Happy Red Beast
To say it has been awhile is an understatement, but Norman and I will be sharing posts over the next couple months on his journey back to work.
Back in November, I had Norman x-rayed after multiple failed attempts at bringing him back to work since 2020. It was discovered that he has a mild case of kissing spine in two separate areas along his vertebrae. Both of the locations are directly under my seat when he is undersaddle and was causing the back and forth behavior when attempting to work. I knew I wanted to bring him back to work competitively this year, with work being a bit more balanced, and knew I had to have a vet out for rads to be 100% positive about his health and behavior (since everything else was tried to no success).
Our vet and I decided to allow him the winter being a horse still until I knew the weather was consistent for regular conditioning work. We will be doing lunging and stretching for 4 weeks to build up his topline some and then complete our first injections. After the first round I should be able to start light work undersaddle continuing to build up muscle. We will have him rechecked at 4 to 6 weeks to see how the injections are holding up and then go from there.
With this diagnosis, coupled with some other reactive areas that have grown not so great over the years, we will be focusing our sights on working as partners in Dressage specifically. I discussed it with the vet at his diagnosis and jumping would not be fair to his health.
So we will be documenting our journey over the next few months to see where we land. No matter what happens, I will just be happy to get back on my handsome red beast again even if that means just dancing in the sand and enjoying the beautiful venues for some trail riding.
#NewHopeEventing #redgelding #redbeast #thoroughbred #roadtorecovery #conditioning #eventersturndressage
Sunday Spa Day
Norman had alot of dirt and grime on his coat from the winter months, so we had a long warm bath getting curried and soaped from head to hooves! So much red dirt came off him, but his coat so much softer and cleaner now.
This will be a normal cadence along with a regular brushing and currying before and after works.
My boy is so HANDSOME 😍🥰😍🥰
Claire and Stitch through our grid today set at 2'6".
This is a great grid to utilize at all levels of riders and horses. The first vertical is set lower to allow the pair to trot in and the three canter poles allow the canter to become consistent in rhythm to the last vertical set at a height to accommodate both horse and rider. The first and last vertical can be raised as the grid is successfully commplished which will ask the horse to slow a bit as he has to collect from his landing and take-off points.
Three Stride vertical to vertical with canter poles (first straight line is a vertical set at 2'0"- 2'6" and last line is vertical set at 2'6"- 3'0")
| 9 feet | 12 feet | 12 feet | 9 feet |
Thor's first time over a 2'3" oxer with room to spare! We will be putting a grid together this week to work through to help build stamina with some trot/gallop sets in the field too for conditioning.
#forsale #Thor #NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #thoroughbred #ottb #baygelding #jumping #noscopenohope
A small 2'3" vertical for the bay beast today and he was wonderful!
He just needs some strengthening and gridwork more consistent to help out exits and out steady rhythm.
Both Thor and Norman were very happy to get out today after the week of snow and rain we have had. Unfortunately, it is 60 degrees today and blankets are unable to stay on to help keep the mud off. So. . . .both are absolutely DISGUSTING now and will require full grooming tonight 😲
So excited for the next couple nice days to let these boys out and get some rides on them. We have a couple visitors over the next couple weeks so fingers crossed for the opportunities!
Thor was a really good boy for a short flat ride today to take some videos for interested parties. He was a bit fresh after he has been off for two weeks due to weather and time constraints, but he was responsive nonetheless!
Love this boy's trot! I mean it is to die for! 😍
A short clip of Thor's trotwork tonight. He is coming along well and will be looking much more comfortable after his chiropracting this week and new shoes next week!
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #Thor #thoroughbred #baygelding #restartprocess #training #flatwork #trotwork #powerhouse #Apocalypse #OTTB
Again Felicia asked for a bit more from Norman with these two training questions. As she approached the log stack, she could feel Norman hesitating so she added more leg and a pop with the crop for encouragement which he listened too very well. On the second obstacles approach, she came in a bit more forward and Norman was much more comfortable with the jump! 👌😉
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #HeadsorTails #eventing #eventer #crosscountry #threedaysthreeways #threedayeventing #majykeequineboots #kerrits #nirvanaequestrianclinic #passierklimke #noscopenohope #redgelding #redbeast #progress #traininglevel #hehashops #thoroughbred #OTTB
Today's clinic truly allowed Felicia to school Norman over some larger questions with the instruction of Jill keeping safety to the highest priority.
