Today, I rode Crispin for the first time this week (rode him the last time on saturday). I had the indoor all to myself and worked a little on steering, still our weakest point. He already understands leg aids *yay* and seat of course (but that one is a given) but he's still not quite sure what to make of the bit.
I really wanted to trot Crispin today, but since we hardly made down the long side of the arena in a straight line I wasn't sure if I should. I decided to just give it a try. He was such a good boy!!! It was very easy to make him trot, just a little voice and leg and off he went. He wasn't even confused when I posted. And it was much easier to get him to stay on the rail at the trot. We went once around the arena in both directions and I think he's going to be a really comfortable ride.
Donnerstag, 24. Februar 2011
Mittwoch, 23. Februar 2011
Still no Saddle
I'm still on the hunt for a saddle for Crispin. The Kent & Masters was no bad fit but not perfect either. I had to try the high wither modell wich was a little too high for Crispin (in size 17.5 it was a little too long for him as well). I'm now waiting for the standard dressage saddle in size 17.
The saddle I can use right now is not perfect and that makes me feel bad to use it more than twice a week or to ride in it longer than 10-20 minutes. This makes our rides short and scarce which is sad because riding Crispin is way too much fun! I only sat on him three more times. Last sunday, wednesday and again on saturday and we are making progress from ride to ride.
The saddle I can use right now is not perfect and that makes me feel bad to use it more than twice a week or to ride in it longer than 10-20 minutes. This makes our rides short and scarce which is sad because riding Crispin is way too much fun! I only sat on him three more times. Last sunday, wednesday and again on saturday and we are making progress from ride to ride.
Sonntag, 13. Februar 2011
What to do, what to do...
During the last week I've ridden Crispin two more times. On monday I took him outside and with the company of Pilgrim and Daniela once around the "race track". Our first hack outside. Not really something I had planned for our second ride but the indoor was closed that day and it was not riding him at all or riding him outside. He was excelent outside.
The other ride was on friday. Another chance to start to establish some real steering and brakes. It went better than the first time but it's still rather chaotic. It is harder than I though, to contoll myself and keeping me from reacting like I would on an older horse because Crispin does not understand these signals yet. But steering problems aside, it is amazing (or stupid maybe ;-) ) how safe I already feel when I'm on his back! Don't get me wrong, we already had two tiny *ups* moments. Two little spook and bolts, but both times I could calm him down again very quickly even without any real brakes or steering.
On tuesday and wednesday I had two more saddle fitters out. No happy news to report. Again there was no saddle to be found that would fit Crispin for less than 2400€. My best shot was a semi-custom Vega.
When I decided to get a Welsh Cob I knew that finding a saddle wouldn't be easy and I am willing to go semi-custom but not quite yet. Crispin is not even really under saddle yet and I'm sure he'll physically "explode" this summer. If I go semi-custom now there is no guarantee that the saddle can be re-fitted in a year or two. And there is no way that I could afford another semi-custom saddle again in two years!
So, what am I to do now?
What I need is a cheap or used saddle that is a good fit to take us through the first year. After that I'd be quite willing to get a new semi-custom for Crispin. But even though the Tekna was not a bad fit it turns out that I really can't sit in it and it still is a tad too long for Crispin. I've already returned the saddle and am again without a saddle. There is one more saddle to try. A Kent & Masters:
http://www.kentandmasters.co.uk/index.html
The dressage saddle could be a good fit. They are changeable (gullet, flocking) and reasonably priced. If the Kent & Masters doesn't fit I really don't know what to do. I could try the Tekna in a size 17. It would probably work for Crispin but still wouldn't really work for me.
The other ride was on friday. Another chance to start to establish some real steering and brakes. It went better than the first time but it's still rather chaotic. It is harder than I though, to contoll myself and keeping me from reacting like I would on an older horse because Crispin does not understand these signals yet. But steering problems aside, it is amazing (or stupid maybe ;-) ) how safe I already feel when I'm on his back! Don't get me wrong, we already had two tiny *ups* moments. Two little spook and bolts, but both times I could calm him down again very quickly even without any real brakes or steering.
On tuesday and wednesday I had two more saddle fitters out. No happy news to report. Again there was no saddle to be found that would fit Crispin for less than 2400€. My best shot was a semi-custom Vega.
When I decided to get a Welsh Cob I knew that finding a saddle wouldn't be easy and I am willing to go semi-custom but not quite yet. Crispin is not even really under saddle yet and I'm sure he'll physically "explode" this summer. If I go semi-custom now there is no guarantee that the saddle can be re-fitted in a year or two. And there is no way that I could afford another semi-custom saddle again in two years!
So, what am I to do now?
