Elizabeth

Elizabeth Wood
photo by Phil West

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TRAINING NOTES from Elizabeth

Wiseguy's Out figured out the trot poles right away.

Wiseguy's Out figured out the trot poles right away.

 

Our Boy Darcy and Betty

Our Boy Darcy and guest Betty Morgan.

Wiseguy's Out and Big Money doing ground pole work in preparation for jumping.

Wiseguy's Out and Big Money doing ground pole work in preparation for jumping.

 

Broadway Joe and Rachael

Broadway Joe and Rachael. Broadway Joe was a former horse for sale at Bits & Bytes Farm in September 2003.

 

Joe Bear and Paula. What a team!

Paula had so much fun riding "Special Reserve" horse - Joe Bear - that she decided to lease him so that no one else could get their "bums" on him.

 

Broadway Joe and Rachael

Broadway Joe and Rachael developed a great stride through the poles.

 

Two Thumbs Up with Marie

Two Thumbs Up was purchased by Marie directly from the trainer at the track with the help of Bits & Bytes Farm who located him back last summer.

training notes from elizabeth - february 6, 2005

training> training notes from elizabeth > february 6, 2005

This is the page where Elizabeth and Barry will share training tips and give updates on the horses currently in training at the farm. Each weekend the boarders and the "Friends of Bits & Bytes Farm" do a group training lesson either at the farm or on the road.

Gymnastic Training at Bits & Bytes Farm

The weather was perfect on Sunday for a gymnastic lesson. Gymnastics are good for both the horse and the rider. The rider's position and timing will be improved. It also will develop the rider's 'eye for distance' to the fence. At Bits & Bytes Farm, everyone enjoys getting together for the Sunday lessons. They learn a lot from watching other horses and riders to see what is actually happening when they jump.

This week we had six riders and seven horses: Wiseguy's Out with Lauren, Big Money and Gertjan, Two Thumbs Up and Marie, Joe Bear/Grayboo and Paula, Broadway Joe and Rachael and we had a guest rider Betty Morgan on Our Boy Darcy.

Training our Thoroughbreds Our Boy Darcy with Betty Morgan - February 6, 2005.
Barry's "Special Reserve" horse Our Boy Darcy with guest Betty Morgan.

Working over grids and poles teaches the horses to judge the distance on jumps and how to bascule properly. The goal was to keep the horses calm, regular and at a balanced pace with loose contact. Rhythm, balance and regularity was stressed for the strides over the obstacles.

Two Thumbs and Marie over the trot poles.
Two Thumbs and Marie over the trot poles.

We started with a series of four ground poles at a distance of four and a half feet apart to make the horse produce a working trot. Each horse circled around the arena in a line going over the trot poles several times in each direction.

Two Thumbs Up with Marie
Two Thumbs Up impressed us all with his jumping ability. It was his first time doing grid work and jumping combinations. Look at how happy he is.

Next, we moved from that distance to another group of four poles set at five feet apart to give the sensation of an extended trot. This exercise was repeated and then we moved to a group of poles set at just four feet apart to produce a collected trot. Then we alternated between different sets of poles so that the horses were doing a working trot, extended trot or a collected trot. At the end of this exercise the horses were changing the length of their strides without fuss and their gaits were even and rhythmical. We were ready to add jumps to the poles.

Big Money was a former Bits & Bytes Farm horse for sale.
Big Money and Gertjan. Big Money was a former Bits & Bytes Farm horse for sale last year.

Using the four and half foot distance poles we set a cross rail nine feet away. Each horse trotted through this until everyone had it down pat staying straight and quiet. Next we added another fence 18 feet away which was an oxer. The horses learned to canter quietly to the two fences after entering the poles at a working trot. Even the horses that had never jumped combinations were enjoying the exercise and staying quiet. It was a fun lesson for all the participants.

Wieseguy's Out and Lauren
Wiseguy's Out and Lauren working the grid.

Paula did double duty coming back after the lesson for a private lesson for Grayboo. It was his first time doing the grid work and he loved it!

Grayboo and Paula.
Grayboo and Paula


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