Post by Zoe RA on Feb 6, 2010 22:00:26 GMT 1
Sonic is a 16.3hh 11 year old TBx Possibly Irish Draught.
Frankie, his owner, asked me to visit them to help Frankie regain her confidence after Sonic, who has had a few physical problems that are now sorted, had been rearing in hand and had got very protective of his space in the stable. She also wanted me to help her get on track with their long lining as Frankie was having trouble steering and getting a canter out of Sonic.
We started off with some basic ground work so that we could get Sonic focused on Frankie, and we did some moveing over of the quarters, and the forhand to help Frankie move him over in the stable.
This was working really well but it was patently obvious that Sonic badly wanted a roll! Normally I would say that he needed to concentrate, but as it was the first time he had had his rug off in ages, and the sun was warm and shining, I took pity on him and we took off his head collar and let him have his roll.
Well, he eventually had his roll, but not until he had decided that running round and round the round pen doing airs above the ground, lamby like boings etc etc was a good laugh
When he had QUITE finished we put on the roller and lines and set Frankie and he off on their wibbly wobbly way. Frankie's steering really did need tweaking, so we did lots of changes of direction, and lots of cutting down the center and side lines:
As soon as Frankie got the hang of this in the round pen,
we relocated to the main school.
Here is Sonic showing how happy he is to just stand in the sun doing nothing whilst Frankie decides what she is going to do with her lines
It was far better that she should take a few moments to sort her lines out and decide where she was going to go than it would have been to have started off aimlessly and dithered around not giving Sonic clear instruction.
I then had a lovely time watching Frankie find out through a combination of trial and error and guidance from me how much or how little contact was needed with Sonic to keep him on track.
Sonic is the sort of horse who likes to be asked to do things politely, but if he isn't asked at all feels a little worried, so Frankie was surprised at how much contact she actually needed with him.
They got on so well that we decided to go back to the round pen and see if we could rouse a trot or even a canter from Sonic. He had really enjoyed his potter round the school, and could he now just walk into the middle and sunbath again please?!
Frankie got the trot without too much trouble, but was struggling with the canter. I showed her how to up her energy, and immediately he went into canter. Not the smoothest of canters, but at least they had got it!
Here is a nice action shot of Frankie having upped her energy
And an action shot of Sonic
Before we took Sonic back to his field we recapped on how Frankie's body language would effect how Sonic behaves, and I reminded her that he needs to know she is there for him but she has to ask him politely or he would take offense and possibly rear again.
On the way back to the field, Frankie did lots of halts to focus Sonic on her, and asked him to back up every so often. I suggested that Frankie ask Sonic by aiming the pressure from the line between Sonic's legs whilst giving Sonic a verbal command rather than holding the line short and throwing her weight into him, and sure enough he was very much more cooperative when he didn't feel "told", and we got to the field without incident.
This is what Frankie wrote on the bottom of the Assessment Questioner that I ask all owners to fill in before and at the end of the first session:
"Lots of fun (for both of us) - nice balance of action and discussion. Gave me lots of confidence and our long lining steering definitely improved. Will be having a follow up session after I've had time to practice".
I shall look forward to it
Frankie, his owner, asked me to visit them to help Frankie regain her confidence after Sonic, who has had a few physical problems that are now sorted, had been rearing in hand and had got very protective of his space in the stable. She also wanted me to help her get on track with their long lining as Frankie was having trouble steering and getting a canter out of Sonic.
We started off with some basic ground work so that we could get Sonic focused on Frankie, and we did some moveing over of the quarters, and the forhand to help Frankie move him over in the stable.
This was working really well but it was patently obvious that Sonic badly wanted a roll! Normally I would say that he needed to concentrate, but as it was the first time he had had his rug off in ages, and the sun was warm and shining, I took pity on him and we took off his head collar and let him have his roll.
Well, he eventually had his roll, but not until he had decided that running round and round the round pen doing airs above the ground, lamby like boings etc etc was a good laugh
When he had QUITE finished we put on the roller and lines and set Frankie and he off on their wibbly wobbly way. Frankie's steering really did need tweaking, so we did lots of changes of direction, and lots of cutting down the center and side lines:
As soon as Frankie got the hang of this in the round pen,
we relocated to the main school.
Here is Sonic showing how happy he is to just stand in the sun doing nothing whilst Frankie decides what she is going to do with her lines
It was far better that she should take a few moments to sort her lines out and decide where she was going to go than it would have been to have started off aimlessly and dithered around not giving Sonic clear instruction.I then had a lovely time watching Frankie find out through a combination of trial and error and guidance from me how much or how little contact was needed with Sonic to keep him on track.
Sonic is the sort of horse who likes to be asked to do things politely, but if he isn't asked at all feels a little worried, so Frankie was surprised at how much contact she actually needed with him.
They got on so well that we decided to go back to the round pen and see if we could rouse a trot or even a canter from Sonic. He had really enjoyed his potter round the school, and could he now just walk into the middle and sunbath again please?!
Frankie got the trot without too much trouble, but was struggling with the canter. I showed her how to up her energy, and immediately he went into canter. Not the smoothest of canters, but at least they had got it!
Here is a nice action shot of Frankie having upped her energy
And an action shot of Sonic
Before we took Sonic back to his field we recapped on how Frankie's body language would effect how Sonic behaves, and I reminded her that he needs to know she is there for him but she has to ask him politely or he would take offense and possibly rear again.
On the way back to the field, Frankie did lots of halts to focus Sonic on her, and asked him to back up every so often. I suggested that Frankie ask Sonic by aiming the pressure from the line between Sonic's legs whilst giving Sonic a verbal command rather than holding the line short and throwing her weight into him, and sure enough he was very much more cooperative when he didn't feel "told", and we got to the field without incident.
This is what Frankie wrote on the bottom of the Assessment Questioner that I ask all owners to fill in before and at the end of the first session:
"Lots of fun (for both of us) - nice balance of action and discussion. Gave me lots of confidence and our long lining steering definitely improved. Will be having a follow up session after I've had time to practice".
I shall look forward to it