Odie is reasonably straight, turns reasonably well, stops, goes, and listens. So it meant it was time to start teaching him to follow the reins down and work on some long and low. The Friesian part of him wants to carry his head up a bit higher then the quarter horses I'm used to, so it's always a bit harder to get these big boys to come down. With some jaw flexions (a concept that has almost disappeared from modern dressage, from what I can tell), I can keep him relaxed in the jaw and therefore... no pulling to set his head, no silly little cues, no 'hold with your hands and push with your legs' nonsense. When the jaw is relaxed, the nose will fall down. Obviously he's not perfect--I've got a little under thirty rides on him--and it's a training level frame, but he's being good and trying hard. Can't ask for much more then that.
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| Warming up |
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| Go on, go down! |
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| Nevermind. |
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| Stretch! Reach! |
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| Victory! |
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| Impromptu canter! |
And, video!
This is later during the day, and you can see him trying out this stretching thing a little more. I also ask him to canter, and do excuse the incorrect lead in the beginning--I've cantered him maybe four or five times since riding him, so he doesn't know all the 'lingo' yet, lol! Again, proof that the canter is improved not by cantering endlessly!
Baltic ROF from Kelly Mayfield on Vimeo.
In other news, I have a new trimmer coming out this weekend. A lot of you guys mentioned that it was absurd that my previous farrier didn't know that Key had thrush, that his bars were too long, etc. The last trim he got rid of Odie's flare by rasping the outside of the hoof wall. ..And now he has a ton of vertical cracks. Sigh. The new guy is a barefoot trimmer (Finally!!) certified by the AANHCP. Hopefully I'll find my heart-trimmer, lol!
15 comments:
He's such a beautiful mover! I hope you find time to keep posting about him - you're inspiring me to try teaching Dixie more dressage language again. :)
Yay for the new trimmer! Surely he'll be better than the old one.
Gah!! You have turned Odie into a lovely pony!!!!
Boo about the old farrier. Yay for the new one!
Odie looks great! You are much braver than I am, it takes me forever to get my greenies cantering.
Good luck with the new trimmer!
Can you describe how you do the jaw flexions?
Lokk at that trot!
Funder,
Thank you! And I'll try... you guys inspire us to go trail riding so I guess I have to :P
And I hope so!
Dressager,
Thank you!
Smazourek,
Thank you! When I went to Findlay, the one idea I liked was that we cantered our colts on the third/fourth ride. We didn't have to do a lot of work there, we just did it to let them know that they could canter, and we didn't die. lol
spazfilly,
Sure! I'll write a post up on it, I've got a bit of it done already.
checkmark,
lol! I love the fluid-ness of it. Maybe that's the hunter coming out in me!
Oh, he is so beautiful, I am jealous :). Pretty mover.
What a beautiful mover!
Add me to the list of those looking forward to hearing more about jaw flexions!
I'm a lurker, but your blog always turns up on my "Why don't you read this?" list, and I am extremely interested in learning more about jaw flexions, as I am just starting a young horse and would like to get away from a "headset" and let him develop a frame naturally. Can't wait for your post!
Good luck with the new trimmer - I totally feel your pain about finding a good one! And Odie sure is a cute boy!
Amber,
Aw thank you!!
Story,
Thanks! And it's finally up, phew!
Hannah,
Why don't I have a list like that? I'm going to have to kick Blogger. Good luck with your new horse and I hope my post helps!
*jenj,
I luff the new farrier! Finally!! And thank you :D
Oh he's just beautiful and so FORWARD. I'm also very jealous of your pretty outdoor grass ring...I would love to have a safe, level field to ride in. These western cats at my barn love their deep sand ring though, sigh:)
Sarah,
Thank you!! And it's actually a pasture that's not in use.. so it's going to get torn up by the ponies quite soon. :( I ride where there's space as currently I don't have an arena, but hopefully that will change!
I used to board somewhere with deep suck--uck, I hated it. I feel your pain!
*deep sand, although I suppose 'deep suck' has the same meaning, lol!
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