February 15, 2018

Connor's Warmup: An Update

I think I'm finally ready to talk about Connor's warmup without feeling like I'm going to jinx it.

Close your ears, just in case.
I've written in the past about how it takes him like 40 minutes before we get really good work.  How the first part of every ride is a slogfest of me trying everything under the sun to get him going.

And...I'm just going to let these recent ride times speak for themselves.

Ignore that outlier in the middle, the Equisense malfunctioned.
That amazing canter leg yield ride I wrote about yesterday?  It was 25 minutes long because it got so good so fast.  Super productive rides of less than 30 minutes have been consistent since January 1.

Here's what we're doing:

1. Lunging, suggested by you guys.  For like...less than five minutes each side.  Maybe even closer to 3 minutes.  Just until he's forward with an open throatlatch and I see him softly chew the bit.


2. Setting the tone that, from the second I get on his back, we're there to work.

3. Learning to identify things like the right amount of impulsion and when a particular hind leg isn't joining the party instead of trying everything under the sun and hoping something works.

4. I hate to bring purely anecdotal evidence into the "Does BoT work?" conversation, but...Back on Track.  I've been letting him stand under his saddle pad, quarter sheet and his non-BoT cooler while I'm grooming him, then he lunges with the quarter sheet on.  The first "productive and short" ride was also the first time he wore the BoT.  No idea if the ceramic fiber heat thing is working, if he just likes the saddle pad better than our other pads, or if it's just a super crazy coincidence, but there it is.  And I am superstitiously not going to change a thing.


We've had enough rides in a row like this, even when I've had to take a break for travel, that it seems to have stuck.  We can be productive in 30 minutes or less instead of our usual 50-60 minutes.  And I feel a heck of a lot better going into the clinic with a horse that can show up and get to work.  So happy!

15 comments:

  1. BoT voodoo! 😉 JK I actually think it's a combination of all your hard work and things clicking, but ya know, once you found something that works, why change it? ☺️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am inclined to agree with you, which is why I won't rule out the BoT was just a really strong coincidence. Things are just clicking now.

      Delete
  2. Awesome!!! And I think BOT is amazing too!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely not arguing with whatever is working!

      Delete
  3. Exciting!! Glad things are clicking

    ReplyDelete
  4. Glad you've found a combination of things that work! And don't worry... by the clinic your warmup will have changed :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AUGH don't tell me that lol. I just want consistency!

      Delete
  5. That is great news, and i'm sure a great feeling! Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Feels amazing after six years of those long rides!

      Delete
  6. That's awesome! I have a ridiculous amount of BoT stuff. I don't entirely know if it is the magical ceramic stuff, or the fact that we changed a lot of other things too, but Charmer's back pain went away, and his stupid long warmup got shorter too. Glad I'm not the only superstitious one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I'll fully admit it lol. I am not quite sure what worked, so I'm sticking to it! That's cool that you saw a similar change.

      Delete
  7. That’s so cool and I’m so happy for you guys!! I continue to be jealous of your Equisense too haha

    ReplyDelete