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Fiona Price
05 Feb 2009 13:44
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We are delighted that Anna is starting her own thread on Horse Hero tonight. She will be here to talk to you between 7 and 10 pm and will visit on a regular basis thereafter to continue the dialogue. This is a great chance to gain access to a GB team rider (and Horse Hero blogger) who is also a renowned teacher!
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Andrea Sexton
05 Feb 2009 18:46
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My question is about riding a 3 year old horse. I have a 3 year old that is currently being backed and is really enjoying being worked. Normally I would give them the summer off work in their 3rd year but I think he would rather carry on doing something. Have you ever had a horse like this? How often would you ride them per week and what sort of work? I'm aware I need to keep him mentally stimulated but not stress his body and mind. Any tips would be very welcome.
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Anna Ross Davies
05 Feb 2009 19:10
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Hi Dizzy, I think the most important thing with a 3 year old horse is that he enjoys being ridden and doesn't see it as a chore, so it sounds like you're doing a good job there. At 3 your horse is still growing so you need to make sure he's not doing too much as it's a crucial time in his development. If you'd like to keep him going through the summer I would recommend you only ride him 3 times a week for about 20 minutes to half an hour. And hack him (off road) once or twice of those 3 rides. If you ride him in the school just keep him forward and ride big circles and easy transitions. If he does as you ask then pat him, take him in and give him carrot! The only thing that matters really is that he is safe, civil and happy. I am assuming that he is spending plenty of time in the field by the way... I certainly wouldn't advise you to lock him in the stable and only exercise him 3 times a week without a good relationship with your local ambulance service!
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catrin
05 Feb 2009 20:32
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Hi Anna, I've got a question about horse selection. I know you've had a lot of success on horses you have picked out as youngsters. So what is it that you are looking for when you are auction shopping?
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Anna Ross Davies
05 Feb 2009 20:58
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Hi Chris, I love going to see young horses, I look for a quick brain and hind leg and a good work ethic. I look for a horse that can move his body rather than fling its legs around. So movement that can be developed and made bigger rather than than big movement that ends up getting smaller. I like a horse that has a range of movement rather than a huge spectacular mover. Like people it has to be someone that I 'click' with if I'm going to work with them. I don't mind them being sharp when they are young, I expect and want the horse to have a personality and to be able to express it (within reason!). Conformation and size-wise I like a sensible sized horse. So 16.2hh up suits me. I don't mind an unconventional type so long as the mechanics are there for high level. I think feet are really important as most lameness is in the foot so I would pay special attention to that.
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Anna Ross Davies
05 Feb 2009 21:03
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PS. I very rarely buy from auctions as the horses have usually been produced to move in a really big spectacular way which is the opposite of how I like them to move when they are young. I prefer them to move in a smaller more natural way then develop it as the horse gains strength and balance.
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catrin
05 Feb 2009 21:11
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Thanks Anna - really good point about the body movers. I think Laura B's baby horse that is in the lungeing video on here is a great example - fluid like a cat but a ball of energy at the same time! I'm going to be greedy and ask a second question because I'm nosey! Would you mind telling me a bit more about the horse you rode in the demo' at the BD Nationals this year. He looked like a hot ride and you mentioned that he had never competed although he was a bit older. So do you plan to bring him out this year or do a Richard Davison and make his first show the Olympia GP?!
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Anna Ross Davies
05 Feb 2009 21:22
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The horse I rode at the Nationals was a 9 year old called Saferro. He's a mega talented horse by Welt Hit owned by Andy and Beverly Brown. He is a hot one to ride but gives a fabulous feeling as he has a terrific range of movement, ie he can extend to the max and collect to the max. He's quite nervous so we take it very slowly with him as we are gradually gaining his trust. He's due to go to Spain on the Sunshine Tour to further his experience and compete in the Owners' classes. I think he is a really special horse. At home he has changes down to 2's and the piaffe passage is there but he needs to gain strength and confidence. He'll compete on the small tour this year and then move up to Grand Prix sometime the next I hope.
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Fiona Price
05 Feb 2009 21:56
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Hi Anna, when you begin to teach the changes to a horse that has not done any, how do you start?
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Anna Ross Davies
05 Feb 2009 22:07
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We teach changes from 4 years old, it's natural for the horse to change and we don't discourage them from doing so or 'drill' counter canter. We let the young horses play around with changes and learn that the aids are for left and right canter rather than left on the left rein etc. We don't get upset if they put the odd change in where it's not asked for, just say 'no thanks' rather than 'no' by walking and correcting the lead. Of course if you teach he horse to do this, there is a risk that they will make changes where they are not needed at the lower levels, but I feel they gain confidence this way and stay happy for when they are needed later on.
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Niki
16 Feb 2009 19:18
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Hi Anna, I really want to start competing at elementary level, but know I need my horse to gain more self carriage and step under more before I can. He competes at novice level at the moment and gets marks in the sixties, he is a TB x who is not built naturally uphill! I have trained him on the flat myself and it's the first horse I have done dressage on. He finds yielding/shoulder in easy but can be rather argumentative in working off the bit and will cheat and go on his shoulders when he is tired. I would be grateful of any suggestions/exercises I can try. Thanks very much.
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outasap
30 Mar 2009 09:28
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Hi Anna
What do you do to build trust and confidence with a horse? I seem to have this in the work at home and in the collecting ring but def not in the test ring. Any thoughts?
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Anna Ross Davies
21 Apr 2009 08:18
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"Hi Anna
I really want to start competing at elementary level, but know I need my horse to gain more self carriage and step under more before I can. He competes at novice level at the moment and gets marks in the sixties, he is a t.b x who is not built naturally uphill!I have trained him on the flat myself and its the first horse I have done dressage on :|\
He finds yielding/shoulder in easy but can be rather argumentitive in working off the bit and will cheat and go on his shoulders when he is tired.
