Freitag, 26. März 2010

Tarps and Tapes

Another big thing on my to-do list is desensetizing/de-spooking Crispin, especially if I'm really going through with the plan of showing him in the "Gelassenheitsprüfung an der Hand" at the Bundeschau. Only problem?! I have no talent and even less motivation of doing so!

So... ...why not doing things a little differently and let the herd do my job!

On saturday I started to put up some "scarry" stuff in the paddock (I only put the stuff in as long as I'm there and take it out again before I leave). The first thing was a "Flattervorhang" made out of red and white barrier tape. Crispin was intrigued the rest of the herd could't care less. Perfect situation!

Crispin watched the other horses for while (they were walking through the tape or were ripping little pieces of tape off) and after they were done he inspected the tape himself, trying out everything he'd seen. Very cute! (Of course he was rewarded with cookies for that!)

A few days latter I added the tarp (well, actually it's a trash bag). I knotted it to the Flattervorhang, no big deal!

Folie h�ngend

Folie h�ngend2

Then I put in on the ground. It was scarry at first...

Am Boden1

...but then he went for the kill...

Am Boden3

...and shredded the thing into pieces!

Am Boden4

The next step was steping on the tarp. He needed a bit of encouragement at first.

Step on

Good Boy!

Step on2

Destruction!

Step on4

Donnerstag, 18. März 2010

a little note to self...

...153,5 cm!

FINALLY, today I managed to get the level and ruler from Burghard an measure Crispin. He' 153,5 cm tall today!

Montag, 15. März 2010

The second time free jumping

Since I don't know how many more times we will organize a bit of free jumping before the summer, I took the chance to let Crispin jump again on sunday. Three weeks in between two sesions of 5 rounds should be OK for an almost 3 y/o I think.

This time I edited the video a little (the quality is worse than last time due to the editing). He was just as well behaved as last time. Good boy!

The line was towards the door this time and he had the tendency to rush through resulting in a little more "contact" to the poles than he strictly like at one time. Of course no big deal and probably very instructive for the little guy.

Untitled from AmityBee on Vimeo.

Samstag, 13. März 2010

...here's the plan!

Yesterday, I suddenly realized that I now do have a plan or rather a draft version of a plan for Crispin.

Of course it all really depends on him and his development over the next two years but so far this is what I'm planning to do:

For now, nothing. I'm sticking with groundwork and walks for now at least until he's really three. We have another appointment with the dentist planned for april and only after that, once he's turned three in the end of april, am I going to take the next step.

The next step (from may until the end of the year) would be to introduce him to bit, bridle, saddle and a little longing. If he seems ready, then I might try to sit on him for a few times by the end of the year.

I would give him the winter off and then, if things go according to plan, will start riding him next spring. I would love to start with taking him on trail rides to build strength and stamina. That shouldn't be a problem. We have some wonderful trails around here. Since we get a lot of horseflies here, he would get the summer off again and in the fall (Crispin will be 4 1/2 by then) I would start riding him in the ring or indoor.

Not the reinvention of the wheel but that would be my plan for the next 18-20 months...

...we will see...