Forwards vs fitness - my plan with Lottie ( she of an ample bottie!!)

[janehon]

I think IW is closer and she'd heard about me knocking her street cred by telling you guys she didn't like hacking a the moment so decided to prove me wrong

Plus she wanted to try out the trick Heather taught her

[hilary]

 

[issywizz]

 

[ChrissieW]

Aaaahhh Lottie photos  , haven't seen pictures of your horses for ages Hilary - its so nice to have you posting more.    I love the way you write and explain things 

Picking up the hacking/want to hack thread - if I hadn't persuaded Minnie that walking out when she was injured was ultimately going to be beneficial, I'd probably not have a rideable horse now.     It's been hard, but she's had to work through her injury at the beginning to strengthen it.   She wasn't hopping lame obviously or in high level pain, but I would imagine it was discomfort at times, but she needed the walking (firstly in hand - months of that with grazing ... ) and then months of ridden walk to get strong again.

Even nowadays, she sometimes has stiffer days, but will loosen up really nicely with time and a good warmup (bit like me!), but I'm sure if I gave her 100% choice, she'd go "nah, not today thanks, would rather lounge about in the field doing nothing", which certainly is an option on the cards, but that wouldn't have got her as strong as she now is and kept her brain engaged.

Its such a double edged sword!    Although interestingly after all our trials and tribulations with injury, she has come back far far more willing and happy to work than ever before (I have fixed a few things with me and my riding and also introduced clicker stuff on and off, but mixed up with other things  )

she'd heard about me knocking her street cred by telling you guys she didn't like hacking a the moment so decided to prove me wrong

That's a given Jane, she's a mare and a mare with an opinion 

[issywizz]

Its not about giving them 100% choice though Chrissie,that would be great of course but as you rightly point out there are other factors to consider.

Im going to quote what a good friend said to me about it ;
 " And I have to say, that even here in purist land,    we don't let horses choose to bog off out on a walk/hack  We find things to help motivate and reward them to do the things that we would like them to do, and indeed need them to do with regard to welfare.....and Bambu getting some excersise and mental stimulation, beyond his paddock, falls into the welfare catagory    "

Which makes sense to me,the important thing is really giving them a voice and especially important if there are any physical issues as I have discovered several times after Ive pushed B into something that actually he was unwell but was too polite to make a fuss 

[ChrissieW]

  Makes sense to me and I agree about them needing a voice particularly when health issues are a concern.    I daily assess Minnie and her capabilities due to her injury - she has better days and some not so good days, when I could work her through it, but I don't.

Same with the weather, Friday it was hot, I couldn't ride late as I normally would, so we just did some walk work.

I suppose I just see it as a bit of give and take and I give Minnie responsibility for some of the give too.

[issywizz]

I think the thing is that instead of picking up the stick,or strapping on spurs or hoiking on the rein we should step back and see if we cant think of another way to persuade the horse to do what we want that doesnt involve the use of pain/discomfort.
Most often there is a reason why a horse shows resistance 

Thats not aimed at you btw  just a general observation including of myself

[hilary]

Well, just had a couple of really good lessons with Becky.
First was Lottie  -  after her time last weekend, it was interesting to see what it had given up to play with. she was defintely more "wary  of the person on the ground ( UNtil she realisd they c/t her!!)  - and def was more forward from external cues. We played with flexing the neck on trot circle , then asking for extension on a straight line( quite a similarltiy between PK flexions and the post Cristuris on impulsive flexions.Also played with counter SI in on  a circle, then going along the sides. she worked really well. Then
 we worked to trot SI in circle in  corner to along side, then extension,
So our lesson last week gave us something positive to reward  -  though am glad that last weekend did not happen in my arena -  a lesson better done than in my arena

Then I rode CAllisto -  who has suddenly decided to grow up and be adult! ( she is luso cross lippi). I ride her in a headcollar -  she is so light  -  will ride her in a bridle , but she will more likely overflex if I am not careful. And she was so sensitive - mainly working on SI on a circle, counter SI, then changing the bend to get travers . The secret? Dont ride your pony for ages! I was so pleased with her , and she could change the bend so easily. Becky rode her for part, which was great to see .

As far as health issues , totally agree with what is said. I thought things were progressing with Isabella , but we had another setback. I rode  her  -  we were in a headcollar , one rein, and saddle,  rewarding for going away from mounting block , and coming round, when she reared up. It was pretty quick ( have taught ben to rear on command, and have sat cued bareback rears at Allen Pogues) -   anyway, I came off backwards, landing on my derriere ( one big bruise later)  -  she went darn high  -  and no pressure on her at all. But we have been seeing osteopath , and vet ( and was so much better with the foot trimmer when on bute) , but is not actually lame. She is very voluble when something hurts for the osteopath. BAck to the drawing board with more info. We have gone from right tmj to left stifle, then back to right shoulder so far. Didnt help that last time the vet came it was the afternoon after a morning of osteopathy  -  I warned him she was sore , and would say so, and she did  - with her right hind . but then 2 weeks later, with bute, we had a couple of lovely soft rides, one after a becky lesson when she was there. 
Back to the drawing board!