Training of Ava - 14 year old Standardbred mare COMPLETED
Ava has not had much training in her life since she was used as a broodmare. Her new owner, Melissa Salisman purchased Ava with the intention of having a sound riding horse. She has no interest in competing with Ava, however still wants her to be trained properly "as a good foundation for a long, happy life". Furthermore she told us she would like to take her out on long trail rides so the mare has to build stamina and become sure footed, both focusing on building muscles. Last Melissa expressed the desire to train Ava to gait. Her owner has no experience with gaited horses, if however the mare was easy to tölt, then she would appreciate the smooth gait on the trail. Ava has not shown any ambling gait while running free, however since she does come from a line of pace racers we believe it could be possible.
Because the mare is out of shape and has little training we agreed to keep the mare with us for at least 6 months. In agreement with the owner we will let her run in our school after her foundation work, to help build muscles and stamina (in addition to her training). The goal is to have a fit, sturdy, trail riding horse, who is responsive even on loose reins and can possibly gait with little to no effort from the rider.
The mare arrived and seemed very content, even after a 5 hour long drive. Even though we usually leave new horses in a box the first night to get some rest we decided to add her to the herd right away. We had just finished rebuilding an open stall for the large horses and had two other new additions so all horses were more focused on inspecting their new surroundings than settling rank. As expected they barely reacted to the new arrival and if so in a friendly way. We assumed it would take a few days before they even started forming a group. After talking over the last details with Melissa she said her goodbyes to the bay mare and went home.
Because the mare is out of shape and has little training we agreed to keep the mare with us for at least 6 months. In agreement with the owner we will let her run in our school after her foundation work, to help build muscles and stamina (in addition to her training). The goal is to have a fit, sturdy, trail riding horse, who is responsive even on loose reins and can possibly gait with little to no effort from the rider.
The mare arrived and seemed very content, even after a 5 hour long drive. Even though we usually leave new horses in a box the first night to get some rest we decided to add her to the herd right away. We had just finished rebuilding an open stall for the large horses and had two other new additions so all horses were more focused on inspecting their new surroundings than settling rank. As expected they barely reacted to the new arrival and if so in a friendly way. We assumed it would take a few days before they even started forming a group. After talking over the last details with Melissa she said her goodbyes to the bay mare and went home.
We were keeping the first days of training very short so not to strain the mare. In short 5 - 10 minutes sessions we were starting to work her from the ground between trotting intervals and in-hand stretch work. A bit poky at first - any stretching pinches and aches - so naturally she was trying to avoid work.
A few weeks in she started becoming more responsive and alert, her body adjusting to the new movements. We were at 10 - 13 minute sessions and starting to increase the difficulty. Instead of just stretching we were asking her to step under, training her to carry her weight with the hind legs. Because of her age we were expecting it to take longer than with a young horse, but after a month she was trotting full circles while stepping under properly for a good 20 minutes. Then we started her under saddle, back to the short 10 minute sessions with lots of stretching.
After starting under saddle she was back to carrying her weight on the front legs, but with a helper coaxing her from the ground we were teaching her to lift her hind legs forward again under the point of mass. Once she understood the concept, the helper was removed and training continued with only the rider.
A few weeks in she started becoming more responsive and alert, her body adjusting to the new movements. We were at 10 - 13 minute sessions and starting to increase the difficulty. Instead of just stretching we were asking her to step under, training her to carry her weight with the hind legs. Because of her age we were expecting it to take longer than with a young horse, but after a month she was trotting full circles while stepping under properly for a good 20 minutes. Then we started her under saddle, back to the short 10 minute sessions with lots of stretching.
After starting under saddle she was back to carrying her weight on the front legs, but with a helper coaxing her from the ground we were teaching her to lift her hind legs forward again under the point of mass. Once she understood the concept, the helper was removed and training continued with only the rider.
She was starting to get into shape. Her neckline was firm and with more muscles and better balance she seems to be walking more gracefully. She was far enough along to start being used in our riding school. Daniëlle still worked with her 5 times a week riding lateral movements, Travers and Renvers. The mare was being taught not only to step under but also carry the rider properly by lifting her barrel and with it her back. She still had the tendency to fall on her left shoulder in tight corners, which her trainer continued working on by straightening the horse. It was however less of a problem hacking out.
A greater challenge was however that Ava was more of a dreamer type. She was often distracted, forgot what she had learned a day before and was sometimes difficult to motivate. She was a very comfortable horse who liked to take the easy way out and did get snippy when tired. This behavior seemed to be embedded deep, so Daniëlle did her best to work around it, encouraged the good behavior and used what she could to her advantage, after all each horse is different and it would be unfair to the horse if we would expect things from her she just wasn't born with. Daniëlle adjusted her training some what depending on the mood Ava was in. Difficult lessons were kept short and one lesson was skipped entirely when Ava started snapping at the saddle. The intuitive trainer hung the saddle back up and just took Ava for a nice long walk while letting her graze a lot. After that the mare got a four day break after which she seemed fresh and motivated again.