I would be grateful of any suggestions/exercises I can try.
Thanks very much
Niki"
Hi Nikki,
I would use many many transitions to help him sit and therefore lift his shoulders. Start with transitions from gait to gait, ie walk trot walk and then transitions within the gait, ie towards collected trot to working trot for short periods at at time. Then direct transitions, ie walk to canter. If you do loads of these (i mean about 3 on one 20 metre circle) your horse will start to take more weight behind and become more on your aids and expressive.
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Anna Ross Davies
21 Apr 2009 08:22
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"Hi Anna
What do you do to build trust and confidence with a horse? I seem to have this in the work at home and in the collecting ring but def not in the test ring. Any thoughts?"
I think you need to identify why the horse is nervous in the arena. If he is inexperienced then perhaps he needs more exposure to different venues. If you are nervous and that projects on to him then you will need to identify what you are nervous about and address it. Sometimes the change in arena disturbs the horses concentration so it can be a good idea to hire a venue and practice moving about (and ringing the bell!)
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Scotty
18 May 2009 15:26
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Hi Anna, I am quizzing both you and Laura on the forum about my horse's contact issue. He is a danish wb, 12 years old and has never really accepted the contact (after about 5 years) and now is very established in his many evasions of avoiding it - tongue out, tongue over, leaning, yanking, etc. He is apparently ok on the teeth and back front and we have tried many different bits (currently in a loose ring lozenge with drop noseband). So, short of sticking him in a hackamore and sending him show-jumping, I am running out of options. I know my riding probably doesn't help, but I have had trainers ride him and they agree he is very difficult and 2 of them have given up with him :( How would you go about tackling a horse with big contact issues? Sorry, very difficult question when you obviously don't know my horse, but generally speaking what do you do?
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ct
20 May 2009 16:18
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Hi Anna, I was very fortunate to watch you teach a friend last week, and I have to say the results were amazing! I wanted to ask whether you would be able to advise me on how I can move forward with my horse. He is a lovely 8 year old KWPN by Negro and can be quite sharp at times. I feel that we have got stuck in a rut, always going in the school and working on the same thing (transitions walk-halt-walk, trot-walk-trot, trot-canter-trot etc). This has really helped him to find his balance and build his strength (he has been quite a late developer and I have tried not to push him too soon), but I feel that he needs challenging a bit more. I was wondering if you would be able to advise on what the next stage would be? He can perform small amounts of collection and extension, but I had thought of introducing some lateral work? Thanks for your help!
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Anna Ross Davies
26 May 2009 20:45
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"Hi Anna, I am quizzing both you and Laura on the forum about my horse's contact issue. He is a danish wb, 12 years old and has never really accepted the contact (after about 5 years) and now is very established in his many evasions of avoiding it - tongue out, tongue over, leaning, yanking, etc. He is apparently ok on the teeth and back front and we have tried many different bits (currently in a loose ring lozenge with drop noseband). So, short of sticking him in a hackamore and sending him show-jumping, I am running out of options. I know my riding probably doesn't help, but I have had trainers ride him and they agree he is very difficult and 2 of them have given up with him :( How would you go about tackling a horse with big contact issues? Sorry, very difficult question when you obviously don't know my horse, but generally speaking what do you do?"
Hi,
I'd take the noseband off for a while and try using a bit that gives him more tongue room.If you shut his mouth with the noseband it can hard to find what he's happy with. Some horses can be irritated (in my opinion) by bits with lozenges resting on the tongue. Often contact issues come from a lack of suppleness in the horses body so I would work a lot on suppeling exercises so he can become more engaged and softer, also think of keeping a really steady hand as even a very small amount of 'rider wobble'down the rein can result in resistance in the horses mouth. Good luck.
Anna
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Anna Ross Davies
26 May 2009 20:51
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"Hi Anna,
I was very fortunate to watch you teach a friend last week, and I have to say the results were amazing! I wanted to ask whether you would be able to advise me on how I can move forward with my horse. He is a lovely 8 year old KWPN by Negro and can be quite sharp at times. I feel that we have got stuck in a rut, always going in the school and working on the same thing (transitions walk-halt-walk, trot-walk-trot, trot-canter-trot etc). This has really helped him to find his balance and build his strength (he has been quite a late developer and I have tried not to push him too soon), but I feel that he needs challenging a bit more. I was wondering if you would be able to advise on what the next stage would be? He can perform small amounts of collection and extension, but I had thought of introducing some lateral work?
Thanks for your help!"
If your horse is accepting the transition work well it could well be time to move on to some lateral work, you could start with some leg yielding and shoulder fore. Its much more important that he understands your aids than whether he performs a textbook movement. Just push him a bit sideways and reward him when he does as you ask. So long as he knows that your outside rein controls the speed and the amount of bend, the inside asks for the bend, the inside leg creates the bend and impulsion and the outside controls how much sideways you'll be able to do all the movements anyway. Keep up the transition work though its the most important thing you can do with a dressage horse! Negro is a lovely stallion, good luck. Anna.
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busywithhorses
26 May 2009 21:23
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Hi Anna, what would your advice be to help with a laid back / lazy type of horse. I understand that I shouldn't nag with my legs but how to you motivate a horse like this without using your legs more? Thanks.
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Scotty
27 May 2009 15:40
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What sort of bit would you suggest Anna (re our communication above) as I understood the lozenge was designed to give more tongue room (I have a Neuschule one)? I will deffo' take the noseband off for a while and try and keep my hand still. Thanks.
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