Inverted horse/Marigold

Marigold came back from training with a well developed lower neck muscle.  This just goes to show that even a horse that doesn't normally go inverted can be trained to go inverted.  In 2 days Marigold was moving better and not pushing with her lower neck.   She did this on her own.

The trainer called her "lazy".  When I loose schooled her she was zipping around like crazy.  No relaxation, no calmness, just running.  Half way through the session, she started to relax and listen to me. (session lasted 10 minutes).  Marigold changing how she moved had nothing to do with me.  It had gotten really smokey so I wasn't working her.  She changed in the paddock, which was interesting as she was in a huge field.

Marigold has also changed ...no long hard to catch but coming to me when she sees me.  Annie Alice would like to come, but I guess Marigold doesn't share.  It was difficult to see Marigold running away from me when I went to get her.  And the dancing around while tied was hard to see.  How does one teach a horse that normally stands quietly to dance?

Now to figure out where to go from here.

can get her hindleg underneath!!

inverted trotting

inverted trot...see how the neck is pushing forward?

well developed lower neck muscle.  It even makes her neck look short

but as you can see from here inverted isn't her conformation

showing a longer topline, now to build up her muscles

no muscle from the withers along the crest:  this winter 

Hooves

Hooves

 Lola Front

Lola side

Miss July front

Miss July hind

 Lola

Lola showing laminic rings

Alex

Alex

Alex:  white line disease

Alex

Peter Pan

I sent Peter Pan for training and decided that I would sell him as people were interested.  I didn't think he would be a good school horse/pony.  That means something as none of the school horses/ponies are your typical schoolies.  They choose to do lessons,  If the horse ddin't like the lessons, then I would use them.

He was sold to a person, who had ridden as a kid (not sure how long ago or how well, or for how long).  I got emails telling me how much she loved Peter Pan.  First, sign of incompatitbility:  love.  She loved that he came to the fence (an easy fix if your horse is not socialable).  In Peter Pan's case because he was given endless treats and had no manners it was a warning to me.  A horse coming to the fence to talk to you should not be a good reason to buy a horse. (and if you saw the fence you would be worried about the horse getting hurt).  It could also mean he is hungry.  Peter Pan is always hungry as he wasn't fed well as a youngster.

Another email told me that she was having trouble putting a bridle on him.  Ooops.  Can't bridle her horse?  Must be banging his teeth with the bit.  Banging teeth is a sure way to teach a horse to be difficult to bridle.  Anyone buying a just started horse should be able to bridle and unbridle a horse and to figure out what is wrong if there is a problem.

Another email told me that she was having trouble leading him from the field because the other horse was in heat, there was another horse calling to him.  Never had that problem before.  He was always willing to leave with me or one of my students.

My advice to her was to sell him.  She wasn't going to do him any favours keeping him becasue she couldn't handle him.  End of emails listing her complaints about Peter Pan.  I don't see things going well for him.  Too bad.  I told the trainer he wasn't for beginners. (he never would be for beginners).

What a shame.  Another person bought a horse she wished she could ride.

Selling/Buying a Horse

It is so hard to sell a horse.  Why?  Because I want the horse to go to someone that will do well with the horse.  I know my horse but I don't know the person interested so I have to listen to what they are saying.

I believe that a person should buy a horse they can ride now because they will not enjoy the horse.  Do you need a horse that you "fall in love with"?  No.  The horse you fall in love with is the horse that you wish you could ride, it isn't the horse you can ride.  Think about it.  Is it fair to the horse that you buy if you cannot ride it well?  No.  Isn't because the horse is not able to do what it can do.  Some horses will look after you, other horses, not so  much.  Those are the horses people fall off of and get hurt.

As Denny Emmerson has said numerous times, one needs a horse to ride and do everything with so that the rider gains confidence.  Confidence is the knowledge, feeling you can do it.  Doubt is not a good thing to have with a horse.  One must believe that she can do it.  Falling off, being run away with, hoping you live are not fun things to be repeated.  Kids learn to hold on tight...not good for becoming a supple, elastic, feeling rider.  Adults decide they have other things to do so don't ride.

Buying a horse you can ride gives you a horse you will fall in love with.  Maybe not when you go to look at the horse and try it out, but because you can do what you want with the horse you will come to love the horse.  That is the horse you miss when it has died.

Taking lessons in order to be able to ride the horse you bought...nope.  Too much horse.  Get a plainer horse.  There is more to riding and horse ownership than lessons (and competitng).

When you go look at a horse, don't expect to fall in love, expect to be able to walk, trot, and canter the horse, to be able to lead and groom the horse.  That is the most beautiful, wonderful horse of all.   If your riding skill is not up to doing that, then find a lesson programme with school horses.  Maybe not being able to canter is ok, if you can walk, and trot the horse.  Good natured horses are not pretty, but are priceless.  

The horses and ponies in the photos are not super expensive, but just plain nice.  With a bit of work, they became fantastic at their jobs.