Kenny is being started under saddle! Of course being a standardbred who has raced it can be assumed he’s going to have basic steering and know what it’s like to wear a lot of tack. I always start with a few easy groundwork exercises then begin to add tack then move towards mounting, if at any moment the horse gets worried or overwhelmed then that’s the thing we spend the day working on. Kenny was apparently unbothered by anything so I didn’t have any fear sitting on him. The horse chooses how far we go in each session!
Ponies still need their exercise!
Provy doing GW
Provy and Ruby are getting back into work after 3 weeks off. 🤭
Regal 😘
Regal will be up for sale in 2 weeks, so I’ll be posting more of him until his add goes up.
He’s only been under saddle about 6months and so needs an owner who’s going to be consistent and patient but as you can see he’s easy to teach and is ready to do pony rides with kids.
Toby is going to be for sale in the next month. He’s 5yrs old and has spent almost a year under saddle. He’s a nervous boy but a reliable little champ.
Another exercise done during bending week
It’s lumpy and lacking elegance but as you can see Maple started getting one or two sideways steps. 😍
Foxy is the only horse I know who can trot so tightly. Kind of crazy to watch.
Bending week
This week we labeled bending week. We made it about doing more difficult turns and beginning some sideways movement. ❤️
Transitions Week!
This is a small update on Foxy during transitions week! ❤️
Foxy is an 18yr old thoroughbred who is definitely more coordinated than maple haha. She can easily do more difficult transitions and keep her balance, but whatever levels transitions is still useful for any horse.
This week was transitions week!
We’ve started labelling each week and choosing to focus our rides on that thing.
Transition week is how it sounds, all about making those cues lighter and more responsive.
This is Maple my 6yr old standardbred mare. She’s uncoordinated and will possibly never make a dressage ring but she’s the best trail riding horse you could ever ask for and you can see how nicely she listens even if not “aesthetically beautifully.” Haha
Provy first ride.
I’ve sat on her many times now and lay across her many more but I’d put this as the first ride as it’s the first time I’ve asked her to step forward!
Provy is the most reactive horse I’ve ever met (response to most new things has been bucking). First week was spent being able to touch her with ropes and flap stirrup leathers and ask for basic manoeuvres!
She’s been handled all her life and me and her owner really don’t understand why she’s such a tough nut to crack!
I initially came at her guns blazing as most of my recent horses I’ve had under saddle in a few days if not then a few weeks, but as Provy just wouldn’t take it I’ve stepped back further and further and now we work at the snails pace she enjoys.
I don’t like getting on dangerous horses, every horse is different and I’ve began to learn to trust my gut as to whether or not to get on a horse.
Some horses are honestly so unbothered and are happy to go for a canter first ride!!! Yay for that! Others need time, and I don’t have a timeframe for when Provy will canter under saddle. I just know if I’m feeling scared it’s likely because she is, so I go slow until we’re both ready. Yay for that as well ❤️.
Even though it doesn’t look like much I am proud of her!
I know we’re almost always acting silly and very far from professional 😅 but I can honestly say us feeling happy does seem to rub off onto the horses. Though maybe them also feeling silly isn’t always ideal? 🤷♀️
Whilst her younger paddock mate was getting her first canter, Provy was getting sat on and scratched.
There’s no bias of love but Provy just doesn’t like things moving too fast, so I’ve figured it’s ganna be one step at a time always with her. ❤️❤️❤️
This fortnight everyone is going to learn to self load!
I’ve not always been good at teaching this but I finally feel as though I’m on the right side of it as the horses are getting the right idea pretty fast now. 😍
Toby is getting close to sale ☹️
He’s been our main pony rides pony for a while now but he’s got to that point where someone else could easily enjoy him. So soon Regal will have to take over as our main kids pony. 😍
Rubys third ride ❤️ & first canter
Admittedly she’s a very lazy horse and she made us work for the canter 😂
But she still did brilliant and am very proud of her.
Why not enjoy your first time being ridden!?
Ruby eager to line herself up as she truly lovely doing all these exercises!
Okay here’s the children interactions these ponies need!