The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Strides are better!

1K views 0 replies 1 participant last post by  drafts4ever 
#1 ·
When I bought Caleigh back in August she had no idea how to collect her strides. Our long sides in the arena are 5 strides and she would easily clear them in 3 in a canter. She just bounded forward with no speed difference other than slow, fast, faster.
That was all fine and fun after we did our work out and headed out to the feilds but in the area it's just not practical to go racing around like that. So my trainer and I worked on collecting her up and she literally got it after the second lesson and has continued. She is now at 4-4 1/2 strides at the canter and even more she is relaxed where she used to be stiff.

She can canter a 30 meter circle without her hind end falling out from under her like it used to. We've worked on her corners and after she was adjusted twice by the chiropractor she easily bends around them instead of leaning hard into them. Apparently her head was on a little crooked and her left shoulder was out. We're still working at engaging her hind end more but she's made a lot of progress.

In the trot she used to speed trot and then go right down to a walk if I asked for anything slower. Now she collects her trot as much as I need and it really helps with other horses in the arena.

I took her for a nice sunrise walk on Wednesday morning. It was the last day without rain we had so I figured it was a nice fall morning why not go for a walk. We have some quiet side streets with grassy walks along each side so we headed over there. she hadn't been out on the street since I first got her in august but she did great. Very alert but not jumpy or spooky. A lady came up beside us in her truck and commented on how well mannered she was and that she hadn't seen a horse and rider for about 10-15 years and seeing us was a nice change. On the way home I trotted her a little and cantered her in a nice collected canter on the grass sides. We stopped at the top of a nearby hill and the sun was awesome! It was a warm gold glow and it was just amazing.

anyway I just wanted to share everything that was improving with her and what we've been up to. It's not a wonderful day today, a bit cold but it's not raining at the moment so I think I'll take her out for another walk.
 
See less See more
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top