Little Bit of Advice

rowdent

rowdent

MistyCam running...
Aug 25, 2006
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The internet, UK,
What do you think? Misty is 24 and I don't think she has ever been worked in a school properly? She apparently dislikes it and shows this dislike by coughing! :lol she doesn't cough out on hacks so her owner says it's her way of saying I'm sick stop riding me!

But I would like to have a little go at schooling... I shan't be trying for anything special, at her age and with her history, I certainly don't want to overdo anything.. Her owner is happy for me to ride her in the school by the way...

But should I try and actually work her? If so what would you suggest? I am not the best rider in the world, but I can probably remember how to do basic schooling, eg some transitions and things.. :confused:

Here is a photo for reference..
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/depplynished/misty/th_CIMG2980.jpg" border="0"/></a>

Out on hacks she is very forward going, but does stop when I ask.. however her head goes WAY up.. and if she wasn't in a martingale, I think we would have problems...

Obviously with only two days a week to ride and one them on a hack, I sha't be able to perform miracles.. but a bit of suppling can't hurt can it?
 
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She certainly looks good for her age. At her time in life, she may not take too kindly to a rigid regime of schooling, even gently. You could try schooling out on hacks.You could try doing serpentines (not too deep), circles and making them smaller as you ride, lots of changes of direction at walk and trot. You're not going to get a pony her age as supple as one who is half her age. Try a little bit of cantering. What are you particularly aiming for? As for her head going up. Try pushing her up into your hands with your legs and gently squeezing the reins, dont pull back on them. Then when she drops her head, even a little bit, pat her and praise her. Good luck.
 
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No reason at all you can't do some gentle schooling, say 15mins before or after a hack.

She apparently dislikes it and shows this dislike by coughing! :lol she doesn't cough out on hacks so her owner says it's her way of saying I'm sick stop riding me!
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Horses don't think like that - they can't lie like humans can. If she's coughing, something is making her cough. And since she only does it in the school I'd guess it's the dust from the surface. I'd try a nose net on her to see it that helps, or damped the school surface.

A bit of gentle schooling will do her the world of good and help with any stiffness etc as she learns to carry herself better.
 
I knew a RS horse that coughed on the sand surface but was fine on the rubber one... could that be it?

Sorry, as Pinks Lady said really... dusty surface :)
 
I agree with Pink's Lady and Imp, it's probably dust that is causing the coughing. Sandy school services can make me cough especially in dry weather. Horses have sensitive respiritary systems and some types of bedding make some horses cough.
 
Take things nice and steady with her and I am sure Misty will be fine. Obviously if the coughing concerns you then plan your goal before you go into the school and then minute she has done it give her chance to relax and stretch and catch her breath. Let us know how you get on. :)
 
To be honest at her age i would just do every thing to please her......if she likes hacking just carry on doing it.....just my opinion :)
xxxx
 
Thanks everyone.. I might give the schooling a try.. maybe on a damp day? see what happens then? it rained over night here, so maybe that's the days to try? I won't be pushing her, if she resists, then I shall stop... I must admit to having been somewhat sceptical of the "oh she only coughs because she doesn't like the school" myself..... but I wouldn't put it past her, she is a definate character..

Thanks for all your suggestions, maybe the hacking schooling is a better way to go for now...

Try pushing her up into your hands with your legs and gently squeezing the reins, dont pull back on them. Then when she drops her head, even a little bit, pat her and praise her. Good luck.
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It really feels in some cases that I have NO control.. which can be a bit worrying... she hollows her back and her head comes up.. if I relax the reins she does drop her head.. but her pace increases, I have tried to ride her into the bit.. but again the pace increases, I try half halts, which do help a bit....(by the way this is on the way home - her speed increases tenfold on the way home and she would canter the entire way if I let her!)... I try and steady her trot, as it's very rushed and it does work to a degree, and I try not to let her canter on the homeward stretch as I feel it would make her worse.. this nappiness is really her only vice and what I would most like to help with the schooling.. Maybe I should ONLY trot and canter in the outward direction? Make this the schooling and then let her relax on the return journey?

