Jeanette
Administrator
Posts: 13184
Registered: 9-5-2007
Location: Hampshire
Member Is Offline
|
|
Strategies for controlling a highland in full chuff
I took Rannoch to an endurance ride yesterday on my own with no crew. We buddied up with a mum and her son for the actual ride. Their welsh cobs /part
breds were both wearing martingdales which should have given me a clue. Rannoch has also done this ride three times now…so he was rather sure of
himself and a bit cocky. A few minutes into the ride the Mum said to me, “what bit have you got him in?” and then “you need to stay away from my
horse’s backend because he can kick!” (which he did in spectacular fashion with fly bucks) Hey ho..we all survived.
Pulling on the reins with Rannoch has never worked so I had to rapidly put into play all the “how to control a strong horse” strategies I’ve ever
learnt including those learnt whilst driving a very powerful comtois horse and those practised whilst riding the chunky forward going cob whilst out
in France with Mags! I felt like I was running through the checks a pilot might do
….figures of eight whilst waiting for the start...Checked!
..still breathing? erh , yep….Checked!
…engage core?....trying..Ok got it…Checked!
…pelvis correctly aligned in saddle?....erh, no , nowhere near the saddle..OK bum in saddle, not tipping forward…..Checked!
..shoulders back and down…no, up round my ears, OK got it..Checked!
…rhythm/ rhythm/ rhythm/ rhythm/…checked!
…wrists flexing?....yup..Checked!
..holding and releasing? ..yup..Checked!
…chin sticking out like a tortoise?….OK, it is, it shouldn’t be …OK, sorted….Checked!
….gripping with knees…nope, can’t in the new saddle…..Checked!
Any I missed?
.. (other than talking to Rannoch , which was like water off a duck’s back in the early stages!!)
[Edited on 18-8-2014 by Jeanette]
|
|
|
Mags
Super Freak
Posts: 4719
Registered: 17-10-2008
Location: Alpes Mancelles France
Member Is Offline
Mood: Relaxed
|
|
Well Julipo did his best to train you. And you were complaining of Rannoch's lack of 'drive'. But now he knows what its about he's enjoying it. The
same thing happens out hunting so perhaps put that idea on the shelf for the time being 
Think we need a report on the new saddle too
|
|
|
Jeanette
Administrator
Posts: 13184
Registered: 9-5-2007
Location: Hampshire
Member Is Offline
|
|
Quite!..more training needed for both of us before we go hunting. 
|
|
|
Andrea
Posting Freak
Posts: 1359
Registered: 10-1-2010
Location: Surrey
Member Is Offline
|
|
  I'm in awe of your achievements, Jeanette!
|
|
|
Hazel T
Posting Freak
Posts: 2291
Registered: 29-9-2010
Location: North Yorks
Member Is Offline
|
|
No, pulling on the reins doesn't work on Duncan either. I am not going to try to advise you Jeanette as I am sure you know much more than I do, but I
was wondering was he trying to tank off with you or was he just being forward going in walk. Maybe he was just really enjoying himself and was a bit
enthusiastic or did you feel he wanted to gallop off with you?
|
|
|
ces
Posting Freak
Posts: 2440
Registered: 6-2-2008
Location: Gloucestershire
Member Is Offline
|
|
- sounds scary to me! Well done you for being able to think through it all and act accordingly!
|
|
|
Jeanette
Administrator
Posts: 13184
Registered: 9-5-2007
Location: Hampshire
Member Is Offline
|
|
Hazel he wasnt trying to tank off at all, he just wanted to get on with the ride at a faster pace that the two welshies. The challenge was to keep him
from having his nose up the bottom of the mum's horse who would buck and kick out if he got too close. If we put rannoch in front then rannoch
steadied up but the mums horse then bucked at the back of the ride. It's s training issue because I have not wanted to curb any enthusiasm offered at
home. To his credit he stayed in the pace I asked for it was just rather onward bound!
|
|
|
Skylark
Member
Posts: 241
Registered: 25-3-2014
Location: Scotland
Member Is Offline
|
|
ahh this sounds familiar eek. The best way I ever dealt with it was yes, on such events to bit up but my mare was also the type that would set against
and pull through any bit if you just pulled against her. It was very much about half halting then allowing her to go forward, flexing and thinking
about lateral work; for her the front door always had to be ‘open’, it’s nae easy I don’t envy you!
|
|
|
![[*]](images/perspective/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