The next steps were taken outside, using hills to continue building stamina and muscles. Heidi would also assist and try to get the mare to gait.
A greater challenge was however that Ava was more of a dreamer type. She was often distracted, forgot what she had learned a day before and was sometimes difficult to motivate. She was a very comfortable horse who liked to take the easy way out and did get snippy when tired. This behavior seemed to be embedded deep, so Daniëlle did her best to work around it, encouraged the good behavior and used what she could to her advantage, after all each horse is different and it would be unfair to the horse if we would expect things from her she just wasn't born with. Daniëlle adjusted her training some what depending on the mood Ava was in. Difficult lessons were kept short and one lesson was skipped entirely when Ava started snapping at the saddle. The intuitive trainer hung the saddle back up and just took Ava for a nice long walk while letting her graze a lot. After that the mare got a four day break after which she seemed fresh and motivated again.
The next steps were taken outside, using hills to continue building stamina and muscles. Heidi would also assist and try to get the mare to gait.
Once Ava learned to carry her weight from the back finding her gait was easy. Heidi warmed up the mare thoroughly by letting her stretch. At a good down hill path Heidi asked for more collection than usual and tried for tölt. The mare obediently sped up her walk and was actively picking up her legs. With ease the mare took up her newly found gaits as if she always knew how to do it. However once at the bottom of the hill the mare fell back into a trot.
Heidi continued riding slopes, making it easier for the mare to gait. Each day extending her steps a little more at the bottom of the hill. They stopped trotting her for while and added some lighter, plastic shoes to her hooves. Her training was adjusted to mainly walk, again with shoulder in, Renvers and Travers, combined with small Tölt sections in which her trainers would also start asking Ava for leg yield and speed changes.
After updating Melissa on Ava's huge success the owner decided she would like her horse returned. She was more than pleased with our work and felt confident enough to continue Ava's training herself.
Before the mare was sent home we sat down once again with Melissa and explained a few things;
"When the mare first arrived she had little muscle mass to support herself, let alone a rider. Our first goal was to strengthen and build the muscles that were necessary for her to achieve "lightness". The muscles in her back were of course essential. We had a dip behind the saddle which has now straightened out nicely. We have also taught her to use her hind legs properly for support. Even when hacking out it is important to make sure the hind legs stay active. They should be doing most of the carrying. How do you keep them engaged? That's were your leg aids come in handy. You keep giving the hind leg impulses to step under and if she speeds up you continue the leg aids, but just make yourself tall and take a deep breath. Don't toss your legs away.
Ava has also learned a thing or two about collection. She is easy to frame and work with but you can't forget to let her stretch in between so the muscles get some good blood flow. But that shouldn't be a problem while hacking out.
Her tölt is not as secure as we want it to be. That still needs a lot of work. It helps if you only ask her to gait down hill for now. And slow down to a walk before she stumbles back into a trot. If she has problems finding the gait you can also gallop a short stretch, which helps loosen her up.
Other than that she has become more energetic, aware of her surroundings and is still as calm as ever. She will be great riding horse."
Heidi continued riding slopes, making it easier for the mare to gait. Each day extending her steps a little more at the bottom of the hill. They stopped trotting her for while and added some lighter, plastic shoes to her hooves. Her training was adjusted to mainly walk, again with shoulder in, Renvers and Travers, combined with small Tölt sections in which her trainers would also start asking Ava for leg yield and speed changes.
After updating Melissa on Ava's huge success the owner decided she would like her horse returned. She was more than pleased with our work and felt confident enough to continue Ava's training herself.
Before the mare was sent home we sat down once again with Melissa and explained a few things;
"When the mare first arrived she had little muscle mass to support herself, let alone a rider. Our first goal was to strengthen and build the muscles that were necessary for her to achieve "lightness". The muscles in her back were of course essential. We had a dip behind the saddle which has now straightened out nicely. We have also taught her to use her hind legs properly for support. Even when hacking out it is important to make sure the hind legs stay active. They should be doing most of the carrying. How do you keep them engaged? That's were your leg aids come in handy. You keep giving the hind leg impulses to step under and if she speeds up you continue the leg aids, but just make yourself tall and take a deep breath. Don't toss your legs away.
Ava has also learned a thing or two about collection. She is easy to frame and work with but you can't forget to let her stretch in between so the muscles get some good blood flow. But that shouldn't be a problem while hacking out.
Her tölt is not as secure as we want it to be. That still needs a lot of work. It helps if you only ask her to gait down hill for now. And slow down to a walk before she stumbles back into a trot. If she has problems finding the gait you can also gallop a short stretch, which helps loosen her up.
Other than that she has become more energetic, aware of her surroundings and is still as calm as ever. She will be great riding horse."