Post by Emily+Meg on Sept 1, 2008 18:22:03 GMT 1
Yesterday as some of you know we took Nikki and Peg to the hunter trials nearby. Recently ( I am wondering whether they know meg is in foal? ) Nikki and Peg have become ridiculously attached. It is very hard to seperate them at shows - I have been deposited a couple of times because of it.
However yesterday went really well! I have been reading perfect manners and perfect partners (thanks Gemma
will get them back to you soon) and doing exercises.
At first yesterday I started in a 'traditional' way - I took Nikki away and started to lunge her, to try to settle her. However to have any control I was on a small circle ( only had one lunge rein) and she was getting more and more panicky - we had some impressive airs above the ground
. Clearly they only way this would 'settle' her was to lunge til she was knackered - not a good idea when she had a 3 mile xc course to do!
So instead I thought; "what might the DG say if I could post a thread on this right now".
Then I took Nikki on a walk, in hand, up the track. I just practised stopping, starting, moving her feet around etc. Gradually I noticed she was relaxing and listening to me. I hope she began to feel she didn't need Peggy, she had enough of a leader in me. As we turned back to walk towards Peg she would stop when I stopped, and back up without a tantrum. She had also stopped whinnying!
We got back to Peg and I got on board. We walked into the middle of the field, and Nikki promptly said "I can't possibly leave my friend". She was calm, but determined - backing up, and spinning. Nothing major, no bucks, rears etc, but you could feel determination coming from her! Everytime she spun, I kept her turning in a small circle the way she had spun. Everytime she went backwards, I asked her to turn in small circles. Very soon she decided it was a lot easier to walk on when asked than do circles! Soon I was trotting circles straight past Peg ;D
When we got to the start of the course, it was all spooky again, and she didn't want to leave Peg. Back to the circles! We got going, and she was AMAZING.
It was a 3 mile approx length course, with 25 jumps. She kept a beautiful rhythm and jumped everything. We had a disagreement at the end at the water - but she went through after a couple of circles.
SO chuffed. We managed a beautifully calm round, after getting off the trailer tense and panicky and refusing to leave Peg.
However yesterday went really well! I have been reading perfect manners and perfect partners (thanks Gemma
will get them back to you soon) and doing exercises.At first yesterday I started in a 'traditional' way - I took Nikki away and started to lunge her, to try to settle her. However to have any control I was on a small circle ( only had one lunge rein) and she was getting more and more panicky - we had some impressive airs above the ground
. Clearly they only way this would 'settle' her was to lunge til she was knackered - not a good idea when she had a 3 mile xc course to do! So instead I thought; "what might the DG say if I could post a thread on this right now".
Then I took Nikki on a walk, in hand, up the track. I just practised stopping, starting, moving her feet around etc. Gradually I noticed she was relaxing and listening to me. I hope she began to feel she didn't need Peggy, she had enough of a leader in me. As we turned back to walk towards Peg she would stop when I stopped, and back up without a tantrum. She had also stopped whinnying!
We got back to Peg and I got on board. We walked into the middle of the field, and Nikki promptly said "I can't possibly leave my friend". She was calm, but determined - backing up, and spinning. Nothing major, no bucks, rears etc, but you could feel determination coming from her! Everytime she spun, I kept her turning in a small circle the way she had spun. Everytime she went backwards, I asked her to turn in small circles. Very soon she decided it was a lot easier to walk on when asked than do circles! Soon I was trotting circles straight past Peg ;D
When we got to the start of the course, it was all spooky again, and she didn't want to leave Peg. Back to the circles! We got going, and she was AMAZING.
It was a 3 mile approx length course, with 25 jumps. She kept a beautiful rhythm and jumped everything. We had a disagreement at the end at the water - but she went through after a couple of circles.
SO chuffed. We managed a beautifully calm round, after getting off the trailer tense and panicky and refusing to leave Peg.
