Despairing !

[Linda Baia]

Maybe a few of you know that I broke a vertebra, I just had three weeks of "bed-rest" going loopy at home.

 Anyho I asked my trainer to ride my young (5yrs old) Princess mare, and my sweety-pie of gelding Morgan was turned-out. He does not mind. He is a pretty cool beast except the moment of "folie" (madness)  when he bucked and bolted down a steep hill in oder to break my back  <_<

Well ... my trainer rode my mare twice this month instead of 10 times. For also others reasons, I "sacked" her last tuesday. I do not see the point to pay somebody, who works my mare in the roundpen on the lunge. thanks very much, I can do that MYSELF!

Today was  the before last lesson my mare had. Of course, since I have been coming to the yard, my future-ex-trainer has decided to ride her. So I watched ....
Gosh it was horrid    Linda ( my mare) was refusing to halt on the piste, she resisted against the hand, lifting, twisting her head, swishing tail ...  
She was not doing it with me, or maybe once, if I was not fast enough to release or being silly, but once in the blue moon. Today most of the halts were resisted .

Can a horse loose so much training in three weeks ???

Then it was the first time I actually saw my trainer riding, what a disappointment! She had an armchair seat in my WOW DRESSAGE saddle with setback stirrups bars. Even my OH does not have an armchair seat in this saddle!!! Lots of driving seat aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhh    I was cringing .... so in fact i am glad she only rode my mare twice  

Now I am wondering will I find a good trainer? Is it that difficult to follow basic traditional training base?
I read Heather, Andrew MacLean, UDBB, EE before riding, I have very clear ideas on HOW I want to ride. Do I achieve it? I do not know?

Am I asking for the moon? Does a young horse need to resist so much in his basic training?
I feel quite disapointed and worried that my ideals are just that ideas ... dreams.  

[Elizabeth1]

Oh dear, poor you.  I have little advice to offer, I'm afraid.

I don't think having a happy horse while it is ridden should be a dream.

[bonny]

Can a horse loose so much training in three weeks ???

Then it was the first time I actually saw my trainer riding, what a disappointment! She had an armchair seat in my WOW DRESSAGE saddle with setback stirrups bars. Even my OH does not have an armchair seat in this saddle!!! Lots of driving seat aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhh    I was cringing .... so in fact i am glad she only rode my mare twice  

 

It sounds to me more like reacting (fairly) to a bad rider more than lost training.

How long before you can ride again?  Would your girl be better off turned away untill you can start back on her yourself.
 

[Linda Baia]

Well I am seriously considerating this option. i will work her on the ground .. lungeing, long reining, silversand type training.

I doubt, I would be able ride "properly" before 6 months    Trish what do you think at least 6 months??

On the positive side, yesterday, I turned out Morgan in the BIG paddock full of very green grass ( this W.E. was pouring with rain).
When I called Linda she came trotting to me  B)  It was so cool.

I also find her very "perky, and cheeky".

So yes I have come to this conclusion that I keep her working on the ground until *I* can ride!  

[toni]

So yes I have come to this conclusion that I keep her working on the ground until *I* can ride!

I think this is a very sensible option. You will regret it if somebody else rides her for six months and potentially spoils your lovely horse.

[shoveltrash]

yes, definitely bad riding, vs. lost training!!!

the only thing Linda stands to lose is some muscle strength.  the training is there!  you won't lose much by turning her out for six months....especially if you can do groundwork with her   .  

but it sounds like you need to find a new instructor/trainer, before you begin under saddle work again (you have plenty of time to find one now   ).

just today i let my instructor ride my boy during part of my lesson -- it's encouraging when your instructor can make your horse look *good*, and then can show you what needs to be done whilst riding!

don't despair Muriel.  you will have a long long happy relationship with Linda, she is young!  you have years ahead of you   .

[epona]

Also turning a young horse away over the winter wont be such a bad thing, it will give her time to mature physically and mentally and you may find she benefits from the rest.  

[kwooten]

OMG, Muriel, I had no idea    ... when did that happen ? Morgan threw you off ?????? OUCH. Are you going to make a full recovery ? I certainly hope so.

