Post by Erika & George on Aug 29, 2016 10:25:35 GMT 1
It is great to that Avril has some Normandy cobs in training again. I cannot state enough how fab, honest, totally forgiving horses these are. Most of you will have see me posting down the years, in fact over a decade as I have owned George for over 10 years now, but sadly I think it is time to retire him. Trouble is, he is so honest and loves his work so much that he will limp on regardless and several times I have had to return to the yard when he has gone lame, for him to turn around and head straight back out again.
Don't think big means plod with these horses. If you want plod then they will happily plod, George was described to me as a steady ride with a turbo button which is absolutely true. And the great honesty of George was that he always let me decide when to apply turbo boost. If I wanted to walk along the gallops, we walked, if I wanted to gallop, we galloped. Sometimes he would twitch his bottom to ask to go faster, really a little wiggle, but it was always up to me. I had some lessons shortly after I got him so that we could tune in, which was really valuable. I had only ridden in riding school before and those horses are so tuned out, to have a ride which was very switched on to aids took a while to adjust to. My little instructoress loved George and called him a giant sized gymkhana pony and proved himself quite capable of stand to canter in one stride when I squeezed too much with the legs. He loved his schooling and was very adept at cantering a balanced 20 metre circle on both reins.
I am envious of anybody who buys the lovely Ronaldo, very tempted myself but he is just a bit big for me as I have a dodgy knee and would struggle to get on board. I will watch Raffles progress with interest, 16hh maybe just do-able? And finally, you will very rarely see a Normandy Cob for sale, people don't want to part with these beautiful creatures.
Erika & George
Don't think big means plod with these horses. If you want plod then they will happily plod, George was described to me as a steady ride with a turbo button which is absolutely true. And the great honesty of George was that he always let me decide when to apply turbo boost. If I wanted to walk along the gallops, we walked, if I wanted to gallop, we galloped. Sometimes he would twitch his bottom to ask to go faster, really a little wiggle, but it was always up to me. I had some lessons shortly after I got him so that we could tune in, which was really valuable. I had only ridden in riding school before and those horses are so tuned out, to have a ride which was very switched on to aids took a while to adjust to. My little instructoress loved George and called him a giant sized gymkhana pony and proved himself quite capable of stand to canter in one stride when I squeezed too much with the legs. He loved his schooling and was very adept at cantering a balanced 20 metre circle on both reins.
I am envious of anybody who buys the lovely Ronaldo, very tempted myself but he is just a bit big for me as I have a dodgy knee and would struggle to get on board. I will watch Raffles progress with interest, 16hh maybe just do-able? And finally, you will very rarely see a Normandy Cob for sale, people don't want to part with these beautiful creatures.
Erika & George