Hi Guys:
Just thought I would give you the latest update on Cat's training after the Xmas break. Rachel her trainer went away to England for a 2 week holiday on the 24th of December and just got back to work with Cat this Tuesday. So here is the latest update from her.
"Cat is teething and cranky with it. She lost a couple of teeth when I was away (front bottoms) but she still has caps in back and they are bugging her. This is all very normal, of course, but it is often a horse's first experience with discomfort while working and it's a learning process. (I wish I could say it will be the last but necessary forbearance is part of what she's learning.) I've been driving her "as is" but I will switch to a side pull bridle (a direct pull training hackamore) before I actually ride her. Next year's teething time is actually worse (more than one four year old has reared unexpectedly during that time and then never again) but the best route is just to try to make the horse comfortable and ignore a bit of fussing. If it goes on and on a vet or a dentist can take the caps off but that's rarely necessary. After the side pull I will probably put her in a "Happy Mouth" as that seems to bother a horse less while it's mouth is sensitive.
Other than that she's settle back in and we are back where we were - leaning over and steering both ways. I'll change the bridle and, depending on how she reacts, we should be good to get on in a day or so. She was quite wacky for the first few days but she's settled now. At this age they get noticeably stronger so fast that they often start to think a lot of themselves and get a bit bolshy. She's not done anything mean or silly, though, and we'd be seeing it by now. I will say that she seems to have a more "riding horse" or "warmblood" temperament, rather than a "draft" mind, which makes sense with the thoroughbred and light carriage influence. The draft crosses are sometimes a little "thick" is their responses (depending on whose mind they get!) but she isn't at all. Also, her movement is flattening, even with a little extension, as her topline gets stronger, which will stand you in good stead in the dressage ring.
Talk to you soon,
R."
So it looks like we are going to be kicking some major ass of some know-it-alls that I have complained to you in the past about once we get in there eh? Can't wait.
Later
Jackie
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