One of the most challenging aspects of developing a horse is assessing where the horse is starting from, identifying the holes and challenges, making a specific plan to target those holes, and following through with that plan. To give you a glimpse into that process, each week I will discuss what I'm working on, how it's going and what my plan is for the next week.
Julie is a 10 year old draft cross sporthorse that I have worked with for several years now. In the summer of 09 we had the misfortune of dealing with a sever case of colic which ultimately resulted in her needing emergency surgery. Lots of prayers and almost two years later Julie made a complete recovery from what is still one of the scariest experiences of my life! After having had a two year break from any and all kinds of work coming back to a training schedule was not something Ms. Julie was excited about. We have been sent back to basics! Really working on being responsive and receptive to the aids, connecting through her back and hind end. We have also been doing a lot of work with ground poles. My once forward and bold little jumper has become somewhat timid to fences since returning to work. My goals this year are to help Julie regain not only the muscle and strength she lost on her two year break but to also help her regain the confidence she once had. This will be done with a consistent and systematical review of the basics! I look forward to sharing with you the exercises I am working on and the progress that the two of us make together!
