Dog Community

Checking In!

Posted : 10/16/2006 8:20:01 PM

Hi!

I was in the neighborhood thought I'd stop by and check in! See how everyone is and give you a Stryder update [

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I've decided to aim towards showing Dressage. So, my dear friend Nancy and I have been taking tandem lessons. Her with her horse Romeo and my Stryder. We are definitely at different levels of training. But, we are both learning the tests from the ground up. So, it works out really well.

We had our last lesson on Saturday. I could not have been more impressed by my boy. He was so obedient and good natured about everything, he was WONDERFUL. If you weren't here from the beginning of my drama when I bought Stryder he had only been used on trails lightly. He was very green. He refused to pick up his right lead. He had a tendency to push through leg aids and run at the slightest provocation (ask for a canter you got a dead gallop), he'd hold his head so high in the air that I was amazed he could see where he was going! Then once I began to get a handle of the situation when I hired a trainer who basically ruined him. ((sigh)) So, with a lot of coaxing I went with my friends trainer... and the difference is night and day. It'll be a year she's been working with him next month. I did serpantines, in a dressage arena, with trot transitions. He picked up each lead I asked for without even a head toss. I worked on counter-canter, no problem (training level dressage) like a pro! He's staying rounded more and more in his upward AND downward transitions. We are now working on side passes, he's doing great at them! I actually think he's enjoying dressage. Of course I bring a ton of treats and no feat is too small to be recognized with a pat and "GOOD BOY!" [

] I truly think he is enjoying it and also seems to think jumping is a lot of fun, too. So, once we get to 1st level in training I think I may start jumping him more.

Sorry for the long story, it's just been awhile. He's doing so good. ... and he no longer looks pregnant, Cherie [8D] Just "big boned" lol! I'll put up pictures when I have some to add

I can't wait to hear how you and your horses are doing......... (hint, hint!)

Jane Schneider

Posted : 10/20/2006 10:44:57 PM

I'm glad you have found a good trainer and that your horse is doing so well! My daughter and I are dealing with training too for her Quarter horse, Twist. He's 11 but really has had no training to speak of before (he belonged to a friend of mine who was too ill to work him and when she died her husband gave him to us). My daughter wants him to learn both English and Western pleasure and he looks good in the round pen but when ridden he just doesn't get the proper head carriage. He's been with this trainer for six weeks and we can only afford to pay for training until December or January. The trainer is re-thinking his approach to the horse and we think he's doing a good job,just hoping it can get done before the $$ runs out.

Sera_J

Posted : 10/22/2006 4:26:05 PM

Hi Miko!

The proper trainer that clicks with the horse is so much more essential than I could have ever thought. I unfortunately learned it the hard way. Yipes!

I hope Twist is picking it up. Is your trainer using side reins while lunging? That's really helped my horse to figure out where his head placement should be. It's a no fight (for you!) option that really helps! This is more for English.

Also, it could just be too much information at once for him. Trying to learn two different styles at once could be causing cross over problems. You may want to start with one and when he gets that down solidly (as in several months, at least, later) try the other?

Make sure you stick around and give us progress! Also, we loooove pictures!

Danielle Beinke

Posted : 10/25/2006 8:03:21 AM

Hi you lucky people to have trainers and instructors.
I live to far away from all the horsy people.
Sound like Stryder is doing well and you are happy with what you are acheiving.

Danielle

tia2

Posted : 10/25/2006 8:16:32 AM

Lani! You are doing such a wonderful job with Stryder!
I'm going to be doing some J. Lyons training and clinics with Dreamer in the spring for the mounted unit in the future. I want to go bitless, so we are working on that.
Sundance may need his eye removed so he will be idle for a while. He worked hard this summer for his girl, so he is getting a little vacation. [sm=biggrin.gif]

danehaven

Posted : 10/25/2006 9:49:32 AM

Lani, Who would of thought that scruffy mohawk Diesel would become a fancy shmancy dancing horse?[sm=clapping hands smiley.gif]

Tia, I just switched Jet from a Tom Thumb - to a snaffle - to a halter - to a rope hackmore/haltamore. No problem so far except he didn't think much of the snaffle with slobber straps. He is very light and seems to be a happy camper with the haltamore.[

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I have been pretty busy lately. TGrammy's trainer asked me to be her assistant. So I am helping her out with bigger lessons. We did a natural horsemanship demo at the Tractor Supply store and we are in the process of setting up some clinics.

tia2

Posted : 10/25/2006 10:46:47 AM

ORIGINAL: danehaven

Tia, I just switched Jet from a Tom Thumb - to a snaffle - to a halter - to a rope hackmore/haltamore. No problem so far except he didn't think much of the snaffle with slobber straps. He is very light and seems to be a happy camper with the haltamore.[]

Cool! I'm not sure how much riding I'll be doing this winter, but I hope the transition goes smoothly. Right now he's in a hack at home and does fine...I'll be venturing out on a trail ride soon with it. I'm hoping he remains light too. [sm=happy.gif]

Sera_J

Posted : 10/25/2006 3:26:30 PM

Lani, Who would of thought that scruffy mohawk Diesel would become a fancy shmancy dancing horse?

ORIGINAL: danehaven

LOL No kidding! I certainly didn't! [8|] At my last lesson, Sunday, afterwards I was talking with my trainer, she basically said the same, "who could've predicted this?!" The local dressage queens noticed Stryder..... which was shocking. So, I'm enjoying this tremendously! I'll ask my friend to shoot some pictures at my next lesson for you to see.

Danielle, it really is nice to have horsey-experts everywhere. .. but by the same token, they watch from bushes (or so it feels like) and gossip spreads like wildfire. So, while it's REALLY nice at times it has the duality of being REALLY bad, too! I swear they see the everything and everyone is talking about how X happened by Y and then Z..... yeck. BTW, where are some baby pictures??

Poor Sundance. Tia, I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers. Also, goodluck with Dreamer. I know he's a really good boy for you, I'm sure he'll do great on trail! ... btw, where are some pictures of that boy??

MK, a haltimore!? Wow, Jet! Good boy! He must LOVE that! I sometimes ride in the bitless bridle (if I'm doing a grazing trail ride) but I'm not sure about using just a haltimore [:-] Good for you guys []