I'm voting for leaving Linda to enjoy some free time ... but is that possible there? I know you have less restricted access to turn-out. What we used to do on the yard in Italy, is send the horse away occasionally to live in a farmer's field fro a few months, because we had no turnout at all - the horses were all stabled 24/7.

One good thing comes of this ... you got to see your esteemed local expert for who she really is.

The first dressage lesson I had with joePony, I couldn't get what the girl was saying at all, so I asked her to show me ... so at least I was able to see her on my pony from the start, and that was fine - she is something I would want to aim for. I think it should be a regular part of instruction.  

[Linda Baia]

Thanks Kate for your concern. Yes I hope to have a full recovery  

The YO also has sacked my trainer, who was the English riding instructor. So my YO is looking for a new instructor.

We could use Linda as test ride  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Just kidding.

I will not turn her out as "leave her in a field doing nothing". She is not very resistant-type.
But I am going to work very hard on ground work:
stop-go-over-stand etc...\
standing still for mounting or tacking etc...
All the little holes of her basic training.

Now that I am better I am quite looking forward to it    

[pintopiaffe]

Muriel,

Have faith, and be sure to work on getting YOU better.

For what it is worth, between the two of us, Mac and I had the entirety of THREE YEARS off.  

I was injured quite badly, he had a sarcoid frozen off, it came back, he had surgery, my Mum had an aneurism and subsequent surgery, etc. etc. etc.  

He was none the worse for it.

He still was expected to have manners and behave.  

Are we as far in training as we should be at his age? No.  Is he sound and happy and going well now, YES.

I firmly believe that NO training is better than BAD training.  

[Linda Baia]

Thanks Jaeme to reassure me that it is okay to leave a horse alone.

I was told by some "trainer" that Linda would loose all her training if she is turned away

Funny enough, I trust you all, people I have never met in my life, It is weird, but you make more sense    

[Flashback]

poor you    busting your back and having hassle with the trainer as well.

quite right to sack her! thats terrible.

and a few months(or more) of ground work will be wonderful for your relationship.

and i second what jaeme says in that

NO training is better than BAD training

the both of you will be just fine!

 

[luckyrider]

Oh dear, I have only just seen this, your poor thing.  You have done all the right things here... time off will be fine, as will proper in-hand work or whatever else (eg Parelli-type exercises) you can manage with her.  REMEMBER HOW YOUNG SHE IS!!!

I am sorry to read this desperate thread and look forward to a cheerier update very soon.

Hope your back is on the mend?

[Marengo]

Hi Muriel, just seen this too. Linda won't loose her training through being turned away - just look at Lutine. 3.5 years without being ridden or doing any kind of work and it's all still there (the good and the not-so-good). Bless her, she even still responds to all the French commands during lunging, knows to stop out on the circle and not turn in etc.

Now then, have you been using comfrey oil for this broken back of yours??

Sending a big hug.    

[Linda Baia]

Thanks very much for your kind words.

In fact Linda has never been so relax lately. She is still very much a Princess, but a relax Princess ...  

I am having blast to work with her in the round pen. We are working on transitions, and demi-volte etc...
She is amazingly light and easy to teach. I barely use my lunging whip, almost just my voice. I can see how "difficult" she is. I would ask for trot verbally, and when she is starting to trot, if I ask her again by clucking or lifting the whip, she will pin her ears, and looks very p****d off. She cannot stand any nagging. So with her, less is more. I find myself taming down all my cues.

We are working on the BIG holes in her training such as ...halt and standing still ....

But overall she is a very happy so I am happy.
Morgan is getting fat and unfit. so I turn him out with Linda who keeps him fit  :lol:  Linda keeps him walking and trotting, she spends her time winding him up  :lol:

On the trainer front, I have given up on the idea of finding a "good" trainer here. Because I have been BRAIN-WASHED by EE and UDBB. So I am taking in my hands Linda's training. I will work with a trainer, but more for feedback than tuition if you see what I mean  

Oh well, one day I will come back to an enlightened country  <_<