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| What A Difference!; He's like a new horse! | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 10 2009, 10:18 AM (410 Views) | |
| Casey1 | Aug 10 2009, 10:18 AM Post #1 |
Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
  ![]](http://209.85.48.14/static/1/pip_r.png)
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I love my TB, he is quiet, bomb proof, and believe it or not LAZY!!! He has been in the barn since he was 4, I bought him when he turned 9. He is constantly getting better, a true TB sign. One thing he has had issues all his life with is a STRICT routine. If you vary his routine, he gets nervous and worries. You walk, trot, canter and either you are done, OR you jump and then are done. It has taken YEARS for me to get him to trot after he canters. This past spring I rode in a clinic and the clinician had us do a LOT of canter to trot work transitions. Good thing I have been working on these, he got all tense but he cooperated. Since the clinic he has been more willing to trot after he canters, and I have made a point of some trot exercises to relax him and when he does we can stop. We are still working on the after jump stuff. ANYWAY - The other day I had to ride in our indoor as it was pouring out. In the summer our indoor does not get too much attention and the footing was packed down (barefoot school horses) so I didn't dare try to canter for fear he would slip. We got some fantabulous trot work in. The next time I rode, I decided I was going to start with his canter work since we didn't do any the last ride. I trotted just a little bit to warm up is muscles, picked him up and cantered. OMG I got the BEST canter I have had on him, he was easier to get in front of my leg, soft in my hand, supple both directions and very attentive to my requests. I actually could feel myself for a change and started to realize what I do wrong and need to fix. Then we walked for a moment, then we trotted. OMG his trot was HUGE!!! Again in front of my leg, supple, extremely flexible, and so much fun! I could not get over the difference. Thinking it could have been a fluke, I did it again the next ride and got even better than the previous ride. Ever since I do my canter work first. I can not tell you how much difference it has made in my horse. I am looking forward to playing with our routine, and just plain mix it up. I think that helps him stay softer, because he is listening to me waiting for my cues instead of anticipating the "routine". I don't know that two years ago I could have done this. He is a very athletic horse but not always the kind who can "walk down the street and chew gum at the same time" if you get my drift. He has not tripped ONCE since I started this method. Also I found in jumping (he is a jumper) he is staying more rideable, and waits for me after the jumps. He has even NAILED his lead changes at home. He has always had lead issues at home, we never cared as he did them at shows. It would cause his brains to run out his ears if you "worked" on them at home. Now I just sit there and he swaps, like an equitation horse. So nice!!!! I miss lead changes like that! I am very excited and hope we continue both of us to improve! Have any of you just completely changed your usual riding plan like that and had success or resolved problems as a result? |
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| SnackPack | Aug 10 2009, 03:03 PM Post #2 |
It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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Show does best when you canter first. I get a MUCH better trot if I canter first. BUT, I've got a hang-up about walk, trot, then canter. I can't help but feel like I'm failing in the whole riding game if I can't trot first. Aside from my mental issue, there is spooking issue that is easier to deal with when he's tired so you want to trot him and tire him out there first before you get to the bigger spooking potential of the canter. Sigh...it's a bit of a Catch-22 Elf feels like he'd canter better first and then trot...except I'm not sure if I can get him cantering without revving him up at the trot. So much for the hot TB stereo-type. 
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| Casey1 | Aug 11 2009, 05:01 AM Post #3 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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I was once at a show with my current TB, and I was being helped by my "old" trainer (used to train my current trainer too) who found my horse originally. We were getting ready to walk the jumper course he looked down at my boots, and notices I have on a 1 1/2 spur with a rowel. He says "why do you have such a big spur with a hot TB?" I looked at him and said "what hot TB?" I have to "rev" mine up too! Once he gets going he can be "jumper-y" but it is mostly because I make him do that, not because he wants to, whoa is his favorite word. I know what you mean too about "walk then trot, then canter". That is part of the reason this is so amazing to me. I never considered trying it. I do walk a lot and loose trot a few times around to loosen him up, but we work first at the canter, then work the trot. I am so freaking "old school" and I suppose I am just as habitual as my horse. Perhaps that is why we get along so well. |
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| Delia | Aug 11 2009, 10:11 AM Post #4 |
Is the meadow on fire?
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My OTTB always has been better if I start out cantering. I just get up into a two-point, get him in front of my leg and let him stretch, and then we move on to trot work. If we do trot work first, I spend the first 10 minutes working way to hard to get him in front of my leg and he tries to go around with his head cocked and mouth open while he plays with the bit. But if we canter for a few minutes first, he's very forward and supple when we go back to the trot. This is even more true now that he's a senior citizen, but it was the case 15 years ago as well. I always thought it was because he was a little arthritic in his hocks, but perhaps it's really a TB thing. |
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| Ann | Aug 30 2009, 05:56 AM Post #5 |
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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Me too! My TB always has a much better trot after we canter. Delia, I can relate. In most cases, we also get a lazy trot until we canter. I also find that doing lots of walk-trot transitions in quick succession makes him move better off my leg. Bottom line is ... if it works for you, then go for it! |
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| MissBri | Oct 2 2009, 04:36 AM Post #6 |
Cead Mile Failte ! ! SLAINTE!
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Not just a TB thing - one of my students has a quite lazy Arab. She's had him for years and this guy just doesn't want to put in more energy than absolutely necessary. This woman tends to get a bit tight/tense when she rides which then just amplifies the problem So, we usually start off with lots of quick transitions (walk, trot, halt), suppleness exercises, and a few minutes of canter, hand gallop transitions, then we get to work. This program seems to work to both get the arab in front of her leg and to relax the rider. Course we mostly do dressage - but he must be forward to carry himself through and she must not get tense or tight. Of course he is quite forward when I get on. |
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