Since the last lesson Kristina has been working on suppling exercises with Zing. It has done him a lot of good. And his outfit of many colors is lovely, isn't it! Obviously I wasn't intending to photograph him. He really has released his back and is moving well, although he is still bracing at the canter going to the left, but it's better.
Look, Zing can FLY!
4 comments:
What pretty photos. You lost me on the descriptions of his movements, but I find trying to imagine what you are explaining really fascinating : ) This horse looks a lot like Ghost, but Ghost is a lot smaller I think.
I love the flying horse photo. He and the rider look ready for lift off : )
Ash
Zing has been tight through his back. The standard training is to want a horse round and on-the-bit, with a vertical head. The problem is that the horse is usually forced or at least coaxed into this position, so you won't get a loose, free moving gait, nor can you get a horse truly in self carriage. I hear a lot lately about classical training, but this is the first time I have truly experienced it. It is a much slower process, which is probably why. The goal is to get him seeking the bit and going round because it feels better.
Anyway, loosening through the back and the poll allows for Zing to use his big, sweeping gait and to get the suspension that you want to see.
Zing would be taller than Ghost, as he is taller than normal for an Arabian at 16hh.
I owned a lovely Arabian mare that had a short neck.Since I had been fortunate to have real classical dressage instruction, I knew that I needed to let her frame develop, and not to force it. I rode a very rough trot for weeks, but finally she came very nicely on the bit and her neck seemed to grow several inches longer. She developed a fine trot and became a favorite lesson horse. While I worked through this period,I had boarded her at a nearby stable with an indoor arena where they did NOT do dressage. One of the owners would watch me gritting my teeth as I rode this clearly uncomfortable trot and shake his head and say "Isn't this supposed to be fun?" I knew he thought a jog would be much more tolerable! Anyway, I stayed off her mouth, she found her hindquarter, and it became wonderful! Since Zing does NOT have a short neck I am sure all is going along REALLY well!Happy riding!
Zing doesn't have a short neck, but he was taught in a past life to brace. I have spent some money on acupuncture for Zing and now we are finding that a different idea in training is worth more than the needles! We are also discovering a WB-like trot with SO much air under him.
Bill is a judge so Sept. is a very busy month for him. We don't go back for a lesson until Oct. 8th and that is Ari. Zing has his next lesson on Oct. 13th and we will see where we go from there. In the meantime he is really loosening up and moving better. We have more trouble at the canter than the trot, but there is nothing more tooth jarring than a choppy trot. I give you your props for sticking that out!
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