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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

Izzy at Work (with video)

12/28/2014

 
I finally got to see Izzy being worked! When I went up to see him on Monday, he had just whacked himself and was lame. Fortunately, he was sound by Wednesday and got worked pretty hard. When I arrived on Friday, his leg was clean and tight, and he looked sound as ever.  

Although I am really happy with this trainer arrangement, I do wish Izzy was at least an hour closer. I like that he is being worked by a professional while I get a chance to know him better. I've never bought a horse and done it this way before, but it would just be easier if it wasn't such a long drive.

And being totally honest with myself, I don't have a good enough skill set to start this horse by myself, at least not correctly. I have started other horses, including several Arabs, but our end goal was very different. They needed excellent ground manners (I can do that with Izzy with no problem) and to be able to stop and go. The trail teaches them to bend, watch their feet, and rate themselves. It doesn't take too many wet saddle blankets before they realize that listening and stopping are good things.

Izzy needs more than just a stop and go button, and I don't have the luxury of letting the trail teach him about bending and being balanced. I just don't know enough myself to help him through these first few weeks and months. Once he knows his job a little better, I won't confuse him so much as I fumble around on his back. For now, having a trainer work with him (and me) will make things much clearer to Izzy, but there are things that I can do in the meantime. 

On Friday when I went to see him, I had a chance to do more on the ground stuff with him. I pulled his blanket; he's still a bit shy as it crosses his bum. He is learning to lower his head so haltering him is getting quite easy. I washed his tail, brushed it, and gave it a quick bang. He behaved very well. I also groomed and saddled him. The only sticky part right now is getting him to lower his head for the bridle and reins.

Debbie and her assistant are working on it, but he still has some learning to do. He's not nearly as bad as Speedy was, so I am not really concerned about it. But since I am paying for his training, I might as well get as many holes filled in as possible. 

When Speedy was a youngster, he refused to take the bit, fought lowering his head, and hated the reins tossed over his ears. But when he fussed, it involved a lot of rearing, jerking away, and wild head swinging. Izzy will happily take the bridle and allows the reins to go over his head, but only with his head high.

If I use a mounting block to bridle him, he stands quietly and has no problem being bridled. That's not acceptable though. He's simply too tall to work that way. And leaving that little habit untouched would no doubt lead to other issues: difficulties with worming, trouble making tack adjustments, tricky to exam his mouth, and so on.

He's learning to lower his head nicely though, so I imagine that in a few more weeks it'll be mostly a non-issue. And even if he isn't totally "broke" to lowering his head by the end of January, I can continue the work as that's something I have lots of experience doing.

Here is the video of the trainer working with him. An explanation and my own time on him coming tomorrow.
jenj
12/28/2014 02:02:36 am

WOW what a lovely uphill canter he has! He looks like he's going to be amazing to ride! So handsome!

When I got Paddy, he wouldn't take the bit either. I solved that problem by putting a treat in my hand and holding the bit in the same hand, so that if he picked up the bit, he'd get the treat (if bribery works, use it, IMO!). Now, bridling him is as easy as holding the bridle out in front of him - he grabs the bit and looks for his treat. He doesn't always get one, but the possibility is enough to make him happy to have me bring out the bridle!

Bakersfield Dressage link
12/29/2014 11:15:42 pm

Thanks, jenj! :0)

I like to use treats too. Speedy will agree much faster if he thinks there is a treat involved.

To bridle him, I took to covering my bit in molasses. It didn't take too long for him to WANT to take the bit in his mouth. It was messy, but he was so fussy that he would knock the treat from hand, or worse, grab it before the bit could go in. I couldn't "drop" the molasses so that trick worked for me. :0)

lytha
12/28/2014 04:18:36 am

My horse had/has the bad habit of "let me help you get this bridle off my head NOW!" and that is not cool so I'm still refining it, getting her to hold her head perfectly still or else the bridle simply goes back on.

I simplify things by always adding the bit (on hangers) or removing it separately, but I always include a treat because I've never been able to get a horse to open its mouth for the bit, and at least I want it somewhat willing. What I mean is my new horse will open for the bit, but not grab for it like the previous commenter - how great would that be!?

This week I realized she was not lowering her head for the halter so now we'll work on that.

I have to say, I am thrilled to hear about your work with your new horse. I see he does much nicer trot-canter transitions than mine, and doesn't resist the side reins. I saw something in his tail carriage in the first segment - did you? Watching again...

Bakersfield Dressage link
12/29/2014 11:19:08 pm

Do you mean when he clamped it down? He was thinking about bucking there, and you can see it in his stride as he could of hopped for a few strides. :0)

I am pretty picky about head lowering - Speedy keeps his head on the ground as I bridle and opens his own mouth and sucks in the bit himself (most of the time anyway). It has taken 7 years though for this total compliance, so give Mara a bit more time. :0)

Carly
12/28/2014 05:55:32 am

He has such lovely natural gaits!

Alanna
12/28/2014 11:42:12 am

He's going to be fun to ride! I love his way of going.

emma link
12/29/2014 11:16:01 am

he's looking great!! and good luck with the bridling thing... for my sassy mare, bringing her head around to the side helps prevent her from sticking it straight up in the air


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
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