Wow! This post has been a long time coming out. Sorry about that, but everything went on hold for a while due to a family illness.
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Ollie started his week in long lines, the wonder bit (because that’s what we ride in), and his Barbie-sized saddle just to practice his giving skills once more before I hopped on. Happily, there was never a doubt that he could give and keep moving at trot.
So,up I got, and off we went…at a walk, ‘cuz that’s how we roll.
Ollie practiced all the simple things he knows at walk like giving to the bit, moving his shoulder, changes of direction, etc. Once we’d worked in both directions to check his committment to process and stretch him out with some shoulder moving, I asked him to trot.
On this first day back under saddle, I didn’t ask him to give to the bit at all. I just asked him to trot forward like he did in long lines. When I asked him to walk, I touched the bit lightly, and he bobbled up and down. So, once again, we worked on the down transition from trot to walk, and this time, thanks to his time in long lines, Ollie got it. After working in both directions, we hung it up for the day.
The next day, after re-establishing the trot-walk transition, we worked on giving at trot. At first, Ollie tried to pretend he had no idea what I was asking. Then he decided he didn’t want to, and finally he put his down for a stride. After being praised like he won the Olympics, he was a little dazed. It hadn’t occurred to him that it was really that simple. Silly boy.
So, we practiced this simple move in both directions and worked a bit on walking off without hesitation or backing, which has also been a problem, and again bagged it for the day.
On the next ride, I started asking Ollie for more. Asking him to give more quickly and fixing more quickly when his head came up. Asking for more give. Asking for more than a stride of give. Giving and moving laterally. Moving laterally into a give. Walking off smoothly without hesitation or backing. All the while, I was careful to make sure Ollie didn’t feel bottled up. Better to go too slow than too fast.
Ollie still wasn’t up to coming through, but he was learning that movement was easier if he didn’t put his head in the rafters. He had moments of trying to put things together where he would lift his front end, but since he wasn’t all the way there, like any young horse just learning, something would get stuck and he would break gait or stop altogether. (The western saddle was nice for the times when he stopped!) This ride, however, was really good, and we were both proud of Ollie.
On our final ride the next day, Ollie was putting things together and started to remember some of his training before things went south. He wasn’t beautiful, yet, but he could trot an entire circle giving to the bit in each direction. He also started reaching for the bit, took contact, and had moments of pushing from behind!! Oooo, this boy is going to be fun to ride!
Brandie and I were both really thrilled with the progress Ollie made this week. At this rate, he’ll be cantering in no time. Unfortunately, Brandie and I will not be taking him to that next step. After this last, really amazing ride, Ollie was off to a new home for further no-hurry training.
Bye Ollie! I know bigger things await your future.
Next post: A final update at some point.
Oliver's New Chapter 