Sorry I have gone on here, which wasn't my intention...:rolleyes: but it has helped setting it all out ... thanks for reading..:)
 
... she's so new to you too, she's probably still checking her boundaries with you when you're out. I'm sure if you continue the way you suggest she will settle down a bit. Although I've not met a horse yet that doesn't get a pace on when pointed homeward bound :D
 
The head up and faster pace on the way home sounds just like a confidence issue - she doesn't really know you yet, isn't sure what to expect when you go out and would really rather be in the safety of her familiar surroundings, so she's hurrying back to them :)

I am sure that it will get less and less as you get to know one another better. My share horse used to do this - I used to make my OH laugh by telling him about the "ear gauge". The potential difficulty of any situation can be measured by the rate of approach of the ears towards your face :D Now we just hack out with the reins on the buckle most of the time, and the ears only approach my face if there's a trailer going past with loose things bouncing around in it... happy days :)
 
Thanks, I hadn't actually thought about MISTY being worried about ME... :rolleyes: But you know I bet she is .. Afterall who on earth am I? LOL.. I come up, take her out of her nice field, then take her away from everyone she knows! :eek: Poor Misty...

I decided that I would try a little school today.. she seems to be in season I think and shouting about it to everyone! I was a bit worried about her out of the yard, alone in that sort of mood, LOL... so I decided to stay in.. and just see what happened...

We entered the school.. and I did a few loops and serpentines and changes of rein at walk to loosen up... Asking her for an active walk and taking some contact.. she didn't fight me at all.. but BOY did those ears flick back at me..listening like mad..

Then we went into trot..I just tried to maintain a steady trot, slowing her with half halts if she rushed.. we worked like that for about 5 mins, when suddenly she grew about 3 inches and relaxed down onto the bit.. sooo soft, no attempt to avoid it.. I was amazed...she felt amazing! someone sometime has obviously done things with her.... I asked her do this for about 2 laps of the school then praised her to heaven, and let her have the reins.....whereupon she stretched her neck down to the floor... We had a rest in walk, and a game of stretch back for polos...:D and then did it again on the other rein..:D We also tried a bit of turn on the forehand... and she did that too!! although we are both better on the right rein..:D

I tried a couple of canters on both reins, she found that quite hard however, so I concentrated on just keeping the canter steady, rather than what she seems to prefer.. which is tail up, head up.. weeeeeee...

All in all we were in the school for about 20 mins.. and I finished with letting her have a walk with loose reins, telling her HOW good she was... I think she was quite pleased with herself too..:D she seemed much more relaxed when I put her back in her field.. and stood watching me leave over the gate, as opposed to getting back to the serious business of eating..

:D I feel really as if we achieved something.. it feels great.. it wasn't much in the grand scale of things.. but for us old ladies, Misty and I, it was..:D

Thanks for listening to my rambling, I just wanted to tell someone..:D
 
Excellent ! She obviously enjoyed herself and sounds like she was glad to show you what she could do given the opportunity.I expect you've both turned a corner in the process of getting to know and trust each other. I always think the key is in variety, always hacking out on a limited set of routes, or always schooling leaves them jaded, doing different stuff gives them a boost.
 
Well done Rowdent.

I really do echo the others with the - who are you? theory.

Although I have my own boy I share May a 15hh opinionated cob mare - but very sweet. It has taken us a long time to bond with only seeing each other 3 days per week. On those days I did her stable duties and grooming and hacked her out with the odd play in the school.

She wouldn't hack out alone with me, though as I hadn't a relationship with her - I was just a rider.

It helped when I lunged her a little and did the foot moving exercises in the stable over time.

Your girl may be a bit old for lunging - long lining would be better if you can do it - but if you lunged her loosely so not in a tight circle so that you are working her while she sees you.

She will learn to respect you, you will not harm her, get used to your voice aids etc.

Sounds like you had a fab result in the school already.

It is really early days yet in your relationship - take it slowly and I'm sure you will have a fab and confident relationship.

Best of luck,

xx

Dee
 
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