Jack Begins Under Saddle Work

Make no mistake about it, Jack being three year old off the track, but never raced, racehorse, has been ridden and probably ridden hard and fast! And when we first brought him home, we did put a saddle on him and "rode" him - it was like being on a newborn baby giraffe; he couldn't keep from tripping on his feet, he had no idea where to put his head in the space of things, it's hard to believe that Swiss Yodeler is his dad!!!

So, we took the saddle off and began at the beginning...
Relaxation is the first element of the horse's education and the very foundation for all further training.

"Keep your horse happy. Happy horses don't get tense." The Elements of Dressage; A Guide for Training the Young Horse - Kurd Albrecht Von Ziegner.




The first serious work begins on the lounge line, and Jack has had many months on the lounge line, beginning with basic voice commands at walk, trot, canter; and recently work over ground poles and cavalletti, first in hand, then on the lounge line to loosen the back muscles and encourage relaxation. Jack is relaxed! Jack is laid back!! Ok..next!! Get him to pick up his feet. He is very sloppy at the walk, but when he picks up the trot, either on lounge line or as today, under saddle, he becomes....almost graceful and there is hope for dressage in his future!


Just look at him picking up that hind leg to step over the cavalletti! This is all new and exciting work for Jack!!