Blossom

[arduke]

you may have seen the breeding thread on Blossom. i have decided not to breed her based on the voting.
Del Mar Charity Fair Horseshow 2009 pictures and video:
http://www.rickosteen.com/photocart/...wGallery=11229
http://www.rickosteen.com/photocart/...wGallery=11305
http://www.rickosteen.com/photocart/...wGallery=11282
http://www.rickosteen.com/photocart/...wGallery=11347
http://s393.photobucket.com/albums/pp18/horsymorsy/?action=view&current=VID00031.flv
I consider this my first horse show since i moved my horse from Rancho Del Mar with Anne Speck to Premier West Stables with Nicole Johnson.Since the move i do alot of Blossom's training myself i would just like some training tips you might suggest for her.

[smurphy0806]

The pictures didn't work for me, but I saw your video.

I'm not an AOT, but I'm pretty knowledgable in horses.

She is a real nice mare! Lots of action!

She looks a bit on the forehand. Does she pull you forward? Is she heavy in your hands? I would try some collected work. Or Longlining if you know how. Don't longline if you were not taught as a horse can flip over if not done correctly. It just means you have to work harder on her back. Try collecting her and getting her to sit on her butt more. Don't JUST go slower, have the same energy with smaller steps. Like "jigging." It should get her to sit down more and get off your hands, and bring up her head a bit higher. If you do collection and/or longlining it will help strengthen her back end which should help with her keeping the back lead. It was a bad angle so I don't know if she swaped or picked it up "funny."

I can't really comment on the gaited aspect because that is not my area of expertise.

But I would also work on canter pickups. Just pick the canter up for a stride, then hault. Then walk, and pick it up for a stride, then halt. It will help for a smoother canter pickup. I don't know what you do when you ask for the rack, because she picks up the canter very nicely, but when you ask her for the canter she looks a little mad. Perhaps when you cue her for the canter your using too much leg and she doesn't like it? I don't really know I'm speculating here.

Gosh she is a really nice mare!!

[arduke]

blossom is just starting to understand the manners of long lining. The problem with cantering is she likes her left lead a lot and has trouble with her right lead. She is roach backed and has a problem of getting a huge hump in her back.

[mskyar]

Horses are 'right or left' handed just like people....Don't canter very often on the left lead, spend most of the cantering time on the right.....and if you can teach her to canter in lines that helps too....When she starts to get the 'hump' in her back just push her forward a little bit and let her get uncollected and loosen it up.....usually works

[arduke]

i also feel like my horse puts so much more effort into her gaits than the other horses but she cant go as fast as them. is there any thing i can do about that