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Post by maxandpaddy on Dec 8, 2013 17:49:17 GMT
So we're keeping Huntroyd Easter Bunny aka 'SpiderPig' and fetching her out ourselves next year ...yikes!!
She's been going really well and enjoying a lot of one on one attention which has made such a difference to this mare
Now shes getting fitter and starting to look good getting her to settle into her work is taking longer and longer.
Tonight was a battle between teenage moody daughter and teenage moody mare, a good contest which went down to points (no knock out) and the moody mare won. Shes out during the day and in at night, i'm obsessively watching her diet, teeth/back done, saddle fitter sent for, dotted all the i's crossed all the t's
We're working her 5/6 days a week, a bit of lunging with the JW training aid, some schooling and at weekends she gets hacked out
She spends a good chunk of her schooling time spooking at imaginary monsters or poles that were there the previous 20 times she went round but suddenly become Lord Voldemort!!! Shes refusing to bend to the right on her stiff side and tilts her head to avoid it, plus she can get strong in Hannahs hand and rushes so we've been doing lots of serpentine's/half halts/20 metre circles. Shes in a plain snaffle which when shes going well suits her fine but not sure if I should consider something else to help Hannah when shes in 'Pig' mode?
We try to keep things fun for her, and dont push how long we school her...if she goes well 15/20 mins is fine then she gets toodled down the drive, but lately its taking 15/20 minutes to get her to settle ahhhhhhhhh!!!
Any tips pleaseeeee??
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Post by maxandpaddy on Dec 9, 2013 17:48:16 GMT
She went well tonight so as usual I'm probably over-thinking things
I've been advised to lunge her more and Hannah ride her less
Food for thought
x
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Post by judyh on Dec 9, 2013 17:55:56 GMT
If your daughter is getting cross with you ( been there) the mare will be picking up on the tension. I would work her yourself as much as possible.
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Post by maxandpaddy on Dec 9, 2013 18:26:43 GMT
I do think thats part of the problem, both are feisty so some days they 'bang heads'
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Post by Philippa on Dec 9, 2013 20:56:16 GMT
You know she might just be getting too fit.
I used to ride my stallion maybe 3 times a week and a show at weekend. If fresh he would be lunged for 5 mins before riding and if he was in one of those moods I just got off, untacked and put him away, even for just an hour. Then try again later or the next day, no point arguing with him, it got you nowhere and just peed both him and me off.
I let a friend show him for me for a few months, she rode him daily, fairly hard, he got way too fit and would take ages to settle and at shows would take more working in than I can begin to tell you.
Sometimes less is more. Just a thought.
A little snippet for you, I had a Huntroyd pony nearly 30 years ago, Huntroyd Jubilation.
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Post by maxandpaddy on Dec 9, 2013 21:14:24 GMT
Cheers Philippa!!!
What you've said is very similar to what a good friend has said...YOU'RE DOING TOO MUCH!!!
She's suggested only riding her twice a week, lunge her twice a week then maybe the odd weekend hack out/gentle toodle for a bit of fun and the rest off
Its very unlike me but I know nothing about the other Huntroyd ponies, I aimed my interest more at her sires side Kilvington Scoundrel, but any info you have I'd love to hear
xx
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Dec 10, 2013 7:56:07 GMT
Maybe an occasional lesson with an outside trainer, if you don't already, would help - I've been there trying to work with daughter and horse! A new eye to notice changes, different exercises to try, and a different relationship between person on horse and the one on the ground? Or a showing clinic perhaps? And I hope when they hack out they are paying attention to what they are doing and not just slopping along - I used to do all my schooling on hacks without the pony noticing it was being "worked". It certainly suited intelligent natives, but I'm not experienced with plaited things I'm afraid!
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Post by roxy93 on Dec 10, 2013 9:08:14 GMT
Yes i have always been told never get a show horse fit it will be the worst thing you do.. It sure was!! with the clashing part, i used to clash with my cob and both temperaments did not mix at all, had to get off and leave her so after an accident i had i sent her away for a while she came back and i was told to only ride 2 or 3 times a day they include schooling and hacking and the rest to pessoa. Now i have her going well i still now lunge and ride as when do not want her getting to fit either!!
Hope it works out, Have you maybe tried a calmer? I like Nupafeed very much.
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Post by bouncer on Dec 10, 2013 10:48:51 GMT
Hi Jane, glad you have decided to keep her From personal experience it sounds like she is a little too fit and looking for ways to make things more interesting, too bright for her own good. I know it's much harder now the nights have drawn in but I would be avoiding too much schooling, she knows how to do it all and it won't take much to remind her come the spring nearer to qualifiers. Is there any unaff dressage near you, or some informal showjumping you could get to during the week? Or maybe just lunge once or twice during the week and only ride at weekends. We found a great Bowen therapist (reasonable charges too) if she is getting a little tense, I can PM you contact details if you wish. All the best, Christine
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Dec 10, 2013 11:52:43 GMT
Must admit I always made a point of riding horses I didn't clash with, it's supposed to be a pleasure not a struggle.
