Drummer, a dressage pone in the making and more!

[drummers mum]

I wasn't sure weather to start this or if people would like to read it but if it doesn't take off I will let it fizzle out.

I get such lovely comments, from loads of you, about Drummer and his progress thank you and so I thought a training thread just might be interesting.  Being 12.2hh of scruffy Dartmoor makes him a bit different to your average dressage horse or showjumper and I thought that this might inspire some people to get out there and go for it whatever their mount!

You can read about our start with the pelham here:

http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php?topic=20929.0

I have to say we have hardly been up to much the past week as the weather has been too wet to school in our field but I am determined to get some schooling into night even if its on the car park and will come back later and let you know how I get on!

Edit:  Drummers history! (oh and a bit of mine!)

I've had Drummer 3 and a bit years, he is now just 8!  He is a Dartmoor hill pony who had a bad accident as a foal and has a large wire scar on one leg.  I bought him as a rising 6 year old (you do the maths!!! ) and although I wouldn't change a thing, I realise he was too young for me! But he was right for me!

I was a nervous nelly, I went back to riding as an adult but had a bad fall and smashed my elbow 6ish years ago. Its only really this year that I can truly say I'm not sacred any more!

I didn't ride Drum at first, I would take him for walks he tested me constantly, on one walk he planted himself and refused to move! My first ride after about a month was on a borrowed saddle, he refused to move!  My YO smacked his bum and he bucked! I cried, he did it again and Drum bucked, but he moved, by this time I was terrified  :'( but one last buck and we walked a circle. He has never planted himself again!

I don't really remember the next few rides, I know I was scared and it took many months for me to go anywhere.  Drum tested me constantly on the ground and ridden.  I did the parelli 7 games which really helped.

He had never learnt to canter so it was a novelty on hacks following someone and when I was alone he would only canter towards home! : I wouldn't jump over more than 6 inches and I spent most of my time in the field!

Went went bitless and I think this was a turning point in my confidence.  We still did very little but.....

....I started lessons, I went on my first fun ride Easter 2006 (terrified!), closely followed by my first show, I went back to the bit and did my first dressage test.  Last winter I thoroughly enjoyed our EE hack and I competed once indoors at 2'3". This year things have got better and better, I went on my 2nd fun ride and galloped, thoroughly enjoying it and turning into a speed demon, I have boxed out with friends and alone, won a dressage walk/trot test, done my first canter test and jumped a huge 2'3" course!!!

Drummer now canters when I ask, we are learning to go left! He is learning to carry himself, he is doing some lateral work, he is maturing and enjoying work.  He even looks better!  Our relationship is great, I love riding him, he is amazing!  He is cheeky, stubborn, willful, testing and a typical pony but I adore him! 

Some pics of Drum when I first had him here http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php?topic=21280.msg241095#msg241095

[epona]

Ooooo - Put some piccies in too!!  We LOVE Drummer 

Glad you are doing this Em, it will be really interesting to follow your progress

[Icy Lady]

I shall look forward to following this thread Emily - Drummer is just sooo cool and I love to see adults riding ponies!

[TashaKat]

Most of you know our history but do you think I should add a peragraph in here about us for those who are new?

Yes!  And caboodles of piccies too please

[drummers mum]

  Thanks guys! I will edit my original post later and we can go from there!

[bonny]

Yes!  And caboodles of piccies too please

I'll second that.  As an adult (larger than you) who rides a grey pony (larger than Drummer)  I NEED you to inspire me.



 

Most of you know our history but do you think I should add a peragraph in here about us for those who are new?

yes please.  I don't know your histaory from the beginning.

[kassidy]

Yay a Drummer thread 

BUT it needs that vital ingredient...   

PICTURES!

[drummers mum]

I'll second that.  As an adult (larger than you) who rides a grey pony (larger than Drummer)  I NEED you to inspire me.

Hey thanks Bonny!

Pictures will be added as and when!

