December 2016
After two very nice test rides with Focus in November he did his tests with me in December. They told me he is a “bolter” but I thought it cannot be that bad.
I wanted to give him a stretch in trot, rode slowly on a very long rein and with his nose very low. It took us maybe one circle until he used the chance and bolted 60m down in NEC arena. He was very stiff at this time and not attentive and supple, so it took me 60m until I could turn him. Unfortunately we were already that fast that centrifugal forces skid me in the fence.
After that I decided to ride him in the smaller Equal arena as it is only 40m long so I thought he wouldn’t become that fast. This time I manage 3 more corners until we finally were that fast again that I he skid me again when we came to the next corner.
This were our only two challenging rides in December as I couldn’t go in the saddle after it for 5 weeks.
In this coming weeks in December I figured out that he was all the time in his stable or walker as no one wanted to ride him and he was not allowed to go to paddock because of is high energy level. This calmed my ego down and explained a lot to me. Finally I noticed his bad shape mentally and physically and tried to help him getting trust in humans again. I visited him and we went out for hand walks or I groomed him.
January 2017
Our 1st month
As my back was ok again, I started riding again but controlled every single step as I needed to get this bad habit of bolting out of his head.
My approach was lunging him before riding and once I got in the saddle I rode him only on the bit no stretch and most importantly from one bending into the next as he could not take off and stiffen his body to run by that.
It took me 5 weeks until he got a little trust in me.
February 2017
2nd month
First novice 2.1
He still has balance problems in canter and no flow but nevertheless as a team we were able to win against our competitors. I was really proud about him as he behaved really well.
Clinics:
End of Feb I booked two clinics in one week.
He learned to make nice shoulder in on a rectangle, spiraling in / out and he snorted his first time (after 6 weeks riding).
Unfortunately the two clinics were still too much for him at this stage and I had to go back some steps again. To my astonishment the clinician could remember about him and was impressed how he has changed after 5 weeks taking care of him.
March 2017
3rd month
He stops while I am hand walking him and didn’t want to go anymore. Got mean, when I request to walk. I figured out that he was beaten in his tummy some time ago and this explained his bad and protective behaviour. No competition this month.
First pole work:
He is jumping over it and can’t make 4 trot poles.
First work in hand.
He is very mean and expecting harm when I walk next to him and ask him to do new things. He still tries to bolt but is much easier to get under control.
April 2017
4th month
Away for 2 weeks
Foci:
He still doesn’t let me go to the hose in the wash bay as he is lifting his hind legs to threaten me. Who knows what else happened to him in past as his is that distrustful.
First Novice 2.3
We won it again. I know how to prepare him exactly to the point when we have to go in the test. So it worked out again.
Dressage:
Foci learned counter canter.
Trot poles:
Foci could do his first trot poles with 1.6m distance (normal is approx. 1.3m)
Work in hand:
It took nearly 3 weeks until he understood to lift his leg, when I am tapping with the whip.
May 2017
5th month
FociAttitude:
He wants to please and is more relaxed in the wash bay and can enjoy grooming now. Likes to play with the water bucket is snorting during every ride.
He still tries to bolt sometimes.
Jumping:
He gets more controlled comes back after jump. We did transitions between poles. So he learns to listen.
Dressage: I taught him to do turn on haunches. He is slowly getting lighter in the hand. He needs to build up completely different muscles as he was ridden too long without elevation.
Work in hand:
Foci learned to trot next to me. First he was very excited and distrustful but with a lot of treats he is enjoying it now. He presents himself and is proud of himself. It’s a game for him which he enjoys.
Starting to teach him lateral movement.
Leg lift for later Spanish walk: he likes it a lot. Offers it. But he still does not stretch his leg.
20 Min of work in hand are enough for him as it is very tiring for his mind.
He won his next Novice 2.3 at the National’s. Funny the was another rider who had exactly same score.
June 2017
6th month
Foci:
Beginning of June I could see that his muscles changed finally: After 5 month of riding haunches build up muscles and his spine got embedded between his long back muscles. Even his hip bones became more covered. He has still his dominante situations where he behaves like a stallion and is very active with his mouth playing or biting.
Jumping:
He is only rushing when he has long distances to and after a jump
Much easier to bring him back after rushing
Dressage:
He is lighter now in his contact.
Working on Elementary elements to collect him and engage his hind legs.
Shoulder in, spiralling, Travers, Renvers, simple change (3-4(5 training) steps)
10m circle canter, halt, rein back, turn on haunches.
Work in hand:
Trots next to me and is more calm and controlled. Rein back is also very good and fast in reaction. He accepts me more next to him and is more active in walk. Rein back and trot in hand works.
He needs a lot of treats to show him he is doing very well.
Spanish walk: he needs to learn to stretch his leg.
July 2017
7th month
Left to Germany for my instructor licence
August 2017
8th month
Trainer C classical baroque in Germany
September 2017
9th month
Only 3 weeks of preparation for Elementary 3.1 after such a long time away.
My knowledge of training horses grew during my stay in Germany and Focus won his Elementary straight away.
Work in Hand
Focus stretches his front leg know in Spanish walk
October 2017
10th month training
Working on flying changes with Focus.
Trying different approaches to see how he can do it best.
Started with touching legs for half steps
First half pass movements
Working on his balance and elevation
I focus more on releasing him when he has his peak performance in a unit
Work in Hand:
He did 4 strides of very nice Spanish walk at work in hand
Finally Absorbine helps with his hoof fungus and his frog is growing out now.
November 2017
11th month
Work in hand:
Stepping over in small steps
Work in Hand
Further focus on half steps and Spanish walk.
I stopped improving and training him as he got finally ready for his first Medium class. As I considered to buy him and made an offer I decided not to show him anymore as I expected his price would rocket.
December
12th month
Away for 2 weeks in Germany. Visit at the Oliveira stables to learn from Manuel Jorge de Oliveira.
Unfortunately EFS did not accept my proposal for Focus but asked for more (as I supposed).
People took notice of him at competitions and during training and started to ask for him in order to benefit from Focus as he was performing so well.
The interested parties want to jump him again although his body confirmation is much too heavy for that. Therefore it might be only a matter of time until he gets lame again as he was already in former times because of jumping.
People sometimes only want to profit and show up even if they harm someone or something else...
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