July 2013

 

 

Talented pupil!

Laddie is just lapping up his lessons. I hadn't seen him for10 days, and in that time he has developed quite some mastery of his lessons! He's carrying himself in a very relaxed frame, collecting/shortening his frame in a much slower tempo at both trot and canter. Jeremy tried him in a new bit yesterday, a loose ring snaffle, and he was very light in the contact and offered to take the rein lower and maintain loose contact on 20metre trot circles as required for Prelim (Level 2) tests...then re-took the contact to move into more lengthened paces.
Leg-yielding is developing nicely, even at the canter.

Today...huge progress from even yesterday!! Jeremy just asking to maintain rhythm but slowed the tempo even further, and he continues to spring lightly off the ground with active hind leg, showing Huge suspension  AND offering some Passage and even Piaffe steps!! Wow!! Not deliberately asking for these, but he's Offering them!!! So exciting!! Collecting the canter..dropped back to trot, but maintained activity; you can see him developing strength in/for self-carriage.

On Friday, I'm told. the rain was coming in horizontally down one side of the arena and he was loathe to move off Jeremy's leg to yield right to the (rainy) boundary. So he threw in some flying changes, moving off the rider's leg, first one way, then the other, a number of times. No loss of balance, but just super clean changes....Just Offering!!

He just loves to get it right; super calm with his "good boy" praise from the rider...Then he Expects 2 carrots after shower and rugs!! Very pleased with himself!!

Adolescence.....

                                            Another growth spurt and he's changing shape!
                              Just when he thickens into a chunky frame, he goes "up again".
         Top Cat, Ssandro and Rocco all did the same, but I still can't anticipate the mature height!

Autumn update with Galahad

 

May 18; he's growing taller, more flexible with the work, and more powerful

as Jeremy progresses his training

 

Progression

Laddie is really starting to accelerate his progress.

He has always shown the ability to maintain a consistent rhythmic pace, ad infinitum, but did tend to just 'switch off' and 'carry on regardless'! He now has the muscle and is developing the concentration powers to work consistently off Jeremy's aids.

Last Wednesday he was showing a shortened frame, punching some energy into his transitions between paces. Just three days later, he is flexing off the rider's leg, and showing supple transitions in small circles and figures of eight.

Exciting stuff!! He's got the Saddlebred 'willingness to please' and desire to 'get it right'.

Victor at Salt Ash

                                          Alexander Park Dressage competition; Novice 2A, 2B

Working Lad

Bloomsbury's Sir Galahad, ("Laddie"); Sire Brae Galaxy (Gullit x Bellona (Biathlon))
                                       Dam: Bloomsbury's Maybellene (Richmeed Medallion x C. Memphis Belle)

Starting some serious training at 4y.o; Just 4 weeks in work after a year long break to grow, after his initial breaking. He's loving being the work with Jeremy, and showing some lovely paces to be developed.