[whisper's mum]

Yay a Drummer thread  Maybe you could archive all your major news threads from previous years here?

[bonny]

Come on Emily - have you done it yet?

[shoveltrash]

oh Em i'm so glad you are doing this!!!!  it's nice to chart 'progress,' and be able to track things via a journal/blog format.

plus Drummer's fans will be able to see lots of piccies of him, at work & pleasure (hint hint).
 

[drummers mum]

  Well guys I'm sorry to keep you waiting, I have had a busy weekend!
  

Yay a Drummer thread  Maybe you could archive all your major news threads from previous years here?

Can you help me! I'm not sure how to do that? :

I just wanted to update on my Friday night schooling session.

Having not schooled for over a week, Drum was not happy!  He decided that he likes the pelham and opened his mouth for it but then totally refused to remember how to soften and round : Note to self:  School come hell or high water!

I concentrated on halt and walk but I knew we were on to a loosing battle when I got frustrated!  I made myself relax and gave up on round as such but did some circles like mike taught me, leg yielding to get him to step under his body.  I was really pleased to realise that in walk, Drum is now better left than right!!! another note to self: practise things evenly!!!

I moved up to trot and although Drum wasn't round, he was definitely softer. I continued with my circles and I suddenly had a total light bulb moment!  I always knew that some of our problems on the left rein where to do with me but I couldn't figure what?!

Basically, Drum falls in on the left rein, so I flex him to the inside and ask out with my inside leg, which he does nicely for a couple of strides than we fall apart. Well having 2 sets of reins, at one point I got in a pickle with my knitting I dropped my outside rein!! .....and you can guess what happened, no more falling in! ???  I realised that the minute I think he is falling in, I try to hold him out with the right rein and it just has the opposite effect!   I'm so pleased I have worked that out but I'm really gona have to concentrate to fix it!

To end the session I cantered on both reins.  Right canter is a lovely transition but we can still only get left if I let him run, actually, I think his aid for left is run : We will get there with that though! 

[whisper's mum]

  I was really pleased to realise that in walk, Drum is now better left than right!!!

Remember whatike said about horses sometimes being better on their stiffer side because they are more flexible the other way and you therefore have to correct more evasions? If you remember, I found Drummer much easier to the left and when Mike said that it made sense to me...just a thought...

[drummers mum]

Helen, he is better left in walk, but in trot much better right!!!

I had a great session tonight, I have realised that Drum needs to be really warmed up well before he will even attempt to be "on the bridle" so I dropped the curb rein and walk trotted and cantered some circles.  on a loose rein, I got left canter 1st time! so I really felt like the session started on a positive note!

I've decided I need to be a bit firmer.  Drum is taking the mickey!!!  He will soften and round beautifully and then when we turn away from home he pokes his nose!! >:(

Halt and walk are becoming quite established so we tried moving onto trot.  This is when I found out how much better he is going right but then so am I!!!  Left, I can feel myself tense and then we brace against each other.  to the right I got lovely transitions and he could do at least half a circle without poking his nose and so I knew how long to ask for and went back to walk beforse he got the chance.  Left is just hit and miss :(

To end the session, I asked for right canter out of a lovely trot and he stayed "on the bridle" we cantered round the school uphill and bouncy, it was AMAZING!! Things really feel like they are coming together!

Also, I have a treat for you, I have been photo hunting, but I'm going to start a new thread!

Edit - Heres the link http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php?topic=21280.msg241095#msg241095

[Dominey]

Wow, I had no idea where you guys started out, it is great to have another journal!

I dropped my outside rein!! .....and you can guess what happened, no more falling in!

the three rein effects as described by my classical trainer, all to flex to the inside are 1) use the inside rein directly 2) give the outside rein and 3) use the inside rein against the neck, ie an indirect rein.  She frequently reminds me to give with the outside rein!  It is so easy to try and use it to hold the horse out!

Sounds like you need a school!

k8 x