One more for the rode

[glenatron]

Alright, I'll stop doing this shortly, but first...


So far I've mostly been doing groundwork with him and sleepsy_mouse ( by far the greater rider ) has been sitting on him. Today I got to have a bit of a ride as well, to get a feel of how he moves. He's very comfortable, but spooky in the school and quite jammed up in front, we'll need to work through a lot of brace in his neck to get him bending nicely and following the rein without pulling on it. I think that will be easier with a snaffle as well, but we don't currently have one wide enough for his big mouth. He's in Zorro's dressage bridle, which has a longer browband and no noseband, which shows how much he mithers on the bit if he has the choice.


The noble warmblood! Donk takes a moment to pose in the evening sun.


Certain people need to be reassured that they haven't been usurped in my affections ( actually they probably don't but I worry that they might ) which they certainly haven't. I've never loved this pony more than I do at the moment, he is splendid!

Comments

[allezbleu.livejournal.com]

he looks lovely, but looks perhaps a bit like hes using the wrong muscles, ie if you look at the underside of his neck. I guess once you get him stepping through from behind more and carrying you properly he will look *gorgeous*

and *err* at the pelham.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

He hasn't done much in a long time and he tends to wear his head high and looky ( he was a showjumper at one time and that seems to be a discipline that encourages horses to work that way ) so I'd agree about that. Until he's settled in his mouth I don't think he'll be able to bring his head down very easily, so that's going to be a priority for now. I'll probably try to keep off the rein as much as I can until I know he's starting to get it because I think for most horses that's the most confusing part of riding.

Apparently he's happier in a pelham, although I'm guessing that if I can get him to really understand the snaffle he'll be happy in that too. His owner is really good with horses, so she won't have made that decision for no reason, but we all do things in different ways and one of my ways is to try and get the horse really settled in their mouth off a regular bit.

[penella22.livejournal.com]

I love the Donk pictures!!

You look sooper-srs in the first photo. And like you're trying to figure out Warmbloods.

Zorro's mane takes center stage with all its splendid glory. Sage is a mite bit jealous...

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

I get on horses that I'm trying to work with and I really just try and give myself and the horse a job to do and then I focus on it as hard as I can. I have a very similar one from today actually, riding one of our friends' horses at the yard:

I'm just really trying to find what I can do to change things around for the horse so they can understand what I'm asking them for more easily.

One thing that riding these horses is teaching me is that Zorro is not easy. I mean I sort of knew that already, but he's really not easy.

[oifonly.livejournal.com]

cool, more pics! Donk is a handsome fellow.