Pics of my Aurumba :)

[Truly]

Thought I'd share Crinkle growing up too

I took him to his first show this year..South of England in the 2yo Sporthorse.
I was really pleased with him but so disappointed because when we trotted the triangle the judge said he didn't look ok behind, maybe a bit cold?
I was a bit shocked and said shall I take him out the class?..she said probably best as she really liked him and didn't want to place him lower than horses than he was better than.
I came out and got my daughter to trot him up several times and he was fine???
I later spoke to another competitor and she said he looked fine on the triangle although a little too slow in trot. I even spoke to the photographer there and she said he looked fine???
I can only think because I didn't trot him forward enough he wasn't tracking up???
I was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea really because I knew I should've trotted faster but then knew he probably would have broken into canter or missed the corners of the triangle and most of the judges are strict on manners, so I opted for the steady controlled trot.
Just disappointed really as left home at 5am etc and all for nothing
It's not that I'm a bad loser, just frustrating leaving the ring when I couldn't see anything wrong with him.

Anyway here's my baby ..with his mummy (I sent her to Germany to be covered by Gwens Alchemist.) May 2008

October 2008

July 2009

December 2009

June 2010..he is darker this year

[TrueColours]

ok - here is my take on things and take it for what it is worth from a Hunter Breeding exhibitor here in North America (and I KNOW Dressage Breeding classes are run totally differently and they look for totally different things and that might be the sane sort of difference in the UK as well)

Your boy is lovely and balanced for a 2 year old. In that December 2009 picture, I see a terrific reach through his shoulder with that forearm. In the last trotting in hand picture, I dont see that same reach at all - far from it - maybe only half of what he looks capable of doing. As well, you are behind the motion, holding him back and trying to keep up, so he cannot push from behind like he is capable of doing and really reach forward through the shoulder with that forearm. Hence the judge's comment that he wasnt looking "right" in behind - probably because you were restricting his forward motion???

You have to teach him how to move forward from behind and down and forward INTO the bridle. In that last picture again - his head and neck are up which is going to further restrict his stride length and shorten it up

Take a look at this picture of Zarr:



With him reaching down and forward SO much, it really exemplifies what a beautiful and forward mover he is

Your guy has such a lovely shoulder on him - he should be able to move in tihs same manner - he needs to learn how to move long and low, pushing from behind and into the bit, rather than qiucker and shorter with his head and neck in the air

Does that make sense?

[Truly]

Hi TC
Our Hunter breeding classes are I think judged the same as yours as in you walk the horse away in a straight line and trot straight line back to the judge?..you also walk/trot around the ring?
It's much easier in the hunters...long straight lines to get a good trot

The sporthorse classes are judged differently..you go in one at a time, stand horse up for judge and then walk the triangle and then trot the triangle. The corners are really tight and you have to slow up to make the turn (that trot pic is just before a corner and why I'm asking him to slow down and my left hand is up to guide him round the cone) so it's really hard when you have a lively youngster to run fast enough so they move out unrestricted without exploding lol and then turn a corner, we lead from the left but turn right around the triangle.
So unless the are really relaxed you just can't run fast and make a smooth turn.

That's what I found weird about her comment, it was like she was implying he was lame behind.
He is definitely not lame behind and I just thought it weird that she didn't just realise I was keeping him slow because he was excited.
He wasn't the only one excited as quite a few didn't make the corners and had to circle....I wish I had just run faster now and not worried about being in control lol

There was show jumping in the ring on the left and the Arabs showing in the ring and the right....so a bit over whelming for youngsters.
It's all good experience for him and he should settle the more he does

He was such a good boy when I bathed him the day before and walked straight up the ramp in the morning

Thanks for the nice comments about him
I haven't actually met The Alchemist so don't really know if he is like him but he is sooo much like his mummy, he definitely has her shoulder, her quarters and her face and her temperament

[LB]

I think he looks wonderful.

[TrueColours]

okay - that makes sense then! Those damned triangles are a real PITA to navigate properly and show them off to the best advantage especially if something is going on to the right and left of them and their attention is focused there instead of on what they are supposed to be doing ...

Yes - our Hunter Breeding and yours sound pretty well identical. You'll usually walk away and trot back or walk to a certain point and then trot down the long side, but none of this corner navigating where you have to grab hold of them to make the turns ...

And here I was going to tell you to start jogging and get fitter so you could keep up with him better!!!

Now what I am seeing in the pictures make total sense instead ...