Dusty in harness again

[Marsha Cassada]

After a visit to the chiropractor and vet, Dusty is back at work in harness. It's been about 7 weeks since he injured himself. He is starting out in the sulky, and we've worked up to a max of 2 miles on straight road.

I do feel I have some issues with him, however, either training or temperament related (or both). My personal lack with training is the inability to stay focused. The handler cannot be unfocused with Dusty or he will take advantage.

I am taking him to a handler later in the month for some lessons. She has macular disease and can no longer show but she is the most focused handler I've ever met. After a lesson with her, Dusty is mentally exhausted; she makes him THINK the whole time.

So wish us luck getting back to work and making progress!

 

[ThreeCFarm]

I'm glad to hear he's driving again!

 

[drivin*me*buggy]

Glad to hear he is working again and that you have found someone to help you with him.

Angie

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Good luck! So many people I know complain that they have nowhere to work their horses on dressage and I look at their setup and go "huh??" They've got trees to balance around, a long driveway they could be doing serpentines down, hills to work over...but because they're looking for a big flat field they don't think they have anywhere to work. Maybe it's because I grew up taking my big horses down our local roads but Mom always taught me to practice bending around mailboxes, square halts at stop signs, sidepassing and pivots when we needed to turn around. Make use of your obstacles to teach basic skills and ride your horse every minute! It doesn't have to be boring- I spend a lot of time enjoying the scenery and letting my horse stretch out and walk with his head swinging. But if I ask him for something he'd better do it correctly and with style whether he's ridden or driven.

If I didn't find ways to make our short, repetitive road drives interesting we'd have all gone crazy from boredom a long time ago. It's self-defense!

You can't be bored when you're making that horse think about his tempo and where he places his feet every minute of the drive. Work on bend, rhythm, submission, stretching, collection...there's always something.

Leia

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I have some pretty good obstacles and variations in my driving area. We go up and down ditches, grassy paths, dirt, drive up to the mailbox to get mail, work at going through gates without dismounting, weaving back and forth across the road, stops and starts. We have dogs, heavy equipment, motorcycles, pickups with trailers (they're the scariest!). We drive through the sprinkler.

My problem with "focus" is consistency. For example, I ask him to do a certain gait, then my mind will wander off over the rainbow, and Dusty will change gaits without permission. I cannot seem to stay focused. Maybe there is a magic herb or supplement???

 

[hobbyhorse23]

We need a focusing supplement for YOU!

Can you come up with a mantra or counting strides or some other trick to get you to focus in and stay focused?

Leia

 

[susanne]

I know what you mean about atten--what were we talking about?

Glad to hear Dusty's doing better!

We drive through the sprinkler.

OMG -- Mingus believes sprinklers EAT small ponies for breakfast!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I took him out in the regular cart today and we went about 5 miles, mostly dirt roads. He did fantastic. He's really fun because he can MOVE.

I still have trouble with him breaking into a canter; it is as though the trot is not coordinated and he finds it easier to canter. Is there something I can do to help him with that?

I try to focus on when he is close to that point and slow him down a little then. But sometimes he's into the canter before I'm aware (I told you I have a focusing issue!).

 

[hobbyhorse23]

I still have trouble with him breaking into a canter; it is as though the trot is not coordinated and he finds it easier to canter. Is there something I can do to help him with that?I try to focus on when he is close to that point and slow him down a little then. But sometimes he's into the canter before I'm aware (I told you I have a focusing issue!).

After this much time off he'll have lost some muscle mass so I'd expect that problem to have gotten temporarily worse, if anything. It'll take some time to build him up again so just take it slow and steady and don't expect too much too soon.

When you feel him getting close to breaking, don't slow him down so much as give him half-halts to rebalance him and rock him back onto his hindquarters. A strong trot requires a lot of impulsion from the rear and if you don't help him recycle his power back into his body he's going to let it all run out the front and either never get going at all or break into a canter. I was learning this lesson again just the other day with Kody as he's terribly out of shape and was having trouble finding his stride for a lengthened trot. I had to remember to be his strength for him, holding his energy in my hands and giving it back to him so I could help him find his balance. He trusts my contact enough to use me for balance without leaning and after a few moments he got it, elevated his shoulder, coiled his loin and pushed up strongly into the bridle. I could tell he was pleased with himself! I still let him canter frequently as I know right now it's easier for him and it's a good stretching exercise for his back but he's not allowed to break, only to transition when I say so.

Leia

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Thanks. Leia. That makes sense.