Changes

1/31/2014

I know some of you are wanting a Speedy update; I am, too. He was still sore on Thursday evening, but he is improving. I should know more this afternoon. In the meantime …

I was looking through some older photos of Speedy G and found three where we are in the same trotting position in each one. Speedy's right foreleg is reaching forward in all three shots and we are traveling in the same direction. I thought it would be interesting to compare them.

I was prepared to see some major improvement in Speedy's frame and way of going. Overall? There is definitely improvement from the first photo to the second photo, but then … I am not seeing as much of an obvious change as I was expecting.

This first photo was from our first season schooling and showing dressage. He did most of a 55 mile endurance race a few weekends before this. Speedy has always had a nice, ground-covering stride. Working on the endurance trail no doubt helped developed that aspect of his way of going.

July 2010 - 6 years old (Arabs mature rather slowly!)

I "quit" endurance riding in June of 2010. In this next photo, we had been schooling dressage exclusively for 11 months. His frame has obviously improved.

May 2011 - 7 years old

In the third photo, I think his stride is longer than in the previous photos, his neck is definitely thicker, and I think he has more articulation in his hocks (when compared to the middle photo). I want to say that his back looks more lifted in this photo, but that could just be wishful thinking.

In the first photo, Speedy looks so small! He could easily be mistaken for a pony. By the third and fourth photos, he has started to look more like a horse. I think I must be doing something right!

April 2013 - 9 years old. REALLY?

Although this last photo doesn't share the same angle and direction of travel as the first three, I wanted to include it because it shows where we were at the end of the 2013 show season. His stride is definitely longer and more reaching here than in any of the other photos, and he looks happier. Maybe I am more giving with my hands? I also like how nicely developed his neck appears and he's not behind the vertical, something we struggle with.

What do you see? Anything different (aside from the faults; I see those already)?

July 2013

Austen link

1/30/2014 10:53:09 pm

LOVE THESE!

I see a horse learning to travel UP instead of forward. He's learning to push, and you can clearly tell. In the first photo his gait is flat, and he is clearly hollowed at the back. In the second photo, his abs are engaged and his back is up. He's learned to carry you properly. But, his gait is still pretty daisy-cutter-ish. In the third photo his topline is really standing out, and his has spring in his step. This third photo is a slightly earlier moment in the gait than the other two, but you can see in the last photo how much more suspended his trot has become. He's stepping under and lifting up.

Denny Emerson of Tamarack Hill Farm's Facebook page had a great post illustrating the difference between the way an endurance horse pushes forward and the way a dressage horse pushes up. I totally see that here!

Bakersfield Dressage link

2/1/2014 01:53:56 pm

Thanks for taking the time to share your observations, Austen. I really appreciate it!

Tracy link

1/30/2014 11:14:48 pm

What a huge transformation! I agree with your assessment, Speedy just really looks like he's coming into his own and enjoying his job. :-)

Lauren link

1/31/2014 12:22:35 am

Huge changes! You should be proud of his condition - he looks fantastic.

Judy

1/31/2014 12:38:15 am

I can definitely see the changes! Awesome!

Kelly link

1/31/2014 01:23:51 am

I see more lift in the shoulders - more uphill in photo 3 & 4. And more push from behind in photo 4. Super job!

Hannah link

1/31/2014 03:04:37 am

I see a trend in the first three pictures towards an increasing sense of lightness -- without losing the commitment to the bridle, so good work! The fourth pic looks to me like you guys are starting to grapple with the problem of balance-versus-thrust -- I see a bigger step and actually I think a more level balance but I have a feeeeeeeeeling (*g*) that two strides later disorganization might have ensued if you didn't intervene with a half-halt or three. Which, y'know, welcome to the club! It is a cool new problem to have. :)

2/1/2014 01:58:14 pm

I remember this day very clearly, and I think it was from T3. We actually scored a 67% on this test (a USDF-rated show)! I don't remember that moment though. It may well be that we fell apart after this moment. I know we worked REALLY hard to deal with the issue you mention. Earlier in the day, the 1 loop serpentine got away from me, but for this test, I rode it like it was in slow motion. :0)

Val

1/31/2014 05:59:07 am

He does look like a larger horse!

2/1/2014 01:59:23 pm

Weird, huh?! :0)

Dom

1/31/2014 08:55:45 am

Steady improvement in all the right areas... just what you want to see! Great work with him. I'm sorry he's still sore.

2/1/2014 02:00:02 pm

Thanks, Dom. Hopefully we'll be back to work very soon.

Tori link

2/3/2014 02:56:59 am

Really nice improvement, looks beautiful.

Sarah link

2/3/2014 07:15:31 am

Wow, love these comparison photos. Really shows quite a difference!

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