My little project PRE Reno

[Mossy]

WOW!!!!!!!

[Heather]

Penny, Reno's mind is getting better by the day. He is really starting to trust me, no one else has ridden him since I have had him as I feel he needs total trust in one rider. He hasnt been abused that I can tell, he is just very hot and would have been wound up by his rider in Spain to show off at Ferias. I have to convince him he can show off without being wound up! It is a work in progress but as he also didnt know anything much other than the basic paces and piaffe, I am having to teach him all the main lateral work etc as well. He hasnt  a clue about anything like counter canter etc too, so that all has to be established too.

But it sure as heck is fun every day!

[Lucia]

Goodness me - what a fabulous fella. 

[horse dreamer]

Wow what an amazing transformation!  

[1 morejump]

  See this is what happpens when I fall off the face of the internet! Holy smokes Heather! When and where did you pick him up? That is amazing!

[Heather]

Bought him in September last year, Mary, from an acquaintance, now more of a friend!- who imports a few PREs to the UK, her Mum lives in Spain. But this horse was already here, was brought over as a stallion by someone who bought him without going to try him, and couldnt manage him as he was too hot. Had him gelded, and let him get too fat it seems and his crest toppled. My friend bought him very cheaply, to find him a good home, but even though she had video of him showing how nice he looked under saddle, as his neck comes back up once ridden, people took one look at that neck in the stable and walked without even trying  him. I have seen fallen crests on Lusos and knew it would come up a fair bit even when not under saddle, with work and it has. It is probably 2/3rds better, may never be fully back when at rest, but it doesnt bother me.

He is hotter than hell, have got him a lot calmer generally but it was very cold here today and on the outdoor school it took me 45 mins to calm him down before I could get good work! This isnt usual now, it is normally only 10 mins, but he was just so full of beans today, he wasnt naughty just gets strong and wants to go! But gradually I got him slowed down and moving through his back again, and then he is bliss to sit on!

[nix]

What a lucky horse he is for you to have found him and taken him on, the change is dramatic even in such a short time. He's lovely and I know you're going to continue having a wonderful time with him 

[cirocco]

Heather perhaps explain 'hot'. I'm sure that there are loads of folk who see 'hot' as different in different horses.

So what does he do when he is 'hot' ....  is this his breeding, ??

[janehon]

Wow Heather he is just fantastic!

So pleased it's all working out for you, you really deserve it

[Heather]

Thanks Jane- got some video of him today, and I am gutted that my camcorder seems to be playing up again- the film is fine on the camcorder, but when uploaded to the PC it has started speeding up then slowing down, speeding up slowing down. I can't understand it, it is a semi pro Sony and I have had to send the blasted thing back twice for repairs, at a cost of £400. I badly need it now too, so I hope it is just my editing programme playing up and not the camera. 

[Casey76]

Heather it might be your software.  I've had awful problems trying to view the footage from my new camera in the software, but once it is published it looks fine.  I'm on the lookout for some simple-to-use editing software though, as what was pre-installed on my computer doesn't like me at ll!

[Heather]

Sorry Penny, only just saw your post as to what constitutes 'hot'. I guess sharp is another word for it. He is ultra responsive to the leg, would run away from even the lightest leg aid, and run against the hand. If I didnt resist with seat and hand, he would simply have bogged off. So he has had to learn to respect the leg, and not run away from it. He only now tends to speed up when using the leg in lateral work if he is finding it a little difficult. He is so much lighter in the hand now, and his paces are getting more powerful and not just running and flashy.

I am purely working to get more push from behind and a slower tempo- I have just put up a new video on his blog, and you can see how much more cadence he is starting to get in the trot too- it wasnt just as constant today, it was so bitterly cold and he was a little less laterally supple than he has been the last couple of weeks, especially when on the outdoor school which is 60m x 20m, whereas the indoor school is just 105 ft by 45 ft!

[cirocco]

Heather, suppose its all down to trust now, trust and understanding, that he is NOT expected to 'perform' when ridden..

He will be wonderful, just going to take time for him to understand the new life.

Goodness only knows what happens to these horses, if they fall off the radar and into the wrong hands.  There must be hundreds like him, too 'hot' or 'sharp' for the average rider. Thankfully he is safe.

We are all [ im sure ] looking forward to his progress.

[Heather]

He hasnt been expected to 'perform' as such when ridden, Penny, as he hasnt been schooled to any level! Yes he has piaffe, but this would be taught in hand first. He knew only a little leg yield and shoulder in, but that was it! He was bought untried by someone here in the UK and was indeed, too hot for her to handle, and still a stallion. He was gelded, got too fat, and the crest fell, so he was bought by Sophie Shufflebottom who deals in a few Spanish horses, but usually brings them in herself as her Mum lives in Spain. Sophie bought him to find him a decent home, and I know she feels she did the right thing!

[cirocco]

Yes of course.. She must be totally delighted.