H: Breaking the beasts

So as you’ve seen in previous posts, we kept the girls. Joli is firmly a member of the family and much as she was everything I didn’t want/need, I’m totally in love with her.

So of course we had to start her off. Now I was a bit lazy with Joli, did absolutely no bridlework on the ground, just some follow up and Liberty work! So I started backing her over winter, in the barn, just getting her used to my weight over her back and getting on and off and she was a star. We got to the stage of walking her round the yard and I even took her for a spin in storm Brian. It was going perfectly!

So we decided to take her out for her first hack with Kate on the ground and she shot off in trot straight down the track and I had absolutely NO brakes!! I had to steer her into the neighbours hedge to stop which I was a bit nervous she might jump thanks to her past history! So back to the groundwork to establish some brakes and then we went off on our first few hacks with Drift and she was extremely sharp, very spooky and so clumsy but all in all pretty darn good. We mainly did walk with a small amount of trot before giving her the rest of winter off to chill!

Upon bringing her back into work Jol was again rather sharp, she sent me flying through the air on one occasion and shot off down the lanes a couple of times but I have to say she has mainly been pretty straightforward! 

So I thought I’d make a comparison chart for a bit of fun, as we all know Drift is Mr quirky and gave me a rough ride...

APPY vs WARMBLOOD- the Naughty league

First time Drift had a saddle on: Bronced and bronced and bronced and then bronced a bit more

First time Jol had a saddle on: Good as gold.

Appy 1 : Warmblood 0

First time I sat on Drift in stable: Terrified but nothing bad

First time I sat on Jol in stable: Also scared but no problem

Draw

First trot on Jol: pretty straightforward, just very wobbly

First trot on Drift: Bronced me off... twice

Appy 2 : Warmblood 0

First hack on Jol: shot off into a hedge 

First hack on Drift: threw me off into a hedge and ripped all my nice coat

She’s getting closer but Appy 3 : Warmblood 0 

First canter for Jol a little jump+hump and then a few strides of super canter

First canter for Drift: Bronced me off again and again for the first 6 months

Appy 4 : Warmblood 0

First fall pain off Drift, a shock but not too much.

First fall of Jol= extremely sore human, at least a hand bigger 

Appy 4 : Warmblood 1

First Trailer ride: Drift took over an hour to load and came off dripping.

Jol walked straight on... and then came over the partition.

Warmblood wins hands down.

Appy 4 : Warmblood 2

First time in the school : Jol jumped out.

Drift blind bolted through 100m of electric tape and took it back to the stable with him and had a burn scar for 6 months.

Close call.

But I think the Drift takes it.

Appy 5 : Warmblood 2

Looking forward to more of Joli’s firsts over the next few months... those of you with Appys, I feel your pain!!!!!!

Hold on to what makes you happy... and if it tries to buck you off, just hold on even tighter....