Gone for a spin.
I took Red for a spin today, But first I rearrainged things in the pasture. I moved the cross rail more towards the center and left it on the lowest setting to act as a raised ground pole, then I moved my other ground poles (only have two at the moment) and put them next to the cavelleti. Now why didnt I put them infront of the caveletti. well its a simple enough answer. I never trotted her over ground poles much less the caveletti. Yep, you guessed it, it was her first time trotting ground poles!
Started off with simple schooling. Walking and bending, then moved onto trotting. Around we went, do loops at the end of straight lines, switching directions, then over the ground pole which she leapt with the greatest of ease. Ok no she didnt, she trotted beautifully over them, spaced at 6 of my toe to heel steps she sail over them not missing a beat as though she has been trotting them for awhile now. I did it both ways then sent her over the caveletti which she trotted easily, you could barely tell she lifted her legs higher she did it so smoothly.
Once we did that a couple times, I stopped her. No vocalisation, pure body cue and she stopped easily, no fuse, no question, just stopped. I sat her there for a moment to estanblish she did what i wanted then immidiatly asked for the trot. She did it, a couple walk strides before going into the trot, but hey it was her first time. We trotted a bit, stopped from the trot, trotted out from the halt. Back and forth between the two for a few minutes also putting in a halt to walk so she doesnt associate halt to trot for a constant.
After that we trotted around some more, more bending, more looping, stopping from the trot, going back and forth between halt, trot, halt walk, walk trot, walk halt. Then trot to canter. This is the 3rd time Ive cantered her since Ive had her and it never ceases to amaze me how easy and smooth she goes into it and how easily she maintains it. First couple times she breaks into the trot after a few strides. No biggie, it beats her freaking out and bucking, or bolting, or just plain taking off. Third time I asked her to maintain it longer, she hesitated at first and I reaffirmed what I wanted and she kept it up until I allowed her to trot, again the transition work from trot to canter and canter to trot is amazing, so incredibly smooth, no head flipping, no hopping into it, no tenseness, she did get rushy at first the second canter but eased when I told her to and just relaxed and flowed into it. I cantered her the other direction then called it quites on the schooling. Time for a treat.
Trail ride!!!!
Red LOVES going out on a trail ride, just loves it, she enjoys seeing new things and just plain out exploring. I know some shake their heads over it, with Red's movement and willingness she would make a very cute HUS mare. But ya know, I dont really care what she turns into so long as she is willing.
We headed out and off she went thrilled to the bone. She was tired from our work out, but not tired enough to enjoy walking along, grass up to her knees rippling slightly in the wind, watching cars and semis go on by. I let her go at her own pace (a walk) in whatever direction she chose so long as it obviously wasnt a bee line to the nicest spot of grass she saw at the moment. She paused every nopw and then letting everything soak in before moving onwards. We went half a mile before heading back, a decision *I* made not her. Started off ok, then halfway bolted as a bird flushed behind us. Got her down easily and we walked on. No fidgeting to hurry on home no fussing nothing. We paused at the huge round bales halfwayish back, and I mean they are taller than Red's lifted head. Moved off again then it happened. We distantly head Poco, and my quiet girl perked up and for the first time ever in a long while anyway she hollared back. I was prepared to deal with an antsie baby impatient to get home hollaring her head off. Didnt happen, no more calling, no prancing, nothing. We made it home and I had her trot out there a bit for a loop here and there before walking her out and untacking her to be put up.
Overall it was a profitable ride, not just a schooling refresher ride. She relaxed into the bit easily, drooled and relaxed. Lovely.
.
.
.
.
I took Red for a spin today, But first I rearrainged things in the pasture. I moved the cross rail more towards the center and left it on the lowest setting to act as a raised ground pole, then I moved my other ground poles (only have two at the moment) and put them next to the cavelleti. Now why didnt I put them infront of the caveletti. well its a simple enough answer. I never trotted her over ground poles much less the caveletti. Yep, you guessed it, it was her first time trotting ground poles!
Started off with simple schooling. Walking and bending, then moved onto trotting. Around we went, do loops at the end of straight lines, switching directions, then over the ground pole which she leapt with the greatest of ease. Ok no she didnt, she trotted beautifully over them, spaced at 6 of my toe to heel steps she sail over them not missing a beat as though she has been trotting them for awhile now. I did it both ways then sent her over the caveletti which she trotted easily, you could barely tell she lifted her legs higher she did it so smoothly.
Once we did that a couple times, I stopped her. No vocalisation, pure body cue and she stopped easily, no fuse, no question, just stopped. I sat her there for a moment to estanblish she did what i wanted then immidiatly asked for the trot. She did it, a couple walk strides before going into the trot, but hey it was her first time. We trotted a bit, stopped from the trot, trotted out from the halt. Back and forth between the two for a few minutes also putting in a halt to walk so she doesnt associate halt to trot for a constant.
After that we trotted around some more, more bending, more looping, stopping from the trot, going back and forth between halt, trot, halt walk, walk trot, walk halt. Then trot to canter. This is the 3rd time Ive cantered her since Ive had her and it never ceases to amaze me how easy and smooth she goes into it and how easily she maintains it. First couple times she breaks into the trot after a few strides. No biggie, it beats her freaking out and bucking, or bolting, or just plain taking off. Third time I asked her to maintain it longer, she hesitated at first and I reaffirmed what I wanted and she kept it up until I allowed her to trot, again the transition work from trot to canter and canter to trot is amazing, so incredibly smooth, no head flipping, no hopping into it, no tenseness, she did get rushy at first the second canter but eased when I told her to and just relaxed and flowed into it. I cantered her the other direction then called it quites on the schooling. Time for a treat.
Trail ride!!!!
Red LOVES going out on a trail ride, just loves it, she enjoys seeing new things and just plain out exploring. I know some shake their heads over it, with Red's movement and willingness she would make a very cute HUS mare. But ya know, I dont really care what she turns into so long as she is willing.
We headed out and off she went thrilled to the bone. She was tired from our work out, but not tired enough to enjoy walking along, grass up to her knees rippling slightly in the wind, watching cars and semis go on by. I let her go at her own pace (a walk) in whatever direction she chose so long as it obviously wasnt a bee line to the nicest spot of grass she saw at the moment. She paused every nopw and then letting everything soak in before moving onwards. We went half a mile before heading back, a decision *I* made not her. Started off ok, then halfway bolted as a bird flushed behind us. Got her down easily and we walked on. No fidgeting to hurry on home no fussing nothing. We paused at the huge round bales halfwayish back, and I mean they are taller than Red's lifted head. Moved off again then it happened. We distantly head Poco, and my quiet girl perked up and for the first time ever in a long while anyway she hollared back. I was prepared to deal with an antsie baby impatient to get home hollaring her head off. Didnt happen, no more calling, no prancing, nothing. We made it home and I had her trot out there a bit for a loop here and there before walking her out and untacking her to be put up.
Overall it was a profitable ride, not just a schooling refresher ride. She relaxed into the bit easily, drooled and relaxed. Lovely.
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