[mrsungles]

We've been working with Trouble A LOT...How do you think he looks?

I got him at the end of March.

pics from his previous owner:



when I got him:




And now:







I'm so proud of him! I was just thinking about how he's so much better now, looks better, moves better, and I wanted to compare pics and when I did, I was just like...wow! He's come so far in such a short amount of time!

[Buckshot]

Wow....he is stunning! In the first pic of him now, he's little heavy on the forehand and BTV, but I really like the second pic. Keep up the good work!

[Sheza_Angel]

Whoa, he is very handsome! I do see improvement.

[loosie]

Stunning boy! Yes, I see a big change... he's lost his winter coat!<GG>

I second the comment that he's on his forehand too much. Probably can't help it, as you are on his forehand too much too. It looks like perhaps you can't help it either - you're trying to stay back but perhaps that saddle is pushing you forward? A front riser pad *may* help you if you think this is indeed a problem.

It also looks like both saddles are sitting too far forward over his shoulder blades, which will cause problems - including muscular (atrophy) changes, which you will soon be able to see, if not yet. It's right if the tree points are sitting at least 1.5" behind the back of the scapula at rest. It looks like they are right up on the horse's wither at the moment - the english more so than the western. You might need a crupper & looser girth to keep it in the right place.

[MissBlue]

Wow, he looks amazing!! I love his halter in the 3rd picture!

[mrsungles]

Yes, I agree he's very heavy on the forehand. I've noticed it more and more lately, and we're working on it. Thanks for the tip about the saddle, I'll see if I can correct that. Thanks!

[pippy]

With the on the forehand thing - i think he is avoiding working properly for you, as he is also behind the verticle in another pick - make sure you ride him fowards into the contact better can see that you aren't doing that to much as he isn't going fowards at all in the 2nd new pic.

The horse looks great other than that, i'd love to have a horse that looks like him (esp the markings) lucky you -so well done, but i'm sad to say you've let yourself downin one area
FIX YOUR HANDS - my guess is they are why your horse is avoiding the bit. Your arms are straight and completly in the wrong place turned over etc - extremely sorry as i no this isn't a critque on you - but if you want your horse to get better and better he won't go as far as you want if your hands don't allow him to be happy and soft in the bridle. And as mentioned the saddle is far to forward - another possible reason he is on the forehand and avoiding.

[Feliche]

There's no difference at all in those horses. Yes horses. That's cause yer a dirty rotten cheater and MUST have had a different one standing by to make that big pretty trot for you!!

Not only does he move better, he just flat out LOOKS more attractive, more mature, and better muscled. He looks like a real sport horse now, instead of...a ragimuffin!

Congratulations on your obviously very hard work! He looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL. You're lucky to have such an attractive horse...but not really 'lucky', I suppose...because you WORKED for it! He's just gorgeous. He'll be a show ring stunner if you ever go that way!! Strengthening the forehand comes with time and more work. In the few months you have had him I think he's about as good as he'd be with anybody. Now you can start working on picking himself up, but to do that he had to build the topline, and you did the exact right thing to do that with the stretchy trot work. Much better to see that than a horse that LOOKS like he's off the forehand but is really hollow in the back. I wouldn't say he's avoiding work...he's doing a beautiful job. He just hasn't learned how to use himself better yet. I'm sure as soon as you ask he'll start to! You can start picking him up now and asking him to push himself into that newly established contact, and because of the back-stretching trot work, he has the muscles to do that now where he would not have if you hadn't worked hard on that transition phase

Gosh what a nice looking horse...lol I'm sorry I'm like gushing so shamefully...he just reminds me of a really big cake with a black and white checker pattern on it...it that makes any sense whatsoever. Well either way, GREAT job.
-Megs

[walktrotcanter]

What an absolute HANDSOME guy! I remember you posting pictures of when you first got him, and GHEESH! What an incredible turnaround. Sporthorse DEFINITELY! Farewell to the pasture pony he once was. Wonderful job. Keep it up, whatever you're doing!

[Just Jump It]

You are doing an amazing job!!!

I do see where Pippy is coming from.

Make sure you keep you hands up and off his withers. In the pics your inside hand is behind your outside hand, which tells me that you are using too much inside rein, even for a turn. The purpose of the inside rein is to supple. You should only bring your inside hand out and back to get your horse connected and pushing into that outside rein.

Were you possibly asking him to go long and low in that first pic? if so, that is a really good exercise for him, but make sure he is reaching for that bit, with his nose a bit in front of the vertical, rather than behind.

This pic illustrates Pippys points. He is heavy on your hands, BTV. Loosen that inside rein! If your hands are stiff he will only brace against them and raise his head. Then if you lower your hands to put his head down he'll suck it back towards his chest to avoid the pressure on his bars. You don't want your horse to come away from the bit. Rather, you want him to accept it and he will only do that if his riders hands are soft and suportive and quiet.

Your hands really shouldn't move down to your knee. The more your hands move, the more your horses head will move. Keep them steady and only wiggle your ring finger when asking him to supple. If you want alot of bend, say, to get him connected to the outside rein, then move your elbow closer to your body, but that hand must stay still.

The middle pic is really nice, but I see that you are rotating your wrist, possibly in an effort to get his head down again? Its great where it is!

In the last pic, pick your inside hand up to prevent him from collapsing that inside shoulder and falling on the fore. I love how you are getting him actively stepping under with that inside back leg. Much better than the second new pic.

I see what Feliche is saying, but a horse that is beind the vertical and heavy is extremely difficult to fix. Better to get out of the habit now while hes green before it becomes too deeply ingrained.

Its not really a matter of "strengthening the forehand", its a matter of strenthening the back and and topline (as Feliche stated). And the only way to do this is by getting your horse to move with energy into a supportive, not restrictive, contact. If he avoids the bit and is BTV, the hes not working his topline at all.

Besides this, you are doing an AMAZING job!!! Keep up the good work with your absolutely gorgeous horse!!!