easily erased! :lol:

[toomanyponies]

nice type, good canter, looks like he will do flying changes, cute jumper - seems brave. an ok trot. Overall a nice little horse. But, if you are going to go the hunter route, please, please stop holding his head down. Behind the bit, flexing somewhere along the neck instead of at the poll, head below the wither - all of this is much worse than letting him canter along in a natural carriage. - and makes it impossible to ride to the jumps nicely. Get up in your half seat and get comfortable at a working canter. He looks quiet - I bet if you drop the reins he wont go anywhere at all. :-)

[RugBug]

But, if you are going to go the hunter route, please, please stop holding his head down.

Wow, I don't see her "holding his head down" at all. I see a horse that was a bit of a camel and is still figuring out contact but has gone to the other extreme and is pulling down, rooting, etc. This isn't fixed by letting go, it's fixed by pushing the horse forward into soft contact every time he gets low. She's on the right track...and for 6 months or so has come a really long way.

[Czar]

I agree with toomanyponies as far as letting him get his head too low....lots of people want to correct the "head set" b/c it's often the most obvious thing. However, the horse will just learn to carry himself incorrectly if asked to lower his head before he has found his balance. A young horse or a horse with extended time off, as in your case, just need time to find themselves.

I have a 4 yr old OTTB with a fairly "big" canter - he's a quiet horse but gangly and unbalanced and often carries his head higher than ideal (for a hunter) to figure out his balance.

I know it doesn't look great but it feels a heck of a lot better than when he overflexes and falls forward on his face (though I suspect to the inexperienced eye, the latter would look better). I just let him figure it out & when he seems to find his centre of balance and drop back onto his hocks (most often on the straightaway) I ask for him to drop his head into my contact by sitting a little deeper (but very still) and taking slightly more feel. Feels fantastic for about four steps; then we hit the corner and it's greenbean all over again but...it's a process ;)

Anyway, you guys look great - it's so fun to bring a horse along; very rewarding.

[jetsmom]

First, congrats on your improvement and your obvious hard work! :)

Second, go forward go forward go forward!! Without power coming from behind there will never be genuine contact. Forward, straight, balanced.

Ditto!

He looks like a different horse now! With a little more impulsion at the trot, and a more balanced canter he'll be lovely.

[forward ride]

WOW! hard work goes a long way! congratulations. how exciting to be able to see a change like that :) really pays off.

[beesknees]

did you take my horse? I'm fairly sure he was in the barn when I left earlier, haha! All joking aside, he's a sweetie and looks identical to my horse. He's balanced now (should be considering he's been moving himself around for 23 years now) but when I don't ride inside leg to outside rein (keeping contact on the outside rein) he does a little bit of rooting like your boy does looking for me to keep contact on the outside so he can carry himself. I'm incredibly out of shape and I also have a hard time with my own balance...sigh, I understand and share your position (pun intended). Keep up the good work and keep having fun!

[Mamy]

I think it looks like you are putting alot of work and effort into your horse! What a change in 6 months! I agree, I'd like to see more forward motion, but I think you will get it together! Gives me hope for my boy! I hope in 6 or so months I can post a before and after post!