Norman was very willing over a more narrow training log and listened attentively to Felicia even though she decided on a new lighter bit. Of course his normal bit was in the trailer, but there was no need for it today! 👏
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #HeadsorTails #eventing #eventer #crosscountry #threedaysthreeways #threedayeventing #majykeequineboots #kerrits #nirvanaequestrianclinic #passierklimke #noscopenohope #redgelding #redbeast #jumping #progress
Norman and Felicia warming up over some logs.
Jill instructed Felicia to settle her hands some and not be to high in her hands on the approach. Once Felicia started settling her hands against Norman's crest, he began quieting into the entrance and rode into the base more appropriately than the long distances they were getting at first.
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #HeadsorTails #thoroughbred #OTTB #redgelding #redbeast #jumping #crosscountry #threedaysthreeways #threedayeventing #majykeequineboots #passierklimke #kerrits #itbf #ifthebonnetfits #nirvanaequestrianclinic
Felicia utilized multiple transitions over the vertical to ensure Norman remained quiet as the jump schooling progressed. In this video, she had Norman cantering, but as she turned to approach the vertical, she asked him to breakdown to the trot and trot into the 2'6" vertical.
Trotting jumps is a great way to truly see your horse's strength jumping. Trotting also allows the horse to assess what you are asking better than a faster pace. When it doubt, breakdown to the trot and reapproach. It obviously wouldn't help over a 3'6" or higher jump, but it will surprise you just how high your horse can jump at the trot 😮 Norman was able to trot all the way into the base of the jump and clear it easily before finishing with an even canter circle.
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #HeadsorTails #eventing #eventer #jumping #jumpday #schooling #whenindoubttrotitout #trottingjumps #redgelding #redbeast #thoroughbred #progress #onestepatatime
Here Felicia added the vertical after the gymnastic line. . . Norman rushed out of the gymnastic line which called for a collection before presenting to the vertical. This allowed Felicia to regain control and have a nicer entrance to the second obstacle which Norman cleanered and exited well.
While at home schooling, incorporating circles to recollect only helps more for when you are in a stadium round at a show. Schooling allows a rider to take a step back when things become discombobulated to show the horse what it should properly feel like. Norman can tend to rush fences and adding a circle allowed Felicia to feel the proper canter to present Norman to the vertical. He still moved up in pace, but it was much better than a discombobulated canter would have been.
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #HeadsorTails #eventing #eventer #jumping #schooling #jumpday #onestepatatime #progress #thoroughbred #OTTB #redgelding #redbeast #slowyourroll #excitedpony
Three Bounce gymnastic line set for Norman to find a quiet pace and react more responsibly before adding in the vertical. He did very well remaining quiet all the way up and through the line.
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #HeadsorTails #eventing #eventer #jumping #gymnastics #schooling #onestepatatime #progress #thoroughbred #OTTB #redgelding #redbeast #threedaysthreeways #threedayeventing #bounceline
With incoming storms this afternoon, Felicia settled for a light ride on both Pixie and Norman.
Pixie was up first and Lisa captured some of the flatwork responses Felicia was asking of the pretty pony. She did very well listening to the forward and downward aids Felicia was providing and accomplished a nice stretchy walk. Pixie has a lovely trot to sit (probably because her little legs have shorter strides 🤣) and Felicia transitioned from posting to sitting while asking for Pixie to slow in her pace as well.
Very good girl in her ride today! 👍 👑 🐴
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #Pixie #forsale #paintpony #paintarabian #killpenrescue #eventer #hunter #jumper #allaroundpony #princess #progress #slowandsteady #flatwork
Training level bench to the FENCE Mascot was an easy work for Norman. He settled into a quiet canter and waited patiently for both jumps. Felicia was very pleased with his control and response!
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #HeadsorTails #eventing #eventer #crosscountry #jumpingmachine #thoroughbred #OTTB #redgelding #redbeast #FENCE
Felicia and Norman flying over some Novice Rolltops at FENCE.
Norman spared plenty of room, and though he had a rough landing, cantered away searching for the next jump.
#NewHopeEventing #headtrainer #HeadsorTails #eventing #eventer #crosscountry #noviceistooeasyfortheredbeast #noscopenohope #kneestochest #thoroughbred #OTTB #redgelding #redbeast
