Ziggy

[nix]

I hope it's ok, but I wanted to share with everyone how pleased I am with Ziggy's progress. I've got Zig on long-term loan, he's a five year old approx 15.3hh Arab who was backed too early with a poorly fitting saddle at the age of three and has had chronic back problems ever since.

For the past couple of months I've been walking Zig out and schooling him in hand. After a month of physio treatment we commenced lunging and for the past week or so, I've also gently ridden him in walk around the yard and field.

Today we ventured up to the nearest school (mine is being put in at the moment). We only practised walk/halt on a large circle and a little shoulder-in along part of the long sides. I was so pleased with him, other than a few "levades" when a classic car came past, he was relaxed, interested and responsive. He loves his new Easisit (now Dave & Co have finally sorted it out), he's free through his back and doesn't tense in anticipation of pain any more.

He's such a lovely, sensitive and genuine horse and I think he could be quite talented. However, no doubt I'll be posting on here when I get stuck!!!

Here's a pic of us, please excuse my attire ... it was already 26 degrees! I'm not best pleased with my position, even though we're riding a riding a circle my lower leg is too far back to name one fault ... but doesn't Zig look great!!!    

[Pete]

Hiya kiddo

He looks great - mind you - Beato is MUCH better,......  :P   If the problems you have had are as true as you say, he looks very happy now - a credit to you...  Talk soon!

Pete

[nix]

lol ... of course Beato is better Pete!!! I'm not fortunate enough to have Heather schooling Zig, nor do we have the benefit of regular tuition (the latter sorely needed by myself   ) ... but I think we're doing pretty well nonetheless.

As for the problems re: Zig's back, we have been very fortunate to have had the expertise of Jenny Hadland MCSP, SRP, ACPAT, Grad Dip Phys, who was appalled at the amount of muscle trauma and haemotoma (sp?) on such a young horse's back.

[Rachel]

He look gorgeous in that photo; as Pete says, a credit to you, especially as it sounds like you've had a lot of problems before you even started.

[nix]

Thank you Rachel (and Pete ) ... and I must admit I did know that Zig had back problems when I took him on (and a certain amount of aversion to traffic ... which we're also overcoming).

He's such a lovely horse, that I'm just so happy that Sarah and Russell - his owners - let me have him on loan. I've just got back from hacking him out (with Harv as "babysitter") and I just adore riding him, he's so sweet and willing.

[judyl]

Had to but in here Nix.  Jenny is great isn't she?  She does my 2 horses backs and has done for about the last 6 or so years.  Isn't it a small world?

Judy
 :blink:

p.s.   couldn't resist the smilie!
 

[Heather]

Hey Nicki! he looks great!! I am of course,a great Arab lover- send me a video of him at some point- have you got his papers- how is he bred, what lines?

Heather

[nix]

Hi Heather

Thank you, he is absolutely wonderful (not at all biased here   ). He loves his ridden work and is very quick on the uptake. It took me a couple of minutes to teach him a very passable turn on the forehand today, which I was very pleased with as he'd had almost a fortnight paddock rest up until Monday and only hacking/lunging til today. Silly boy ran into one of the fence posts and had to have his chest stapled!

I'd love to send you some video of Ziggy, if I can nab one of my camcorder-owning friends. He has beautiful movement, is very comfortable to ride and has already offered some collection and extension in walk and trot on the lunge. He also piaffe's for fun when he's in the mood, which tickled Jenny Hadland enormously when she saw him doing it in his stable!

Zig is very well bred - he's by Isharah (Salaa el dine x Icomb), out of Iduna (Amir Fayek x Iceni). I've seen pictures of Salaa el dine, a top international stallion from Germany - you can definitely see the family resemblance and one of Ziggy's siblings won at HOYS a year or two ago.

If you're going to the Dr Margaret Cox clinic at the end of August you'll be able to see him in the flesh. He'll only have been in work for a few weeks so hopefully we won't embarrass ourselves too much  :unsure: . I'm going to try to get a few "outings" in beforehand to accustom him to new and different places, which should help .

[Heather]

Hi Nicki- I have only just this minute come off the phone to Margaret!! I won't be able to go, as I am tied up for the last two weeks of August- Margaret is off to Portugal again on I thought she said the 21st- lucky thing. She goes for at least 5 days a month now!

Ziggy is indeed very well bred, and he looks really lovely- I would love to see some video of him when you get time and can nab a camcorder!

Heather

[Mossy]

When / where is the clinic and how do you get spectator tickets?  

[nix]

Hi Mossy

It's at the Waterstock Training Centre in Oxford on Friday 29 August and Saturday 30 August. I think there are spectator places still available ... pm or email me if you want Joy's email addie (she's organising it).

I'm taking Zig for the two days and Nikki, my sharer, is taking Harve .