Week 16: Coming Together

                 In the last two weeks Finn has made some huge improvements. Not only is he now trotting around happily in a frame (chronicled in my last post: http://ottbretrainingproject.blogspot.com/2013/02/week-14-making-adjustments.html) he is now beginning to round his back at the canter too! I have been working Finn over ground poles to help him establish a more careful rhythm. Although Finn sometimes trots and canters a little faster than I would like, it is more important the he is able to sustain a set rhythm at any speed.

                At the canter I normally stand up in the stirrups in order to take my weight out of the saddle. By removing some of my weight from Finn’s back I am able to make it easier for him to canter. Young horses in training have not yet developed the strength in their backs to handle being “sat into” at the canter. When a rider sits on their horse at the canter, the riders hips must open up and sort of swing with the horses motion. On a young horse, sometimes that pressure can be conceived as a driving force, similar to leg pressure, and can result in an unorganized scrambling canter. Up until today I have been careful to obey this principle.

                As a rider I have developed a bit of feel for the horse moving underneath me. Today I began to feel Finn moving freely and easily at the canter. I made a decision that after a couple months of work it was time to sit down (not all of the way) at the canter. It seemed that the moment I sat down Finn responded by balancing himself and even rounding his neck and back! Finn is starting to move like a real event horse, using his hind end and swinging his shoulders. Hopefully by the next post Finn will have jumped his first cross-rail. It is sad to think that so many horses with similar potential end up in kill pens and auction houses around the country.

                On May 12^th I am going to be giving a TED talk at a nearby school. I plan on sharing more about my journey with Finn and thoroughbreds in general. These horses are amazing creatures with distinct abilities and I hope to inspire equestrians in community to consider adopting an OTTB as their next show horse.