Jumping around

I started off my ride today by having Deuce trot over two cavaletti. He was nervous at first and kept lifting his legs and almost prancing through the cavalettis. He really relaxed after a few tries though and I think it really helping his rythmn in the trot. :) Today was pretty exciting because we jumped over a crossrail a few times. Deuce needs to go more forward through the jumps but he was very good for his first real jumping lesson. I also tried to take him out in the field for a little bit, but there was so many people at the ranch next door that he was too worked up. I didn't want to push my luck and find myself on the ground. I guess I need to remember that Deuce did only just turn 4. He's so good and I often forget how young he is. I really want him to get used to the trail though...

Tommorow I'm going to do some light riding to let his legs and muscles recover. After his days off (Monday and Tuesday this week) I will start teaching him to go more on the bit. We will also work on trot canter transitions to make his hind end stronger. Lastly, I will pay more attention to my own leg, seat and rein aids as they must be exactly correct if I want deuce to go well on the bit.

Deuce's blog is back!

So much has happened in the year and a half that I have not written on this blog. There have been a lot of changes in my personal life since I last wrote and at one point I even thought of selling my horse. We are here now though and I'm excited to start up Deuce's training blog again. Thanks to my dad, I was able to send Deuce to Roger for 3 months. The training really did wonders for him and made him much more confident and balanced under saddle. Now with me, Deuce is starting dressage training in earnest and I have been very happy with his progress. Below is a picture of us from last June. I love how much he is reaching under with his hind leg. :) He doesn't look so much like a baby anymore...he looks like a real dressage horse! I will hopefully get video up here soon and be able to show you how much we have progressed.




Here is an update on our training:


Deuce is recovering from a splint bone fracture (sounds really serious but thankfully it healed up 100%.) The picture was taken just before the fracture happened. For the past month I've been trying to keep to light riding until he builds back up his muscles. We are just now starting back up cantering regularly and working on the bit. He gets so tired because he lacks fitness after 2 and a half months of no riding or turnout.



Right now I'm also concentrating on getting him more forward and responsive to my leg. I made a mistake in his early training of not making him as forward as he needs to be so I am retraining it now. He's slowly getting it but the subtle pressure from my leg doesn't always register. Once I get him forward and relaxed though, he is so wonderful to ride!


We are planning for a little schooling show in November at a nearby barn. I think we will do Training Level Test 3 and 4. Before the show I need to work on riding precise figures and on getting good canter transitions. He also needs to be better at bending and suppling. Once he gets stronger in the canter I am sure the transitions will be much easier.

Check it out!

Hard work

Since the last time I posted, Deuce has gotten a lot better! I started trotting him on the longlines and this is actually getting challenging for him because he has to control his body a lot more. On the lounge he likes to throw out his hind end but on the long lines this is easy to prevent and he got pretty mad about that at first. I've attached a video of him which shows him being pretty well behaved after I had a few fights with him. I've never taught a baby how to long line before, but I think we are both learning a lot together. In the past I've long lined him mostly at the walk and in figure eights so he gets used to the reins leading him where to go. This weekend was the first time I asked him to trot nicely around me while keeping some rein contact. Thanks to my friend John who is visiting this weekend, I was able to get this video and a bunch of really nice pictures!

Long lining

I've started long lining Deuce and he is being very smart about it! He is starting to understand the concept, but the coolest part is that he is being very sensible, even with all of the tack on him. I started out in the round pen last weekend and he walked, trotted, halted and backed. This week I did a little more round pen work but this weekend I longlined him in the arena and in te field. He is of course a little more hesitant without the security of the rail, but he is starting to learn what the reins mean. He was expecially good today considering that he has not been outside for the past two days due to weather.


Here's a picture I took today, it's not the greatest but you can tell how big he has gotten.

He was bored!

Some professional trainers came out to the barn this weekend to give lessons and I got to ask them some questions about training Deuce. He's good on the lunge but sometimes he acts up and tries to play games. They said that it was because he was bored! I guess he just thinks longing is too easy and wants another challenge. So.......I started long lining him! He can walk, trot, halt and back now with the long lines. He's so smart!

I've started out just in the round pen, but when he masters that I will try steering him in the large arena where he won't have the support of the walls. I kind of feel bad that I was boring him but at least I know now he is ready to move forward. I didn't want to start any major training too early but I'm more confident after this weekend that he is ready for it.

Growing Pains

I haven't posted in a while I know. The weather has not been as nice and I've been going out to the barn only on weekends recently. This past weekend Deuce was being naughty on the longe. He kept trying to switch directions and run around me like crazy. I was getting after him, obviously, then he tripped and fell down and was limping for a little bit. I felt bad for him, but I was kind of glad he had a fall because Ifigured he would realize his naughtiness wasn't getting im anywhere.

Well I went out again this evening and it must have worked because he was great on the longe. I didn't push him too hard in case he was still a little sore, but if he was it was not affecting his movement at all. Hopefully he will continue his good behavior because I really want to start long lining him soon.

I'll post a new picture soon....he's getting big!