Sliding off...
After a long hack on Sunday that ended with Jackson going lame about half a mile from home, I've not been riding the last two days. The hack was lovely and went a bit further than we usually do, along a busy main road. Jackson was fine and even unworried when a car screeched to a halt beside us! It was the owner of the mare I used to loan, and she was surprised to see us, I think - last she heard. Jackson had been unrideable for about four months!
When he went lame, it was in trot and I spent a day as usual going endlessly through what could have caused it.
I led him out in hand the next day, and of course he was absolutely fine in walk, and when I asked for shoulder-in, he wanted to do it at trot... All I can think of is that when we started trotting, he had kicked up a little pebble that caught in the top of the boot.
Today was very frosty and the roads were too icy to go out, so we played in the field. I rode bareback and had a bit of fun going up and down the hills. Jackson likes doing his sidepass so much now that he does it up and down hills as well as on the flat - very strange! He also does it with a bit of forward as well as sideways, and bent into the direction we're travelling - I thought this was a leg yield, but with the bend it may be approaching a half-pass - he bends beautifully through his body and crosses his legs quite neatly now. When I started groundwork, every time he crossed his legs to turn on the forehand, he used to nearly fall over, so big improvement in balance and coordination.
When I'd finished, I decided that since I had the bareback pad on rather than the saddle, I'd try that thing where you slide off your horse backwards. I've never done this before (on any horse) so wasn't too sure, but I just leaned forward, lifted my legs up onto his rump, and edged backwards (keeping a sharp eye on how he was looking). He did look back at me, but it was a sort of "what on earth are you doing back there?" kind of face, and he didn't bother at all when I finished the slide down his bum (especially as he heard a click about then!)
I thought it was so much fun I did it about four more times. Next time I might try kneeling on his bum circus style!
Although the camera is still a bit unhappy, I can take pics without the menu and since today was a beautiful morning, Jackson agreed to pose.
He is looking very nicely hairy (and is so nice and warm to sit on). I love his winter coat, with the mealy muzzle and funny little blond points on his legs. He looks like an overgrown Exmoor pony (very overgrown indeed!)
When he went lame, it was in trot and I spent a day as usual going endlessly through what could have caused it.
I led him out in hand the next day, and of course he was absolutely fine in walk, and when I asked for shoulder-in, he wanted to do it at trot... All I can think of is that when we started trotting, he had kicked up a little pebble that caught in the top of the boot.
Today was very frosty and the roads were too icy to go out, so we played in the field. I rode bareback and had a bit of fun going up and down the hills. Jackson likes doing his sidepass so much now that he does it up and down hills as well as on the flat - very strange! He also does it with a bit of forward as well as sideways, and bent into the direction we're travelling - I thought this was a leg yield, but with the bend it may be approaching a half-pass - he bends beautifully through his body and crosses his legs quite neatly now. When I started groundwork, every time he crossed his legs to turn on the forehand, he used to nearly fall over, so big improvement in balance and coordination.
When I'd finished, I decided that since I had the bareback pad on rather than the saddle, I'd try that thing where you slide off your horse backwards. I've never done this before (on any horse) so wasn't too sure, but I just leaned forward, lifted my legs up onto his rump, and edged backwards (keeping a sharp eye on how he was looking). He did look back at me, but it was a sort of "what on earth are you doing back there?" kind of face, and he didn't bother at all when I finished the slide down his bum (especially as he heard a click about then!)
I thought it was so much fun I did it about four more times. Next time I might try kneeling on his bum circus style!
Although the camera is still a bit unhappy, I can take pics without the menu and since today was a beautiful morning, Jackson agreed to pose.
He is looking very nicely hairy (and is so nice and warm to sit on). I love his winter coat, with the mealy muzzle and funny little blond points on his legs. He looks like an overgrown Exmoor pony (very overgrown indeed!)