Drummer, a dressage pone in the making and more!

[epona]

Tuesday or Thursdays are good for me    We can have another play hehehe!  I'll remember my own hat this time though!   :P

[drummers mum]

I just thought I should catch up a bit.

Vicky came over and she was pleased with how Drum felt compared to last time, which is brill! He was definitely feeling alot lighter and softer!

But then today!!!  Helen came over and he was awful, he had no energy and spent the whole time leaning on my hands.  I'm sure he was having an off day but maybe on those days I need to use the pelham or we are pointlessy schooling!

Helen bought me a bag of topspec original so will see if that helps with the oomph!

((sigh))

[epona]

Ponies!! :lol:

How often are you schooling Em?  Dont forget this work will be quite hard for him - I dont school *properly* more than 2-3 times a week, the other sessions are then hacking.  We still do some 'work' out hacking but its not half as intense physically or mentally

Drummer had a day off prior to me riding hadnt he?  He had plenty of energy Tuesday so maybe he wore himself out a bit - although we mainly walked with a bit of trot we asked him to work quite correctly with a fair bit of lateral work mixed in - he would defiantely know he had done something

He was great on Tuesday though!  A big improvement Ithought 

[whisper's mum]

Maybe it was just me  I think Emily and Vicky make him look much easier to ride than he actually is, Rija is much much easier so hats off ladies 

[drummers mum]

  Thanks Helen!

He has had today off so tomorrow, back to it! 

Vicky, I hadn't schooled since though!  We jumped wednesday and hacked thursday! I try to do 2 or 3 schooling sessions like you!

[drummers mum]

Well, I haven't schooled since Helen came.  We had a nice hack and a day off!

But..........I have decided I should rename this thread, Drummer the leaning pony! :  Gone is the pony from when Vicky came over who was all sweet and light, gone is the pony who is forward and light on hacks, all I have left is aching arms!

But....I think, I have solved it!!!

I had a good long think about why Drum leans and what is happening when he does.  The why is easy, it's hard work holding himself up and he's a lazy so and so with a typical couldn't care less pony attitude but leaning means he is on his forehand and if we are after soft, round and light this is never going to be achieved if he is dragging himself around by his front legs leaning on me.

Vicky had done a brill job of teaching both of us how to do soft and it wasworking but today he wasn't having any of it, not listening to my seat or hands!  I was sooo frustrated and he knew it!  If we got even the tiniest bit of soft, he immediatley became heavy and made me hold his head up.

I have often been told, "don't give him anything to lean on then" but found this an awkward thing to put into practice, what do I do?  Drop his head?!!

Well, he wouldn't listen to my seat so I decided he would have to listen to my leg!  I sat tall and asked for what I wanted, the minute he leant, I sent him forwards as well as vibrating the rein as I would whan I ask him to soften.  He catches on quick and it only took a few goes for him to realise I wasn't having any of it! We did lots of transitions from walk to trot and back again and I was amazed, he got lighter and lighter.  I suddenly found that my pony could be uphill if he tried!!! :

I don't want to push him out of his natural rythm but I was at the end of my tether, he is just so crafty.  I felt that if I could push him into using his back end I might have more luck with the front!!!

[phillipa]

Sounds like real progress today with Drum!!!  Sometimes you've just got to be as crafty as the ponies  So pleased to hear though 

[whisper's mum]

Sounds geat Em 

[drummers mum]

I suddenly felt guilty for not posting on here!  I was riding Drum tonight and I realised what a great relationship we have. 

We had a lesson 2 weeks ago that has really improved everything, its like someone flicked a switch and its all coming together

Drummer was leaning terribly but we worked on some strategys for this, one of them being don't get on him expecting him to lean! : just ride him!  Also I ride far too much with my inside rein and if I drop it then everything goes pair shaped!

Tonight I had the best schooling session.  Drum was forward and listening.  We had perfect leg yield, now that I am riding into my outside rein, so I have much better control of the shoulders and circles without falling in or out   I can give away my inside rein and Drum just softens even more

As for left canter!!!  As long as I don't panic : I can get it first ask something I don't ever think I believed would be possible!

All in all, I  my pone

[whisper's mum]

That's fantastic! 

[drummers mum]

Well.... how long since I updated :

Today I suddenly realised how Vicky and Helen feel when they ride Drum ??? I had been riding Shadow for a good 45 minutes and then thought I'd just take Drum round the orchard!  It was hilarious, where had my pony gone? For the first 5 minutes I felt so insecure and perched that I didn't dare even trot! : But I was obviously doing better than I felt 'cos he did a huge spook at some birds taking off and I hardly moved!

Re Drummers schooling, I have got a bit lax what with Shadow and then hurting my back I have hardly ridden.  My mum has been riding Drum twice a week but schooling yesterday wasn't good, he is too used to getting away with being awkward pony for mum although my mum is doing fab  and he is beginning to realise she means business!!!!

The really good thing as that we are getting left canter nearly every time I ask! and when I insist  : I can get round and soft pony quite easily!

I'm not really worried, I'm pleased that my mum is riding so that when I get on at weekends I know that I have a reasonably fit pony, I just have to remind him how to behave come the spring I think it will be time for a few more dresage tests!

[whisper's mum]

  Sorry to laugh but I can just imagine going from Shadow to Drum and thinking the same as you!  He'll have a fab time on Sunday, I can't wait to play ponies with you  Whisper is looking forward to it too!  It's tricky trying to ride 2 at this time of year, it's great your Mum is riding him for you.