Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Might as well jump

I've learned over a period of years doing this sport, not every horse is meant to do it, or for
that matter, wants to do it.

There are multiple reason why a horse fails out of dressage, but it generally has to deal with really signing on to the job description. 

Reba was supposed to be a nice upper level horse. Her bloodlines dictated it (Rotspon), her wins in hand proposed it, but in the end the lure of leaving temporarily leaving gravity really won out.

I initially sent her on during my stint in Florida to keep her legs moving with Lauren Neathry who starts my young guys.

A few weeks have now turned into a few months, and everytime I go out and watch the flat, she's a miserable sod. Compression? Too much. Submission? Not interested. All the things that make a dressage horse? She'd rather take a lark.

But put a few jumps in the arena and toss in a few questions, she becomes electric and is keen, the same kind of keen-ness that I enjoy about dressage horses that love their job.

So one spring day last week, we put the fences up and really asked a hard question. Can she do the height?

Resoundingly yes.

This past weekend we entered her last minute at Masterson Station fun show (pretty much all you can jump for 60 bucks), her first rounds were a tad shakey, but by the time that the final class rolled she locked, loaded and produced wins and fast times without being pushed. She was happy and a lot of the problems that she was having on the ground, evaporated.

Needless to say, I'm happy she's happy and she'll continue down this path.

7 comments:

Jen said...

Wow, her front end looks great and her hind end is so far up I had to look to find her legs! Now that I know that you were at Masterson, I wish I would have gone. My barn went and had a great time, but I had to do stalls on Sunday and couldn't work it out.

Kelly said...

I actually know what Materson is now! Drove by it on our visit earlier this month.

She looks like her new job will suit her perfectly!

Austen said...

She looks fantastic, and very happy! At the level you want to compete, I'd imagine you absolutely need to have a horse that "wants it" like you do. Such a tough decision, but looks like the right one. Way to go!

Kelly said...

LOL it was seriously last minute, I was two counties across town at a dressage show with a few friends that day. I watched the rounds afterward.

Austen- the statement Grand Prix horses aren't born they're made, is very apropos. Breeding, yes, does help, but its the brain between the ears and the training that does create an individual at that level.

SheMovedtoTexas said...

She's a scopey thing! Glad y'all have found a good path for her that she's happy with.

Val said...

Horses really do have preferences, like people. It is a gift when you find a great horse and he or she also likes the job. I am happy that you found a path that works for this mare.

L.Williams said...

She looks good, and good on you for letting her figure out what she wants to do!