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Experimental Show Horse : Part 1 Well, so far the articles I’ve written for Chaff Chat have “talked the talk” – now it’s time to “walk the walk”! This month I purchased a new horse. He is a seven year old small hack whose life so far has been one long holiday. I have previously given him some preliminary work but he is a genuine “newcomer” having never competed anywhere under saddle. I thought it might be interesting to set some goals for “Isaac” (registered name Kordella Park Mayfair) , make some predictions as to what I feel he is capable of achieving and explain , by way of a few articles, our progress toward the coming show season. Hopefully, all of this will end with pleasing results. Firstly, why did I choose this horse? Well, I am a great believer in bloodlines and particularly families I have know first hand. Although this horse is a small hack, he is pure riding pony on his sire’s side. His grand sire and grand dam were two of the best ponies ever imported into Australia and I showed both of them. One was a multi-Royal Champion in both led and ridden classes. I didn’t know Isaac’s dam but she was a Galloway Of The year so that impressed me also. Other things that appealed to me about this horse were that he put on condition easily and that he produced a very healthy Spring coat without much effort. I also liked the fact that he not only had three good paces but that he had some natural flair to his trot. Presence is an essential element of any good show horse.
So, my goals for this horse are Newcomer classes at VASA and Barastoc, Summer Royal breed classes and perhaps some Club classes with a junior rider. And the all important question…how good is he? Well, he won’t look out of place at a Royal Show but I’ll have a better idea of his capabilities in the Spring. Isaac has settled in well at my stables. He’s been wormed and shod but I will let him grow some natural Winter coat for a month or two. He’s a good eater but I will keep his diet fairly simple –mostly hay- until I’m entirely happy with his basic work and behaviour. This should not take long as he is a clever horse with a good nature. Most of all, what he requires over the next few months, is to have a few outings. Club days are excellent for inexperienced horses to start calmly working in a group. Small Winter competition days, not necessarily competing but just having a quiet ride around, are also ideal preparation for bigger, more important days. Lunge work is essential at this stage of Isaac’s training but it is not necessary that he become too fit, too quickly. After all, the serious shows are six months away. I just want him to give me relaxed, rhythmic, obedient, basic work at this stage. He also needs to learn some obedience around the stables. There will be a full Progress report in two months time. Leigh |
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