Progress has been going well with Ben and he is really taking to life off the track!
The ground has finally dried up, and the horses are now out all day. Ben having been on a race yard for 12 years didn’t really know what to make of all the space, so he ran around, a lot!
This seemed to take a toll on his energy levels, and most days in the afternoon I will catch him having a nap, he has even spent a few nights out, but I am certainly not complaining, as it seems to be taking the ‘spring grass’ feeling out of him!
We had been doing tonnes of schooling, really mixing it up with transitions and pole work and he now feels less of a coiled spring and more like a horse, even offering some long and low work to help build up his non existence top line. Being an older horse I have noticed that carrot stretches have been a crucial part of keeping him supple, so are now part of our daily morning routine.
We went and did Intro B at the end of March and he was foot perfect, didn’t get at all hot in the warm up and wasn’t bothered by the environment, meaning we got a nice 4th, which I am super pleased with. His canter at home is gradually getting less excitable and is really balanced when he settles so hopefully a prelim will be on the cards soon.
I have also taken him out jumping a couple of times, and he is really calm and enthusiastic, even in a large open field. It’s lovely to feel that nice big open stride and being carried into fences.
We have little in the way of finesse yet, but certainly having lots of fun… when we can keep shoes on!
Diva and Jackson have travelled to shows together several times but, as we try to enter Jackson for gelding-only classes rather than mixed mare and gelding ones, they had never competed in the same class.
Bob and I had our second lesson with out new instructor and all I can say is wow (plus I also stayed aboard – just!)!
As mentioned in a previous blog, the way the grass is growing this year is causing problems for people with good doers. This time last year Diva and Mabel were out 24/7 and I was getting to the stage of giving a little hay at night as the grass just wasn’t growing.
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