Well a huge breakthrough this last week with Cavi. Firstly we have him on something that is little short of miracle powder, Equifeast. It is a calcium based calmer which Laura Tomlinson has used for a long time for Alf, Various other top riders swear by it too and our EET Becky Holden has seen a complete turnaround in her difficult mare, Jen, on Equifeast. Cavi is no longer nippy and bitey, never maliciously but it was quite a nuisance. He has changed totally even on the ground- so much calmer without being dull. Under saddle,on Monday, we had a friend over who had ridden him in Portugal, and he was so quiet and good that we didnt know what to think, whether it was the Equifeast or the fact that he remembered Poppy. I noticed that Poppy was rising to the trot much more upright than we advocate, but at the same time, I have always thought that Kay was perhaps almost a bit too light in rising trot, having ridden a lot of young horses and problem horses, before coming here. It was difficult to put my finger on, but nonetheless, I felt that she was probably too far the other way to Poppy! Today Kay got on Cavi who was just as quiet in walk as he was with Poppy. Then rising trot, back to the old trying to scoot off, go sideways, no rhythm, tension. I said to Kay to experiment with coming more upright, and for me, her upper body position was about perfect, shoulders probably only 3-4 in front of the vertical, so seatbones still pointing slightly backwards, and not landing at all heavily, but rather more definitely. He changed in an instant, lovely soft, rhythmical trot, forwards but not running. Kays face was a picture!! I then asked her to go into her old position, really not that much more upper body forward, but enough for him to feel it seems! He went straight back to the tense, worried looking horse, trying to shoot off again!! I asked her to go to sitting trot, where again I still felt that she was a little perched, although syncing perfectly with the movement. Off he shot again. I just got her to move the upper body 2 further back. WOWWWWWW!! He simply danced under her, whereas his trot she has always found difficult to sit to, he just floated under her. The grin said it all!! As Kay said, the difference was so subtle, few would even have seen any difference in her position, but as working student, also an equine veterinary surgeon, Jo said, the difference in you was subtle, but the difference in him was anything but!! II am half afraid to get her to go back to doing it her old way again, but for interest, I will ask her to, as long as he doesnt get upset, and film both the old way, which most people would see as riding very lightly in every respect, but for him, it was not quite firmly enough, although Kay said he was lighter in the hand than ever today when she was riding in this slightly altered way! Her own riding went up another notch entirely as she looked so much more poised. A great morning!!
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:11:22 +0000
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