Is My Horse Through!

My clinician teaching my horse to get off the front end!

The big debate now is my horse not being through and setting a frame rather than her seeking the contact.  Now I get that, but according to my clinician 90% of horses are not correct.  People have no idea that the horse will seek the contact rather than the rider picking it up.  OK fine, then teach me.  What kills me is that now this is a problem.  After two years I've been wrong.  I don't pull back and I make sure the energy is coming from behind, but my mare is a tough cookie.  Her neck is very short, stiff and set low.  Another issue is when she down transitions she can slightly drops the front end.  For starters you can't even see it nor can you feel it unless you really focus on it.  It's so slight but this an issue too.  She tells me that I will never be able to teach my horse properly and that I need more lessons.  I think the clinician was a bit cranky today.  I will never be perfect, but I will get better.

Lesson

Suffering from a really bad cold I didn't want to give up on my lesson this this week.  I decided to would put Ivy on a line w/ side reins to warm her up before my ride.  She had one big blow up and then just wanted to gallop on.  Normally I never let her play or buck w/ tack on, but my trainer said let her be today.  That is the big debate now among my friends, do you let your horse buck and play on a line.  I was told that when a horse has tack on the line, they need to focus and listen and never buck.  Since we don't have a place to let them run I do let her play on a long line w/ out tack. 

After about eight min. I hop on and pick the contact up.  We work on trot to walk and back to trot transitions.  Spiral in and out on a 20 meter at the trot, and finally canter.  Her canter seems less hollow now, but needs more energy.  Not one hint of connection issues or rein lameness.  I really focused on leg first to hand w/ a steady contact.  Going to the right I used counter flex to true to get her lower in the poll. My trainer said that it was the best lesson ever and that I should warm her up on a line for five min.  I need to reflect on it now.  Jumping is still on hold, but trot poles are starting next week.

Rein Lame and Connection Issues

We are getting back to work now and I am causing major issues with my horse.  Tracking left the connection is there, but only after I counter flex to true flextion or inside flextion.  I don't over bend the neck and I always use my leg first.  Once I have her flexed from the poll to the inside I drive with my inside left leg to the outside rein.  When we track right, her better canter side, I cause her to go rein lame.  This only happens when I ride and not when I lunge her w/ side reins.  I let my reins slide for her to stretch and she is fine, but when I pick the connection up we have issues. 
In my lesson this week we worked on haunches in on the circle and shoulders in on that same circle to the right.  The connection improves and when I sit it's perfect.  I must be twisting my body and pulling the reins back when I post.  We also tried turning my shoulders to the right and really making her bend around my inside right leg.  Today I worked on the same exercises.  I think it's working, but I need a lot of work.  Can't show till I solve the connection issue. 

Back to Work

Ivy seems to have other things on her mind besides the routine.  I am now getting her back to work, but she's not on the same page.  Warm ups are long and low and we even do a little canter work.  I've been doing canter, but only in a half seat to get off her back.  She seems to spook at the silliest things. Trash cans, water dripping on a tarp, wet spots in the arena, wind.  I know I will be going through this again w/ another young horse, but Ivy is going to be 9 already! 

Now to the connection issue.  I get it, I really do, but I just can't get a clear connection.  Half halts and down transitions to make sure she isn't nose diving. Getting her light to the aids.  OK, now flex and drive w/ inside aids. Counter flex when she's resisting.  Leg first! Always go to the leg aid first if she dives.  She is one tough cookie.  Short necked and lacking in back engine.  I need to slow the front end and then get the back end moving with hocks flexing.  Sure, I could just crank her head in and say she is truly correct.  How often do I see that!  I talked to one rider who says she needs a stronger (thinner) bit because her horse leans on her.  He is slightly built down hill, but he still needs to understand coming through from behind. 

First show is in Feb. Not looking forward to the weather!

Winter Recovery

I shouldn't complain, but winters are a pain.  At least the shortest day of the year will be next week and we will gain four min. a day.  Ivy is doing great!  I can't canter yet so we are just working on lots of stretch at the walk and trot, trot....  I think she has way too much energy and seems to freak at the shadow ghosts.  It could be worse.  The thing I don't get is when other people know your horse is just coming back and they need to ride up your back or four feet from you. We have enough space to stay well away from each other.  I don't seem to have a problem giving others the space they need.  With Ivy's rear, bolt, and small buck people got the hint. 

Her gaits seem much more relaxed and she's not so cranky when I tack her up.  Now maybe I am looking for these signs, but there really seems to be a change.  I need to save money for a well fitting jump saddle.  I love my Jeffries, but I need a wool saddle. I know the Elite Jeffries is wool and I might give it a go.  County is another option.

Horse Mesotherapy

Final treatment day for Ivy. Mesotherapy has really made a HUGE difference in her lower back pain.  Just had the saddle fitter pick up the saddle and I should be ready to go.  This week will be the real treat ( riding bareback).  Not that I mind but w/ a horse that hasn't been ridden in a month you never know what they might do.  I am much more aware about back soreness now.  I still think her issues are conformational, but I'm sure 30 days of training in a saddle that wasn't hers didn't help.  The saddle fitter was having a fit and told me to call the trainer up and complain.  He has a point, no horse should come back w/ that much pain.  I just assumed that she was working hard and that was the result.  A horse working hard correctly should not be in that much pain.  It seemed that all the horses he checked that day were back sore to some degree.  I know most of the saddles needed to be adjusted too.  We are moving forward to the new show season and a bit of jumping for fun.  She is still for sale, but not pushing it due to winter being here. 

"Chippy is almost 1"

Mesotherapy

Just spent 600 on mesotherapy for Ivy.  The only thing the vet could find wrong w/ her was soreness in the lower part of her back over the kidneys.  He thinks it might be a saddle issue even though she wasn't sore under the saddle.  Weird.  I think it's conformation, straightness in her hind end, but I am no vet.  I just spent a fortune on my new custom saddle, so is it the saddle?  Saddle fitter will be out and I am going to put her on Mare Magic too.  She cycles pretty hard and that's the area where she gets sore.  Since she's for sale, I want to make sure she is perfect.  I will never lie or take advantage of others and I hope I will receive the same treatment when it comes time for me to buy.  I know it's not reality, but I am too honest.  In the meantime I plan on showing first level and jump low level jumps.  I kiss my lucky stars that I even have a horse and am grateful for all the joy she brings to me.  So what that I will never compete at a HT with this horse.  I can still practice and have fun.  We are on day 14 after 2 treatments and she is great.  No riding for about 20 days then bareback till the saddle issue is dealt w/.