My main goal this year is to sort out Flipo's canter. (and mine).
For me, I will be getting lessons on friend's Arab (I can't afford lessons from RI, and really need time on another established horse to get to grips with my position and balance, as well as working out if he's on the right lead).
But for Flipo, I feel like I'm in a difficult situation.
1. He has arthritis - lower arterior ringbone from memory. The vet has historically said that 'he's not built for cantering or schooling' because he's a heavy dude - not just because of the arthritis, and in fact, I've not felt he's shown any affects of this - they've said its consistent with his age and type, and I feed turmeric to help. As I was so terrified of hurting his joints further however, we stopped all of the schooling for the last year, however when I addressed this again with the vet a couple of weeks ago, she said since this joint is a low mobility joint, it will do no harm to do a bit of light schooling, and will help with weight control being that I've not got the confidence to go off on looooonnng hacks all the time.
2. Flipo's weakness is in his nearside fore. He had a muscle tear in his underarm (sorry, not great with anatomy am I ?!) right beside his girth, and this probably contributed to an imbalance in his hoof and resultant lameness that has now been resolved by shoeing for the last year.
From these two points, I have a few concerns and want to work out the best, most sympathetic plan to help him strengthen up, gently introduce canter work with him striking off on the correct leg - with no real plans for going blasting around the countryside, I just want to be able to feel secure in my seat, able to control him, and able to venture into the show ring for our one show per year for charity. So......
1. Getting the right strike off. I think Flipo isn't strong on his nearside because of his lameness/ muscle tear, and wonder if there's anything specific I should or could do to help this?
2. He's a big lad, and we're not designed for tight turns. Our school isn't huge, and he's not very supple, so I'm thinking a bigger space to practice in which is fine, but its been suggested that I try lunging him to help improve without me being on him - let him strengthen up. Lunging isn't our strong point, neither is free schooling. I dont have the right energy levels, and after many failed attempts, I'm willing to admit defeat. So is there anything else I can be doing with him to try and improve his cantering strength? Help!
Cookies and milk for anyone who got through all of that and made sense of it! Sorry I'm rambling!!
For me, I will be getting lessons on friend's Arab (I can't afford lessons from RI, and really need time on another established horse to get to grips with my position and balance, as well as working out if he's on the right lead).
But for Flipo, I feel like I'm in a difficult situation.
1. He has arthritis - lower arterior ringbone from memory. The vet has historically said that 'he's not built for cantering or schooling' because he's a heavy dude - not just because of the arthritis, and in fact, I've not felt he's shown any affects of this - they've said its consistent with his age and type, and I feed turmeric to help. As I was so terrified of hurting his joints further however, we stopped all of the schooling for the last year, however when I addressed this again with the vet a couple of weeks ago, she said since this joint is a low mobility joint, it will do no harm to do a bit of light schooling, and will help with weight control being that I've not got the confidence to go off on looooonnng hacks all the time.
2. Flipo's weakness is in his nearside fore. He had a muscle tear in his underarm (sorry, not great with anatomy am I ?!) right beside his girth, and this probably contributed to an imbalance in his hoof and resultant lameness that has now been resolved by shoeing for the last year.
From these two points, I have a few concerns and want to work out the best, most sympathetic plan to help him strengthen up, gently introduce canter work with him striking off on the correct leg - with no real plans for going blasting around the countryside, I just want to be able to feel secure in my seat, able to control him, and able to venture into the show ring for our one show per year for charity. So......
1. Getting the right strike off. I think Flipo isn't strong on his nearside because of his lameness/ muscle tear, and wonder if there's anything specific I should or could do to help this?
2. He's a big lad, and we're not designed for tight turns. Our school isn't huge, and he's not very supple, so I'm thinking a bigger space to practice in which is fine, but its been suggested that I try lunging him to help improve without me being on him - let him strengthen up. Lunging isn't our strong point, neither is free schooling. I dont have the right energy levels, and after many failed attempts, I'm willing to admit defeat. So is there anything else I can be doing with him to try and improve his cantering strength? Help!
Cookies and milk for anyone who got through all of that and made sense of it! Sorry I'm rambling!!