The joy of ignorance

I am going away for two weeks tomorrow, which means that Sam has to go onto full livery – sad for me but the grooms at the stables can’t wait for another chance to ride him! Anyway, just thought I would take this opportunity for a little gratuitous babbling about Samuel, you have been warned …

I spent much of yesterday down at the stables (in the shade thankfully given the heat) tarting up Sam and generally giving him a (late) Spring clean – pulling his tail, giving him a bath, etc. He really is the most gentle and loving horse when he is in the stable as opposed to the good impression of a slightly unhinged nutter when we go riding. My new favourite thing that I have learnt is that if I scratch him under his neck (which he loves) he will start to gently nibble me on the top of my head :) I am sure he just thinks I am some useful small (and slightly unattractive) pony that is giving him a groom but it makes me so happy!

That’s it really – a rather pointless post but just had to share what a lovely little monster he is. All these people that go on about only “experts” and “professionals” should take on ex-racehorses obviously sometimes forget the power of just being a gentle rider and making friends with your hoss. I am sure it will take us longer than some expert to reschool him to an eventer but seeing as both of us are very happy (admittedly that is my opinion for Sam!), I don’t see the problem.

Spot the Difference (Lesson no. 6)

I know, I know his head carriage is still too high in the second picture BUT if you compare this to the pictures from our first lesson down below you will see the difference is pretty good. Although we still have the odd tantrum and attempts for him to take control we are heading in the right direction. The tricky thing is just keeping him calm and keeping his focus. He has the concentration span of a small gnat and anything is more interesting to him than my attempts at schooling! Anyway lack of attention aside I think we are getting better and I am learning even more than him about how to train a horse from scratch. My big new learning of this week was to rub / massage up his neck with one hand and then the other (without dropping the reins) when he starts to fight the contact. My instructor tells me this is because he gets himself all tense and wound up and so stroking his neck relaxes him back into a deeper outline. Picture below shows what she means and it really seems to work.

The other big success is that we now strike off on the right leg every time in right canter. Left canter is still proving a little elusive but I attach a picture below to show that he is at least vaguely collected - certainly an improvement on the wall of death (see entries below for explanation of this one!)