Hot tip direct from me...

[mig]

I know its easy to get caught up in a strict riding plan... I do it all the time!

My old fellow has been copping lots of flatwork with a bit of jumping on the side for some time. I felt he was getting a little stale. So yesterday we went for our first trailride in ages! I used to trailride more than anything else... but I think I got a bit bogged down in my "goals". We had a few lovely trots and canters, along with a couple of short gallops- another thing I haven't done for a long time!

Today we did flatwork again, I was hoping he wouldn't have switched to "hoon mode" after yesterday, but instead he became a super-relaxed, eager and happy worker!

So my hot tip for the day: RELAX, GO FOR A TRAILRIDE! :D

[Ivanka]

I know its easy to get caught up in a strict riding plan... I do it all the time!

My old fellow has been copping lots of flatwork with a bit of jumping on the side for some time. I felt he was getting a little stale. So yesterday we went for our first trailride in ages! I used to trailride more than anything else... but I think I got a bit bogged down in my "goals". We had a few lovely trots and canters, along with a couple of short gallops- another thing I haven't done for a long time!

Today we did flatwork again, I was hoping he wouldn't have switched to "hoon mode" after yesterday, but instead he became a super-relaxed, eager and happy worker!

So my hot tip for the day: RELAX, GO FOR A TRAILRIDE! :D


I know!!!!
We went to the beach last weekend and had 3 fantastic rides. Really relaxed. .little bit of (controlled) hooning.. it was a blast!

Due to work commitments I didn't get to ride all week and when I hopped on him today he was fantastic... my husband called a few tests for me (just for fun) from my old Dutch test book as these are all written for 20x40 arenas.
We did a fantastic M2 test !!!! (equivalent I suppose to Elementary here) and I was very proud.

Even Gerard said:"wow, he looked awesome, I had no idea he could do all this!!"

:razz:

[Adele]

I know its easy to get caught up in a strict riding plan... I do it all the time!
So my hot tip for the day: RELAX, GO FOR A TRAILRIDE! :D

Only problem is, is when you want a relaxing trail ride, but unfortunatly your horses eyes are on stalks, and is doing this amazing suspended passage.... Oh and all these motor-X riders are zooming past you and the nice 'quite' beach has turned into a darn circus, with sails going up left right & centre, cars/bikes zooming past you, maniac dogs chasing you. All while 2 riders in your group have bitten the dust, 1 horse has galopped off down the beach and the other riderless horse, acting like your simesse-twin and the other horse-rider combination going nuts... all you can think off, patting your horse, through all of this, all he is thinking back to his dressage roots and doing some stunning passage! :)
So the moral of the story, if your horse is a dressage prince, don't take him to the beach... when its a first time for him & every bloody man & his dog or toy is there.

[Ivanka]

Only problem is, is when you want a relaxing trail ride, but unfortunatly your horses eyes are on stalks, and is doing this amazing suspended passage.... Oh and all these motor-X riders are zooming past you and the nice 'quite' beach has turned into a darn circus, with sails going up left right & centre, cars/bikes zooming past you, maniac dogs chasing you. All while 2 riders in your group have bitten the dust, 1 horse has galopped off down the beach and the other riderless horse, acting like your simesse-twin and the other horse-rider combination going nuts... all you can think off, patting your horse, through all of this, all he is thinking back to his dressage roots and doing some stunning passage! :)
So the moral of the story, if your horse is a dressage prince, don't take him to the beach... when its a first time for him & every bloody man & his dog or toy is there.

LOL, that is so funny!

But you are right.. they have to be used to it or else it can potentially be extremely disastrous...
;)

[Zephyr]

Uh, and I've also heard of a few very expensive dressage horses doing suspensory ligaments galloping along beaches, so please be careful. Its a bitch of an injury to re-hab.

[Ivanka]

Uh, and I've also heard of a few very expensive dressage horses doing suspensory ligaments galloping along beaches, so please be careful. Its a bitch of an injury to re-hab.


OOH nooo, don't tell me that!!! :eek: I had so much fun!!!
Now I will never be able to enjoy a social ride on the beach without being paranoid for expensive injuries....

:confused:

[Zephyr]

Sorry, but probably not a bad way to be. I saw how devastating it was for one of my best friends when her best young horse did his at the beach. She rehabilitated him, but he's not really perfectly sound enough for competition, not sound enough she feels comfortable selling him, but by no means unsound enough not to ride him. It was such a waste, cos he's exquisite.

[mig]

All good points, ladies. If its more stress than its worth, obviously it's counteractive!

I guess its what works for the particular combination, in which case it works well for me. :)

[rhi]

i find that jst a nice walk up the road and through the parks with a couple of controlled trots and canters relaxes mine. if i am with a group of people and we go cantering gus gets really hypo so i dont think that does anything for his relaxation hehe