After removing Taktur from his ladies yesterday and putting him back with the boys, it was time to get back to work. He wasn’t too happy to leave the marital home, but work is work and he will just have to deal with it (the wives do not miss him).
After having new shoes put on, it was time to test them out with a quick ride.
It may have been a while, but Taktur took it all in his stride and was stunning as usual.
He needs a lot of work to bring him back into fitness but this is a very good starting point.
Daisy and Taktur need to establish a relationship and this is extremely important if they want to succeed as a pair in future competitions.
Luckily, he remembers all gaits and work will be a welcome distraction from fawning over non-responsive mares (whether they are real or in his head is another kettle of fish).
So, it will be back to the daily grind of building up muscles, but at least there is a bucket of food at the end so life is not all bad.
Taktur, I’m afraid the only lady in your life now will be your rider.
Bad luck!
Hi Frances, being more into dressage than any other horsey field, Taktur looks lovely when he’s working through into a nice round outline. For tolt, is it considered correct to work in a more hollow outline and, if so, what’s the logic for this? It’s really interesting to see how easily he seems to be able to swap between the two frames.
Taktur’s tölt is not his first gait.
This is the first time he has been ridden and worked in 4 months so naturally his muscles and topline need to develop. If we immediately ask for an outline in tölt, his action would go, he would stop tracking up and his muscles would be forced and stiffer.
To get an outline in tölt takes time and is something we work at slowly so that it builds the muscles properly, ie the foundations are there. Taktur is a young horse and there are many steps to take before he can comfortably offer an outline. We do not force this, we do not use draw reins or horse walkers just good riding to keep him as light as possible. Cutting corners to get immediate results is not how we train.
Thanks for the explanation Frances. Can any horse be taught to tolt or does it have to be bred into them? Are some Icelandics born without the ability to develop a tolt? I’m totally ignorant about the breed – I need to get Googling!
No, not every horse can be taught to tolt. It has to be part of or in their breeding – a gene thing (genetic mutation, I think). Some Icelandics never find their tolt, like Iacs. He can do it, but we have never asked him as it would involve winding him up and, as a child’s pony originally, I wanted him to be safe and calm rather a tolty nutter.
Thanks, Frances, that’s interesting. Jx