The Art of Natural Dressage

I just found a new dutch soccer-talent, in my own pasture.

So nice, when a horse really wants to play with you.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=a2mX4KqHgOI

Oh I laughed right out loud!!!!

Please be careful though! Keep those eyes in the back of your head open. He's not too careful where he's kicking

He is fun though!

For sure you had a lot of fun there
I saw that your horse stands on the top of the ball. Have he tryed to lift up with his teeth this ball (and run like that)?
If so, then soon you have to buy him new balls, because this soft ball will broken easily. I had bought my Esprit around 5 this kind of big balls, what he all smashed.

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Helen
http://wwwesprit.blogspot.com

haha, he hasn't tried that yet. but this was his first introduction with the ball, so everything can happen.

these balls: http://www.bitloosrijden.nl/equispirittoys.htm could be the next option when Brutus destroyed this one.

I hope you don't mind the dangerous part of this movie, he get's a bit too obsessed at the end. That's something I have to be consious of. My other horses are a lot more careful with there human, than Brutus is.
I wanted to show my friend how shanna likes the ball, but Brutus interupted our play, and made it a wild game of soccer, . So i wasn't really thinking of training him, it was all a spontanious action

Wow, so cool balls, I have not seen such balls in Estonia, I would for sure buy these. Are they light like the aerobic soft ball or much heavier and stronger (will not broken so easily)?

Yes, you have to be more careful and watch your horse´s moves. But if you know his moves and his reaction, then for you its not dangerous even though others, who watch your movie think that its dangerous. Did you understood what I was trying to say?

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Helen
http://wwwesprit.blogspot.com

Great video! Also looks a bit like waterpolo

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the ball you see on her move is a kind of an aerobic ball. My horse has serveral destroid in the past year..so i do not every buy such balls
That's why i was searching further and have found these new balls (sie link to (my)website)

but it is very nice to play soccer with your horse.
and also in a small group. In the Netherlands play a few icelandichorse owners soccer and give demo's.
Most people like to see it, and it is also very nice for childeren. Playing and riding at the same time.
i use it for now only for groundwork/playtime

I love your "swing up challenge" video too!

Oh!! And this is Brutus too?

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=dZS9dasfObg&NR=1

Nice video! I agree with the others, just take a little care that he doesn't accidentally hurt you - but for the rest it is really great to see how eager he is to play along, and how well he looks at what you are doing and mimicks that. I love the time where you lift your leg in a jambette, and he then mimicks that against the ball.

Another thing that is great to see, is especially in the first half of the video, where every time when he speeds up to a trot, you can see how he really raises himself from the hindquarters pushing the shoulders upwards, in a split second of almost perfect collection, with the base of the neck raised and his head on the vertical. He seems to be very talented in that direction, a great sign!

yes, Karen, that is my friend playing chase the tiger for the first time.

Brutus is has developed to a very playfull horse. I know him now for 4 months, and the last few weeks he gets more playfull every day. Yesterday we played in the big pasture at liberty. he run to me, and started jumping, and imitating my jumps, ran to my other horse to invite her in this game. And than the really game began, with all kinds of beautifull jumps, performed by 2 horses at the same time.
I'll miss him when the owner comes to bring him home again... I am just a temporary monitor...

so enyoy every minute you have with him! (but you do that already)

He can bring you so much valuable lessons which you can pass on to your own horses