What I need is a cheap or used saddle that is a good fit to take us through the first year. After that I'd be quite willing to get a new semi-custom for Crispin. But even though the Tekna was not a bad fit it turns out that I really can't sit in it and it still is a tad too long for Crispin. I've already returned the saddle and am again without a saddle. There is one more saddle to try. A Kent & Masters:
http://www.kentandmasters.co.uk/index.html
The dressage saddle could be a good fit. They are changeable (gullet, flocking) and reasonably priced. If the Kent & Masters doesn't fit I really don't know what to do. I could try the Tekna in a size 17. It would probably work for Crispin but still wouldn't really work for me.
Sonntag, 6. Februar 2011
An exciting weekend.
This weekend was very exciting for Crispin (and for me too). On saturday I got on him for the forth time and for the first time rode him without a ground person. He was a very good boy but the first few minutes were very chaotic! Chaotic in a fun and relaxed way. He was confused and I felt pretty helpless, because he (of course) doesn't understand the aids from the saddle yet. But even besides the fact that steering was basically non existent I felt safe up there on his back and luckily the brakes already work pretty well, which is interesting because, when I worked him with the bit from the ground it was just the other way around. I could never really stop him from the bit then, but steering worked well.
I even have a video from saturday:
On sunday we did a little bit of freejumping. Something we haven't done since last april. And just like last year Crispin was a good boy. They had put up a lot of bounces. A lot of poles to handle for Crispin so I decided to stick with the low bounces and did not make the jumps higher. I have a video of the freejumping too:
Personally, I like the round before the last best!
AND before I forget again, I did measure Crispin last week. He's about 157,5 cm tall now. Big guy.
I even have a video from saturday:
On sunday we did a little bit of freejumping. Something we haven't done since last april. And just like last year Crispin was a good boy. They had put up a lot of bounces. A lot of poles to handle for Crispin so I decided to stick with the low bounces and did not make the jumps higher. I have a video of the freejumping too:
Personally, I like the round before the last best!
AND before I forget again, I did measure Crispin last week. He's about 157,5 cm tall now. Big guy.
Dienstag, 1. Februar 2011
I rode Crispin!!!
Well, I sat on him and a good friend walked with us holding the lead, just in case (and very good that she did, too!)
Our first "ride" ever! What a great feeling!
I lunged Crispin at first and he was unusually "fresh", bucking and galloping on the lunge, something he never did before. It had been quite cold and I'm guessing that he didn't move and play as much in the paddock as usual due to the frozen ground.
But, we had the indoor all to ourself and I couldn't let this chance pass. So, we took him to the mounting aid and I got on and off like the last time. No problem.
Then I got on again and asked him (voice only!) to walk "cluckcluck, scheeeritt!". Nothing. I asked again while my friend starts walking too. He goes one step, stops. Goes another step, gets tense and does a tiny crow hop. We stop. He relaxes. I cluck, he moves, we praise, he stops. This goes on for a few steps. Step, paise, stop. Step, praise, stop. Then he starts to understand what we want him to do. Very hesitantly he walks on for a few meters before I stop him, prais him. He gets a treat and I get off. Good boy!
We return to the mounting aid, I get on again. I cluck, my friend starts to walk and Crispin takes one step and then another until he actually starts to move more freely for half a round or so. I stop him, praise him and he gets a treat.
And then, like the true journalist I am, I risk life and health just to get some proof of this important event on camera! (Daniela handed me the lead to take those pictures, so I was all on my own up there for the first time.)
Standing still Crispin is very content with me being up there on his back. Actually, he seemed to be much more relaxed than I am in those pictures. ;)
I can't wait for the next time!
Our first "ride" ever! What a great feeling!
I lunged Crispin at first and he was unusually "fresh", bucking and galloping on the lunge, something he never did before. It had been quite cold and I'm guessing that he didn't move and play as much in the paddock as usual due to the frozen ground.
But, we had the indoor all to ourself and I couldn't let this chance pass. So, we took him to the mounting aid and I got on and off like the last time. No problem.
Then I got on again and asked him (voice only!) to walk "cluckcluck, scheeeritt!". Nothing. I asked again while my friend starts walking too. He goes one step, stops. Goes another step, gets tense and does a tiny crow hop. We stop. He relaxes. I cluck, he moves, we praise, he stops. This goes on for a few steps. Step, paise, stop. Step, praise, stop. Then he starts to understand what we want him to do. Very hesitantly he walks on for a few meters before I stop him, prais him. He gets a treat and I get off. Good boy!
We return to the mounting aid, I get on again. I cluck, my friend starts to walk and Crispin takes one step and then another until he actually starts to move more freely for half a round or so. I stop him, praise him and he gets a treat.
And then, like the true journalist I am, I risk life and health just to get some proof of this important event on camera! (Daniela handed me the lead to take those pictures, so I was all on my own up there for the first time.)
 |
| He makes the funny faces because he expects me to hand over another treat! |
Standing still Crispin is very content with me being up there on his back. Actually, he seemed to be much more relaxed than I am in those pictures. ;)
I can't wait for the next time!
Abonnieren
Posts (Atom)
