Week 3 & 4
Out of the Round Pen & Onto Softness, Mindfulness and Better Carriage Under Saddle
Good morning Margo!
We’ve got some big updates for you on your girl Melly!
Last week wrapped up much the foundational ground work necessary to really get things moving forward under saddle. Overall she is way more present, mindful and less pushy on the ground now.
In order for her to be safe and reliable, it is critical she stays focused and present with the person handling her on the ground or to whoever is riding her.
So she’s graduated out of the round pen and beyond to where she’s standing tied, getting groomed and saddled and we’re able to climb aboard and get to riding.
Under saddle we are reinforcing a lot of the same principles we’ve introduced under saddle.
The key to success here is setting clear boundaries, and allowing her the time to make the decisions and changes necessary.
Skill based wise, improving her willingness, understanding and ability to Leg Yield, turn on the haunches and rein back aka backing up have been critical in helping set clear boundaries through the aids as well as help her mind become focused on the work at hand.
As I’m sure you know, she started out VERY HEAVY and pushy to the hand and leg. Yet she has a good mind on her and has made some great great changes to find a softer, more mindful and better carriage of herself.
The approach we have under saddle is very dressage influenced… classical dressage that is. Within that, we want the maneuvers we’re doing to allow her to use herself in the most beneficial (healthy) and easiest way for her possible.
I have appreciated the level of try she does have. While she’s not quick about anything (which isn’t a bad thing) she has proven to put in a good amount of effort to try and figure things out and when being corrected or redirected she has not been resentful or malicious about anything.
At this stage we are fully focused on developing her foundational skills sets under saddle to where she is truly understanding and reliable. The biggest key here is quality and consistency.
I’ve had my assistant get on her just a few times so that way we can continue Melly’s willingness and understanding that the same rules apply regardless of who is working with her. Below is a quick video of her riding her. This was from last week, just week 3, and you'll see how shes a bit more strung out through her body. The reason this is, is because Melly is used to being allowed to lean and pull on the bit and by us not actually holding the reins tight giving her something to pull on, she in turn is pushing her nose out trying to reach for the bit so she can balance and lean on it. You will start to see a pretty significant contrast between this video and the next two below from this week where shes starting to learn a softer way to carry herself without leaning super heavily into the bit. I wanted to point that out because I know you dont want her going around like a reiner- and you have absolutely nothing to worry about there cause thats not how shes built to carry herself. In this week 3 video he has her head further out in front because shes trying to lean on the bit and is still fairly stiff through her body at this stage.
Then here are two videos my wife took earlier this week of me riding Melly and talking my assistant through what and why I was doing what I was doing and looking for. The big thing here I am working with Melly on is her preparedness when I make a request. I want her to start getting prepared the moment I start to make a request. And along with that is also when I put my leg on or shorten the reins I want Melly to think about what she needs to do and how she can do that softly through her whole body. By working on this, shes able to get way more balanced (less leaning and bracing) and way more supple through her body which is a really important factor for long term soundness. If we allow horses to go around heavy and braced, they are holding tension all throughout their body. So this is why I put a strong emphasis on helping each horse get balanced and soft/supple so that way they can use themselves in a healthy way and everything is much lighter and easier for the horse and the rider. Just in these two clips there are big moments where I make a request and Melly starts to get way more prepared and ultimately is able to carry herself in a softer way. The very end of this session ended SUPER well with a moment that I told my assistant, at this stage I couldnt ask of anything more from her. The quality of her mental focus, physical preparedness and softness was great. It took the whole session to get to that moment but then it gives us the opportunity to keep building from there. With all that being said- here are those two videos linked below. The file sizes are too large for me to drop them directly into this update.
Video #1
Also I forgot to mention earlier in this so I'll say it now- she was really good for the farrier with all 4 feet. Chase had mentioned she could be a bit tight and difficult about her hinds, but she did well with getting standing and being a good girl for the farrier. Getting her mind and emotions in a better place will help her in all areas of her life no doubt.
Miss Melly is putting the work in every day Monday-Saturday and enjoying her spa sessions afterwards to keep those feathers clean. We did get 5inches of snow last week which made for a muddy mess but thankfully just a week later we have dried up quite a bit.
As we wrap up week 4 and go into week 5, WHAT we are doing will not change much. We are at a stage where quality rides, time and consistency is the most important ingredients.
If you have any questions dont hesitate to let me know.
- Colton Woods