hobbyhorse23
Well-Known Member
Okay, so I look like an idiot in these photos. My only defense is that I was trotting circles around the photographer trying to get pictures of the horse and cart and not thinking about dressage and proper posture, but BOY do I need to sit up, put my shoulders back and pull my elbows further in! :new_shocked: Eep.
Anyway, the shots were so great of Kody I had to share anyway. This is our second outing with the new Bellcrown less than twenty-four hours after receiving it. He is wearing his Ozark Mtn. carriage harness with a Camptown Freedom Collar and the combination seemed to work very well for him. With the lower draft (note the singletree down low near his hocks) he does indeed seem to pull more easily and between that and the larger 23" wheels potholes were far less of a problem than in the past. I'm glad I wasn't using a regular straight breast collar with this setup. While many horses can get away with it, I think with Kody's low neck set he would have been pulling from far too low on his shoulder and asking for trouble. Part of me sure wishes I could afford a nice patent collar to use with the gig style shafts for dressage and pleasure shows but the FC works nicely and will have to do. He certainly seems comfortable and moves very freely.
I obviously need to make some adjustments in the harness like raising the tug loops one more non-existent notch but I haven't had much time to tweak yet. Plenty to do in the next few weeks!
So on to the pictures. I was thrilled to see that he's begun carrying himself a little higher at this point and the new Myler has made all the difference in how quiet his mouth is. I know he has the basic skills for Prelim at this point and so do I, and seeing his frame in these pictures finally made me sure of it. We'll finish training level at Ram Tap next month (hopefully not doing something stupid or embarrassing ourselves) and if all goes well will move up to Prelim at Happ's.
Here is Kody walking...
A nice working trot...
And my favorite picture. I wasn't even asking for a lengthened trot! :new_shocked: :aktion033:
Your opinions and constructive critiques are welcome. I've going to make a set of trace carriers for the breeching, do something with the neck terrets so I can use them, adjust the traces a bit, and lose the kick strap for showing as well as of course fixing my own posture. Anything else you see?
Leia
Anyway, the shots were so great of Kody I had to share anyway. This is our second outing with the new Bellcrown less than twenty-four hours after receiving it. He is wearing his Ozark Mtn. carriage harness with a Camptown Freedom Collar and the combination seemed to work very well for him. With the lower draft (note the singletree down low near his hocks) he does indeed seem to pull more easily and between that and the larger 23" wheels potholes were far less of a problem than in the past. I'm glad I wasn't using a regular straight breast collar with this setup. While many horses can get away with it, I think with Kody's low neck set he would have been pulling from far too low on his shoulder and asking for trouble. Part of me sure wishes I could afford a nice patent collar to use with the gig style shafts for dressage and pleasure shows but the FC works nicely and will have to do. He certainly seems comfortable and moves very freely.
I obviously need to make some adjustments in the harness like raising the tug loops one more non-existent notch but I haven't had much time to tweak yet. Plenty to do in the next few weeks!
So on to the pictures. I was thrilled to see that he's begun carrying himself a little higher at this point and the new Myler has made all the difference in how quiet his mouth is. I know he has the basic skills for Prelim at this point and so do I, and seeing his frame in these pictures finally made me sure of it. We'll finish training level at Ram Tap next month (hopefully not doing something stupid or embarrassing ourselves) and if all goes well will move up to Prelim at Happ's.
Here is Kody walking...
A nice working trot...
And my favorite picture. I wasn't even asking for a lengthened trot! :new_shocked: :aktion033:
Your opinions and constructive critiques are welcome. I've going to make a set of trace carriers for the breeching, do something with the neck terrets so I can use them, adjust the traces a bit, and lose the kick strap for showing as well as of course fixing my own posture. Anything else you see?
Leia