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Post by maxandpaddy on Dec 10, 2013 12:36:11 GMT
Thanks all!!
They get on well really its funny to watch them together, but they both have their 'off' days and then it can be entertaining. If I could suss out when those days were in advance I wouldnt let them near each other!!
She loves Hannah
Thanks Christine and yep totally agree with you, like you say its so hard during the week to fit much in but I think we're going to lunge her a couple of times, school her once maybe twice a week and fun at weekends. Plus as advised try to get them to some clinics/lessons
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Post by bouncer on Dec 10, 2013 15:05:47 GMT
Must admit I always made a point of riding horses I didn't clash with, it's supposed to be a pleasure not a struggle. I wouldn't say it was a personality clash as such ( I wouldn't have sold to Jane and Hannah if I had felt that to be the case), more that both Spider and Hannah have a stubborn streak so when that streak rears it's head in both at the same time battles commence! Regarding the breeding lines I suspect it's the Scoundrel blood in her that causes the argumentativeness. Of course I couldn't possibly comment on Hannah's breeding lines
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Dec 10, 2013 15:18:50 GMT
Sorry if I got the wrong impression from a couple of posts from the OP and roxy93 then if that's the case.
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Post by maxandpaddy on Dec 10, 2013 17:47:38 GMT
Must admit I always made a point of riding horses I didn't clash with, it's supposed to be a pleasure not a struggle. I wouldn't say it was a personality clash as such ( I wouldn't have sold to Jane and Hannah if I had felt that to be the case), more that both Spider and Hannah have a stubborn streak so when that streak rears it's head in both at the same time battles commence! Regarding the breeding lines I suspect it's the Scoundrel blood in her that causes the argumentativeness. Of course I couldn't possibly comment on Hannah's breeding lines They were made for each other...... and Hannah's breeding lines are impeccable Christine!!! No idea where the stubborn streak comes from
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Post by ponymum on Dec 14, 2013 19:24:06 GMT
I would say youre mare is too fit...let her have some time off. Mares are very bright. She wont forget a jot , and will come back all the better for a rest xx We only ride our mare a couple of times a week , and try not to over school her. There are lots you can do out hacking which is schooling but not in such a regimental environment x
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Post by ponymum on Dec 14, 2013 19:29:13 GMT
I would say youre mare is too fit...let her have some time off. Mares are very bright. She wont forget a jot , and will come back all the better for a rest xx We only ride our mare a couple of times a week , and try not to over school her. There are lots you can do out hacking which is schooling but not in such a regimental environment x
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Post by gillwales on Dec 14, 2013 19:42:56 GMT
I will make a couple of suggestions,
firstly try a french link snaffle if she is evading with her head
secondly riding , especially for your daughter should be fun! We are out of season, do something else with your pony for the next couple of months, not necessarily competitive.
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Post by ajc on Dec 14, 2013 21:41:41 GMT
My pony takes forever to settle so I try to walk him round for about 20minutes to get him to settle&doing halt transitions and turn on the forehands etc etc, before I start trotting. Have a go, hopefully she will relax, then problem solved!!
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Post by maxandpaddy on Dec 14, 2013 22:37:01 GMT
I will make a couple of suggestions, firstly try a french link snaffle if she is evading with her head secondly riding , especially for your daughter should be fun! We are out of season, do something else with your pony for the next couple of months, not necessarily competitive. Thanks for that ....I've been looking into bits as she can get strong and sometimes leans on Hannah. A good friend recommended putting her in a waterford once a week to remind her not to We've eased off on her work, shes being lunged for 10/15 minutes twice a week and ridden twice a week with one of those being a gentle hack out and shes a lot better already, settling into her work again, plus as advised I've sorted out some lessons for them both Her season ended early this year due to lack of funds so shes had quite a bit of time off already so the plan is to get her out early in the new year Hence why shes in work... i just need to rein myself in, doing it ourselves kicked in my work ethic ''MUST WORK HARDER, MUST DO MORE'' and I go at things like a mad woman so I'm trying to behave and remember im not preparing her for a full days hunting or an endurance race Shes a show pony
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Dec 15, 2013 8:19:26 GMT
ajc - I dressage wrote years ago for an eminent dressage judge who recommended always starting of work in walk rather than charging off in trot as most do, first in a slightly long outline, then asking more with turns, lateral work etc before going to trot, and I always used this pattern for my working sessions ever afterwards. Of course if you have one that fights this, I found it best to trot on just to take the edge off without but asking anything until settled, then go back to walk and start off as above with the walk.
And I always ride (and show IH ponies too if bridled) in a double jointed bit of some sort, I hate single joints with their nutcracker action as in my experience most ponies do too.
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Post by gillwales on Dec 15, 2013 8:59:46 GMT
if you put ponies in a stronger bit they tend to get stronger has a way to evade them, humans create the stronger bits to make themselves feel stronger. Many years ago I rode a little TB mare who would pull like a train, especially when jumping. I asked for her to be put in a simple snaffle , and instead of hauling on the reins in the manor she was used to, kept a very light contact and pushed her forward into the fences. The result was that she backed herself of off the jumps and stopped pulling.
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