Yay I finally got the 5.5" French link snaffle! How does it look (above picture)? He did not want to put it on, but I'd put sugar on it so he was fine once it was in his mouth. He chewed on it some at first because it's different and he hasn't worn a bit in a long time. Aside from that he was fine. Here are the ride stats.
It couldn't find the GPS at first so the time is correct, but the distance may be a little less than what we actually did. He was being very barn sour at first. He did not want to go to the back pasture and was weaving back and forth. Once we were back there he stopped being balky and did pretty well. I was getting frustrated because he could NOT move in a straight line and kept throwing his shoulders all over the place. I can't wait to take lessons so I can figure out how to control those shoulders.
When I realized I was getting frustrated I stopped him and then sat there breathing for a little while. Then I started just randomly riding around the whole back pasture instead of trying to stay in the arena. Then we did some cantering! It was the most cantering we've done in the back pasture before and he did not feel out of control at all. :D I even cantered him from the back all the way to the front, which I've never done before (lots of obstacles). He's such a good boy, there is just so much he (we) still need(s) to learn.
At one point I was trotting him around a corner in the arena and he started to canter. I wish I had let him go because he was probably on the right lead and he almost never picks up the right lead! However me, being me, reacted and brought him back to a trot. I have to get rid of that knee jerk reaction. The good news is he did not throw his head up like he did with the other bit!!! That's great news! It will take a few more rides before I know for sure what he thinks of it.
Here are some snapshots from the video. I'm having trouble getting the twenty minute video (that shows the majority of the ride) off of hubby's phone so I can't share it right now.
Cantering in the pasture! Yay!!!
That trot!!!!! I love it!
Here are some more random photos from when we were getting ready for the ride.
He looks tall because I'm slouching against him hehe.
Here are some of the man behind the scenes hehe.
All my boys! Love them!
Well that's all for this short post. I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Since the weather appears to be straightening up some I should get to ride more this coming week. I hope so anyway because I'm beginning to feel like a weekend warrior! 8o
P.S. I made a new banner. What do you think of it?
Love the pictures and the new banner!! His trot is so dreamy!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
Deletegreat pics!! he's just doing so well :) and glad the bit arrived too!
ReplyDeletealso - good on you for recognizing your frustration level and just taking a quick break. i am SO BAD at that -- and then my temper interferes with our ride... definitely need to remember to just sit back and relax for a few minutes lol
Oh I'm bad about it too! I'm actually really impressed that I did it. I was getting to the point where my temper was about to come into play because I was so frustrated so I just asked him to stop. He came to a perfect, immediate, square halt and then just stood there. He did not move a single muscle (other than looking around and watching the donkey and goats). While I was sitting there thinking about how I'm this huge failure and I can't ride and I can't train my horse and we suck blah blah blah all of a sudden it just hit me.... my horse is standing still like a rock in the middle of the pasture for absolutely no reason other than because I said so... that's something to be proud of right now!! I grinned, scratched his withers, told him he is a good boy and then we did some cantering. Guaranteed to cure any foul mood. :D
DeleteHis trot in those pics is STUNNING!! What a nice ride! Glad you had fun with him and that he seems happy with the new bit!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! I've always admired his big trot from the ground, but I never thought I would ever get it under saddle, so it makes me so happy to see that we can do it!
DeleteThe pictures are gorgeous. He has really grown up to be a lovely horse.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteAbout the shoulder thing--Salem would bulge/drift with his shoulders when he first came down to me, particularly through the right shoulder when we were tracking left. My friend Heather gave me the best advice for this. She said, "Build a wall with your outside aids." I hadn't thought of using my right rein to block the right shoulder drift, but when combined with the right leg, it worked incredibly well. :-)
ReplyDeleteUsing outside aids is how I was taught to block the shoulder on a trained horse.... but how do you teach all of it to a green horse? All Chrome knows is that legs mean forward... we also haven't worked on contact either so all he knows is direct steering, right rein means go right, left rein means go left. His knowledge (and mine on how to teach it) is very basic! That's why I really need lessons!!
DeleteSalem was green as grass when he came down here, and it worked for him! He was so green, he did the "snake," where he literally could not trot a straight line. He would weave around like a drunk! ;-)
DeleteReally? Cool! I'll definitely give it a try!! If I'm consistent he should figure it out eventually lol.
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