Harlequin Orlando
- Anne's young horse diary

I purchased Orlando in Dec 2006. He is a first cross Andalusian Stockhorse who came to me to be handled and sold on for his owner who did not have time for a young horse.

When he came to me he had not been handled for a while and was a cheeky 2 year old who thought he knew everything! What I liked about him was his willingness to learn and how quickly he came around to doing his job. He also is very people orientated we found this out by Trevor my partner filling up the water trough on a summer’s day and Orlando came over out of the herd to see what he was doing. Trevor sprayed him with water and instead of running away he turned himself around so Trevor could spray his other side!

I originally bought the horse with the intention to sell him on, however after breaking him in myself and with my trainer, Graham Chapple’s recommendation, I have decided to keep and campaign him myself.

 

The following is a diary of his progress and how I go about my training system.

 

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2 Years old

Taught to lead, tie up and pick up legs properly. He was brought in every day for a week, handled then left in paddock to be a horse. I put him out with my old horse Harley who taught him some manners as he is more dominant than Orlando.

When Orlando was brought in he would be led on to the arena and would back up, yield his hindquarters and front end to me then move sideways away from me when required. He has learnt to stand quietly and not move into my personal space. This I achieved easily with this horse as he was quite happy to allow me to be the herd leader. He was hobbled during this time as he had a tendency to paw with his front legs. He responded well.

Orlando at riding club as a baby.
Nice and relaxed.

As a two year old, he was put on the float and taken for a visit to my local riding club to see the other horses working. He enjoyed the experience and was very relaxed about it all. His temperament is willing and very accepting of people, he is not a nervous horse, very happy and trusting and has learned the ropes easily. During this time he learnt to be washed, had his feet trimmed and how to wear rugs. He is now accepting being wormed and has had his tetanus booster.

BREAKING IN

Commenced in Jan 2008, his teeth were done before I put a bridle on him.

• To get used to it, he wore his bridle in the stable while he had a feed.
• He accepted wearing the roller in the stable as I gradually tightened the girth up day by day.
• He was bagged with a plastic shopping bag on a whip which was rustled all around him.
• He was then taught to lunge in the arena and to become obedient to voice commands.



With mouthing gear on Jan 2008.

• He was left in the arena with my mouthing gear on to learn to accept contact without being stressed. See photo.
• He was lunged with the mouthing gear on to learn to go forward to a light contact.
• Then on the lunge he learnt to accept plastic bottles hanging off the roller and banging on his sides.
• He learned to carry a saddle and be lunged with the stirrups hanging down.
• He was lunged with 2 lunge reins and I drove him from the ground and taught him to turn, stop and back up. The process took about 4 weeks and he accepted all this happily without any stress.

BACKING

Backed for the first time Feb 2008.

I had my friend Jo help as she is experienced and is a light weight for me to bunk her on. I held him and quietly bunked her up until she was lying on her tummy on the saddle. After a short time she was able to place her leg over and at first she sat with her weight light and leaning forward, then she sat up. This was achieved with Orlando perfectly relaxed and content. We then did pony rides with me leading him again with no fuss. After 3 rides like this he was ready for me to ride him.

Using my voice commands from the lunge he quickly learned to go forward from a light seat and leg, then to stop with my seat. Turning was no problem.

After 3 weeks he was walking, trotting, turning on 20 metre circle and halting. I would ride him with a light even contact and use both sitting and rising trot. I always lunged him for 10 minutes before getting on and taught him to accept lunging with an outside side rein and the lunge rein back to the girth. I taught him to canter on the lunge and then under saddle using voice commands to help with my leg aids.

WORK PROGRAMME

3 1/2 years old.
Three weeks after backing he was floated to the local riding club grounds and ridden. He went to his first rally and rode in a class with other horses. A little worried about them coming up behind but not naughty.I worked him 5 times a week either handling, lunging only, or lunging and riding.

First set of shoes were on 18th April then started riding out on the roads with experienced horses. He was very accepting of this and comfortable in traffic, despite meeting the road grader on only his third ride out!

Saddle fitter came to check his saddle. I had been happy with it however I wanted it verified. There were no problems. Teeth rechecked, he had developed small wolf teeth so they were removed.

During this period he was introduced to trot poles both on the lunge and under saddle. The first lesson Orlando had with my trainer Graham Chapple, he had been under saddle for 4 months.

GOALS WHILE IN TRAINING

• Teach him to go into a steadier contact, not to fall on his forehand and to use the hind legs more actively. Teach him to react more quickly off my light leg aids.
• Keep him into an even contact with a straight neck and hold his mouth until he learns to balance then stretch into the bit and carry himself up.

Graham rode him in his second lesson and was very pleased. The walk and canter are naturally there with a huge over track in the walk and excellent ability to sit in the canter. He is naturally up in the neck and very forward moving. By the middle of August 2008, six months under saddle, he is stretching into contact both up or round and deep. He does not go onto the forehand because of his ability to keep his hind legs underneath him.

• He is starting flexion left and right through his poll.
• He is sitting into his canter transitions and not running through the contact.
• His walk is forward and happy both stretching down or up into the contact.
• He is very light off the leg aids and has started leg yielding and simple counter canter exercises.

COMPETITION RESULTS

First dressage competition over 65%.
Very Happy.

As of 4th of July 2008, Orlando has been graded Level 3 with ½ points and did his first level 3 test HC at our local riding club gaining over 65%.

He has also competed at Yarra Glen HRCAV Show placing 4th in his led class over 16hh. He has been ridden out in the forest and we continue to regularly do road rides.

So as a 4 yo he is a happy and forward young horse with a relaxed attitude who now does not require lunging before getting on. He is willing in his work and keen to learn both on the dressage arena and out in the open.

First ribbon!

Working out in his first Led Class
at Yarra Glen.

I will keep you up to date with his training.

Check back for updates!

November 2008 Update

Since July 2008, Orlando’s training has been based on getting him stronger over the back by continuing to work round and deep and sometimes putting him in an up frame for a dressage test.

I have commenced some shorter steps, riding forward within the trot and canter and he has learnt to canter from walk. Trot poles are now a regular part of the work program as is trail riding, where he is quite relaxed.

The most important change I have done since July is getting the horse competition experience. He has been to three events recently, one at Glenbrae and two at Werribee, the last one being Top Teams Dressage with the idea being to get him used to the atmosphere and to enjoy himself.

Balance mistakes were his main problem during the test as well as straightness up the centre line. Scores have ranged from 62% to 71% with some very positive comments from judges in reference to his potential. He placed 5th and 6th at the Spring Carnival at Level Three. I have been very happy with how he coped with it all.

Top Teams Dressage 16th Nov 2008
Photos by Derek O’ Leary

AnneLeviston.com was last modified on November 28, 2008.