Trisha wren ~ Connect With Your Horse

August 2006

I did quite a few sessions of groundwork with Hunter before riding him again, as I could feel how stiff and unbalanced he was without me on his back. On the first ride the first thing I noticed was that he didn’t know how to stand still with me on board, he was sure he should be moving! Also, he was very behind the bit; too light in my hands and inclined to put his head in the air. He is actually very sensitive, giving me the feeling that too much movement on my behalf would tip him right over. This lack of balance was also apparent in any turn or curve; he would just tilt his whole body – very disconcerting! - rather than staying upright and bending through his ribcage.

The photos below are my 4th ride. By this stage he is getting more balanced, although he is still stiffer to his right. He is starting to understand how to soften down into bit contact, instead of raising his head away from it. His halts are good, and he is standing still beautifully. He does have a problem with backing. When I first asked him from the ground he got very stuck, and couldn’t go straight. He would also drag his hind feet. From the ground he is now much straighter, and as he warms up he picks his feet up more. However, under saddle he still hasn’t figured out how to go back and stay soft in front. Although the pictures look ugly he is extremely light in my hands.

In one line work , Hunter is just starting to take a connection. This is his better side.

Ridden, Hunter’s tendency is to hollow and raise his head immediately. I’m doing lots of rotating and S walking, to encourage him to bend, step under, and stretch down. He stays very light in my hands, but tends to flap his lower lip when his brain gets taxed!

Here’s his current attempt at backing up… it ain’t pretty!