Saddle Seat/ASB/Morgan/Arabian/Hackney Saddle-type progress thread

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Worked both boys today lightly before the vet appointment for spring shots. The lanky man, who hasn’t really worked in the lines since fall, was VERY put out that he had something in his mouth, so we may spend some time reaquainting him with the bit. It’s not that he doesn’t know what it is, he was fully backed, so we might try something else if this behavior persists. He might need to spend some time in the bitting rig. I think he’ll make a nice Shatner horse but not if he doesn’t quit playing with his face.

Then I worked Mr. Type A, who worked exactly like I thought he would. On fire and ready to ROCK. I didn’t want him working too terribly hard since he is out of shape and it is HUMID today but keeping him contained was a bit of a challenge. I had a LOT of horse. It’s really fun to see him like that. Photo not from today, but you can see his natural zesty “self” (he is barefoot in this photo).

We’re on the lookout for severe thunderstorms and hail so I’m not sure what tomorrow will bring, but I’m hoping we can keep up the momentum.

[luvmyhackney]

Had the most amazing ride/lesson on my ASB. Wish I had a picture/video. According to my instructor, he’s fancy.

He did a flying change today, accidentally, but still. We picked up the wrong lead cause like a dummy, I asked with wrong leg and then realized it and then asked with correct leg for giggles and darn if he didn’t do a beautiful change.

Going out again on Friday and I’ll try to grab video.

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We have stalled. Unfortunately the weather has been absolutely miserable and they are doing work on my barn aisle so I have had to change paddocks up so I have horses occupying the ring to keep them safe while the heavy equipment is going in and out.

Blergh. That’s ok. Maybe we will still go just to be off property. Maybe we won’t.

[luvmyhackney]

Had my lesson, he was fantastic even though he was super distracted with 30 mph winds and feeding time. Still figuring out contact and not being a giraffe so he can watch folks in the hay loft.

Finally got video, he’s cute but his rider not so much. Still lots to work on.

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Love it!

I keep looking at pictures from before the work and the rain, hoping we can get back there soon.

We had been working in the cavesson and cordeo, which he seems to enjoy. My only challenge is that I taught him to halt with the lift of the reins when he is in western tack and he sometimes misinterprets the cordeo as the same. We will get it as I get better at communicating with the cordeo.

I think I shared this one already, but he is so cute I have to share it again.

[luvmyhackney]

Yeah, if horse was at home he would be off work due to the week of rain and everything is waterlogged.
Why I had to suck it up and move him to training for a few months. They are doing a great job with him.

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I get it. I have thought about it for the green bean (my other guy) but the unit economics of going now wouldn’t work in my favor.

It isn’t that I can’t work with him, we have come a long way, but consistency is better - I just don’t know if it will ever pay off financially with that particular horse, and since he wasn’t one I would have bought initially…he’s fine. He is handleable (he was not when he arrived), we have made progress on longing and lining and we are getting close to rideable, which we had no assurances of him ever being rideable when he came. We had a good few solid sessions last year and got back up to w/t under saddle when I had to give him a break, so now we are starting over again.

I agreed to provide him with a retirement home if I couldn’t fix him, so it isn’t like he has to go anywhere.

[fargaloo1]

Hey all — I posted this in the Dressage forum in the current Morgan thread, but thought I’d put it here as well to reach more eyeballs

I hope this isn’t a hijack of the thread, but I wonder if some knowledgeable folks could have a look at my colt’s pedigree? I’m new to Morgans, and am just learning about the different families. Aside from seeing some big names way back (Waseekas In Command, Beamington, Senator Barr, Noble Command), who I’m sure show up in most Morgans, I can’t really tell what I’m looking at.

My colt is gelded and will be my personal horse, so it’s not for breeding or even resale potential. My competition goals are modest (I’d be thrilled if we got to Training level eventing, 2nd level Dressage), so I’m asking mostly just to learn more about the breed (and some insight on how my guy came to be!). Thanks!

https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/tsf+dark+roast+dreamer

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Yay!! I rode today.

I rode in my baroque saddle, and forgot to check the stirrup length before mounting (because I also forgot that I had lent it to a much shorter friend) which gave my horse some mounting practice since there’s no way for me to adjust them on his back (they sit under the flap), and it took 3 tries for me to get them correct and comfortable for my hips today.

Unfortunately due to his gaining of a good deal of weight, that saddle is now not appropriate as it is too narrow. I’m not sure I have anything wide enough other than my saddleseat saddle, which I retried on tonight and will likely use tomorrow because it fits and has adjustable stirrup bars so I can make that work. The hunt seat saddle is comfortable for my hips but I know that’s too narrow at this point so fine. My dressage saddles (all 3 of them) make my hips ache so I didn’t bother.

We need to get our butts in gear as both of us have gained some weight and lost some fitness. I can feel that his hind end has become a bit less active and he needs that strength. I wish I were confident enough to jog him but he was barely broke to the cart and I am not a competent (nor confident) driver, though I’ve always lined and ground driven and taken some driving lessons. I feel like it would be good to have an AOT driving horse that already knew his job, not one that is still mildly green at driving.

Hoping to work more horses in the morning. We have gone from 40 degree highs to 80 degree highs, so we are happy but all feeling a little sluggish.

How is everyone else doing?

[Laverne77]

No progress to report, but thought I’d share a picture of my young prospect - a yearling Dutch Harness colt that I brought home in January. He’s got a lovely springy trot and I’m hoping someday to show him in open saddleseat classes.

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He is darling!!! Love it!

We have decided to do the next show that is nearby. It’s in mid-May, so we have a month to prepare. I think we are going to do the ranch horse classes, which gives me a little leeway on some things, since he is already really good at obstacles.

Today we practiced in our western gear, and I think he is loving being an ASB western horse! Just look at that head and those ears

[luvmyhackney]

Got a couple good rides in. Still working on our canter, he’s super balanced but needs to sit a hair more and I need to quit enjoying the ride and actually ride, really push him more to my hand to lengthen his neck.

[Laverne77]

Resurrecting this thread once again.
I took my Dutch Harness cross to a little fun/schooling show over the weekend. He’s 6 this year and we have been going through a bit of a rough patch lately - so much so that when I worked him the night before the show I considered scratching him. He’s turning out to be not much of a show horse, but at risk of embarrassing myself I thought I’d share a couple pictures anyway. (They are stills taken from bad cell phone video.) We got first in pleasure driving and second in adult saddleseat pleasure.

What has everyone else been up to so far this summer?

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You look great! And he’s lovely.

Sadly, I haven’t been riding. I discovered massive facet joint syndrome issues in my back, and they’ve advised me not to ride for awhile while we try to get things calmed down. Essentially I’m paying the piper for falls and sheer concussion made through my 10-40 year old years.

My boys are all just chilling - they don’t mind the vacation - but if it goes on much longer I am going to have to put them into training with someone. I’m not sure I’ll be back up to riding green beans and weirdos after this is all said and done.