E.M.T. HORSES - NEWS GALLERY

WE needed to encourage Murphy to work through and over his back, something that he was most reluctant to do due to both previously injury and general stiffness. He was generally very stiff throughout his whole body and a visit from our Chiropractor, Georgina Sim, confirmed our thoughts with regard to what we felt was physicaly amiss with Murphy.

ALTHOUGH he began to "drop" well, then was inclined to go onto his forehand, preferring to pull himself along rather than propel himself from behind. He was not "off the leg" and this did not help our cause.

MURPHY proved to be quite tetchy in the mouth and was reluctant to take a contact - and when he did, he went over the bit rather than onto it. We switched to a Myler Combination bit (comfort snaffle mouthpiece) to encourage him to go forward from the leg and into the hand. Canter work initially resulted in much tension and disuniting as Murphy felt he couldn't canter unless he trotted fast first with his head in the air! Using the Myler enabled us to "hold" Murphy in the trot but without him feeling mouth pressure therby teaching him to break to canter from a regulated speed.

OK, so there is still plenty to do, but Murphy is looking a transformed horse.

REA, as an ex-racehorse, thinks that she already knows about being ridden and what to do. Yes, she does but not as a riding horse.

In typical fashion Rea's holds her head up in the air and she has a solid neck with a thick underside muscle. In such cases most people would resort to using side reins for lunge work to encourage a lower head carriage, but Rea knows instantly how to avoid their action. She is very strong willed and can be very negatively demonstrative!

We elected to fit a loose-fitting flash noseband which is unusual for us as we prefer complete mouth/jaw freedom.

However because Rea is so busy in the mouth but yet not salivating by using the flash Fred has immediately gained more control whilst lunging and Rea is relaxing her neck, seeking the bit and already clicking into "listening and learning mode".

Rea shows a good length of stride - whilst she has her own way!.

We have to date mostly worked Rea on long lines so that she learns to go forward, seek and take the bit.

Here,although we have a lowered headcarriage and Rea is generally more relaxed, she is still not yet softening through her topline.

We have also noted the mare always inclines to the left both through the neck and hind quarters.

After 3 weeks Rea has gradually presented a picture that all is not quite as it should be physically.

In trot she has a different stride arch with her right hind to that of her left, despite, in such a short space of time, her already seeking a contact and actively going forward with a beautifully lowed head carriage, or as seen here, showing her capacity to accept being asked to take a little more weight behind and come up a little in front.

Again, however, this is all without the weight of a rider.

Whilst we would generally elect to contine with long reining work, Rea's owner is not experienced enough in their use to work a horse on them so as to effect the "corrections" Rea needs in order to over come her physical weaknesses.

So we introduced Rea to the pessoa so that her owner could continue with groundwork without worry that Rea did not understand the pessoa.

We use a roller with lower set rings but we have fitted the pessoa appropriately to the roller Rea's owner has. As you can see the pessoa is loosely fitted - not pulling Rea in in front; she is working happily from a loose lunge rein.

For ridden work we elected for a harbridge as without some form of "guidance" Rea was just not prepared to listen instead preferring to throw every evasion tactic going at us from refusing to move, to going sideways and to rearing up, which is a definate no-no!

As you can see from the picture the harbridge is loosely fitted, just preventing Rea from lifting her head way too high as in the ridden pictures above.

In walk, Rea has soon realised which head carriage is most comfortable and this photograph presents a very pleasing picture.

Rea is going forward well now and has taken a contact; she now just needs to work out that trotting with a more rounded outline (in the same way as she does in walk) is a better, more comfortable option.

It takes time to completely change a horse's way of going - habits have to be broken and muscles conditioned to work correctly.

In Rea's case, as there is muscle wastage, much more time has to be allowed for this process. As she becomes physically stronger Rea will find working in the correct way easier but for now she must just be gently enouraged to "come down"