Dukes Ridden Education (From the beginning!)

[Biggerside Benwell]

Well I have now turned Duke away for the winter without any pics of me riding him- im sorry but never had anyone around competent enough to weild the camera-lol. I will get some pics of him and Danny soon though I promise and will update this thread when we do anything.

Many thanks for reading

[greydales]

You have done really well with Duke Kristy, I doubt I shall progress to riding Olivia so quickly!!

I am sure his behaviour in the school is due to balance on the turns, they find it hard to balance with a rider or know what their legs should be doing! It was when Olivia turned that she took off bucking with Anna, so next time Anna is here we may just try sitting and getting off (possibly!).

[Biggerside Benwell]

This is Duke at the ned of November 2006 after 1 bag of Topsepc and a bit of parelli.

Coming back into work after xmas.

[cobmum]

really interesting to be honist i dodnt know what the complete process of 'breaking' or 'backing' a horse was so now i know. Please keep posting in detail as you have done its brilliant to read and the pics are great.

Thanks!

[Biggerside Benwell]

Haven't updated for ages so will put the ones off the 'other' site on here if thats ok.

[Biggerside Benwell]

Feb 07-Just a quick update on Duke. He is still turned away at present as we are waiting for the dentist who is coming on thursday. I will try and get the mud off him and take some pics. If the teeth get the all clear then will re-start the long-reining, lunging and walking out for 2-3 weeks then will re-back him and start his ridden education properly. I shall keep you posted.

[Biggerside Benwell]

Early August 07
Sorry haven't updated this for ages. Thought I had better continue on into his 4 year old year.

Duke was four on the 25/4/07 and it was about a month before that i started working him again. I did 2-3 sessions a week for 3 weeks of lunging and long reining again just to reastablish the basics before climbing back on.

He was very good and remebered most of it from the stuff we did in the autumn.



This was our first time ridden down the drive. He was ridden a handfull of times, including a little hack then I went on holiday at the beginning of May for 2 weeks when he was turned out to process everything he had learnt.

He looked much better weight wise for 2 weeks off and took him for his first proper hack the night I got back off holiday, he didn't bad an eyelid at anything.

Next pics I have are from June 07.



Managed to get some ridden ones in the field also, this was the first time out on his own.

[Biggerside Benwell]

Mid August 07
Since June he has now been shod all round, we did the front shoes first as the tracks around here are very stony and were chipping his feet terribly. He was a very good boy to have them put on. They helped loads but then he started to get footsore behind so had back shoes put on 2 weeks later. He had 2 weeks off to get used to his new feet and re-balance himself as he has grown again and now measures 15hh.

Just last tuesday lunged him again and his balance looked much better so schooled him on thursday and had our first encounter with stubble on friday and then again today when Donna took him cantering.



My next aim is to take him somewhere and do a prelim dressage test so I shall let you know how that goes!

[Biggerside Benwell]

15th August 07- Dukes first outing

Tonight we took Sid and Duke to Titlington for the SJ practise evening.

Although have practised trailer loading a bit with Duke have never actually been anywhere so loaded him up after Charlottes dressage on Sunday and took him for a drive 2miles down the road to the village and back. He was fine.

So loaded him up, he went straight in but backed out, then went in and stood like an :angelwings: Loaded Sid and off we went.

20 mins later unloaded him at Titlington to spectaular views and he just stood and stared.

Good as gold to tack up and get on so rode him around to the warm up arena. Fab walking and trotting around without a care in the world, giving Sid funny looks when he was spooking :nerna: Lots of little people on little ponies cantering towards also got some funny looks from Duke. Only rode him for about 15mins, then Charlotte got on and had a little jump over the practise fence, he tried to run out a couple of times but soon got the idea.

After that I just stood holding him letting him take it all in while we waited for Sid to jump. Sid was a good boy but did stop at one fence with fillers <_<

As we were riding together in the warm up and I couldn't get close enough to the jumping ring I unfortunately didn't get any pics of Sid.

When Charlotte was finished though I got back on Duke and made her take some pics of our first outing, so here they are. Thank you Charlotte :friends:










This one is my favourite.

[harveydales]

He's looking superb, Kristy! I can't believe he is 4 already - doesn't time fly? Thanks for updating us and showing us the pics. He sounds to be coming on really well and that fantastic temperment and attitiude bodes well!

[Biggerside Benwell]

My most recent pics of Duke from 23/8/07

Hiya.

Sorry to bore you all but here are more pics from tonight up at the field.

Been struggling slightly with left canter transitions in the school so thought I would take him into a hay field to try. he loved the open space and was very well behaved. After a few false starts we got left canter every time :woo:

Thanks Buffy for the pics :thumb:













My favourite

[Biggerside Benwell]

First dressage competition is in 10 days time so will let you know how we get on!

[charliedales]

Thanks for putting the other posts up , what a great thread this is ;D He looks so grown up now and seems to be taking it all in his stride, well done you two

[greydales]

Duke looks really fab, what a substantial boy he is! You are doing so well with him Kristy He seems to be very laid back and takes everything in his stride - I can't imagine me doing half these things with Cherry LOL (haven't even got trot yet :. She is NOT what you'd call a laid back pony ;D

[SuzieP]

He looks wonderful Kristy - you're doing so well with him. I've been comparing the pics since you first started this thread - and WOW what a change and how well he's grown. He's a real credit to you......