Versatility, Bay Brigade Style
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| Kate has amazing skills. And I have an amazing dog. |
Finally, a day off. Small job interview at a local reopening restaurant (whole different story), quick nap (still not sleeping), a trip to the beach with Chevy and his girlfriend, then off to the barn for Versatility Night. As I mentioned, I decided to have a Versatility/Trail Night at least once a week with the girls. Everyone seemed to be really excited about it including the BO, but her and R rode earlier in the day and had made other plans so unfortunately, they missed out. But the Bay Brigade? We prevailed and had a wonderful/entertaining/easy evening.
I set up a few obstacles that we started off working in hand. A has been really excelling in the ground work and sending exercises. Nothing actually really phased Ms. Lucy. We were all quite impressed. Brantley only had a problem with walking over the tarp and shipping blanket at first, then he became an expert. A got on Lu in a halter and lead rope again to go through the obstacles like a pro natural horseman. She was so happy to just bop around and shame us all on the tarp, trotting over it like it was nothing. B took a second to look but slowly became an expert as well.
His "pro" moment was the barrels... I set up two across from a "gate". The point of the barrels was to work on hind end and shoulder control. You'd trot up to the barrel, going around it in one direction, then halting and doing a movement like a rollback but without the speed and with more control. You'd take a step back, disengage the hind end, then push the shoulders over to continue to circle the barrel in the other direction, then repeat around the second barrel and back through the gate.
We also set up 3 poles to side pass over... We all failed.
Both Lu and B excelled in the "L" shaped reverse obstacle. You'd walk through the pole pattern, then back through it. Easy as pie!
Comic did really well and surprised Nat with his skills over the tarp. Lu wandered around with my unicorn hat on her head. And B was a great demo horse to show how to get through the obstacles (other than the beginning gate). Here are some pictures! I will definitely get some video next time.
I think B and I need to start jumping again... I miss it.
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| Reverse Maze |
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| Gate for beginners |
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| The Tarp - Too Long to Go Around, Too Wide to Jump... |
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| Side Passing Poles |
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| Scariest Obstacle of All - Shipping Blanket |
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| Turn n' Burn Barrels |
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| #WINNING |
posted by Madeline C. @ 10:24 PM
10 Comments
10 Comments:
That sounds super fun!
Haha I love that last picture! I really need to work on side passing with Bobby. Probably in-hand would be the best start for that as he doesn't need any encouragement to go flying sideways under saddle.
We had an absolute blast! Can't wait to do more.
The last picture really just says it all!
I don't know how to "traditionally" train a horse to side pass but I've always started any movement on the ground. I would work on disengaging your hind end and then shoulders separately before moving them together. If you start on the fence on the ground, then move up to under saddle it will help tremendously so they really only have the option to go sideways (or backwards). Do a little hind end pass, then shoulder, then hind end. Every try counts, one step at a time! :) Let me know how it works out for you. It's B's favorite thing... On the fence haha.
Hopefully more to come!
How fun!! Add totally something different for the horses' brains!
Such a great idea! I hope you guys stick with it. I'll have to try some of this with Charlie
Already I see a difference in the way Brantley approaches things he's nervous about under saddle. Happy camper!
B and I definitely will be and I think Amanda really enjoyed it with Lucy, I know Lucy did. :)
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