I rode Remy out for the first time in months yesterday. He needs to get fit, he's come out of winter looking like a pudding. It's strange as he's never held his weight well over the winter, but this year he's actually put weight on (not good, I know). I kept looking at him and thinking, great he's doing well this year, and then one day I looked with fresh eyes and realised that he was toooooo fat!
So, spring is nearly ( nearly being the operative word, as we're back to the cold and rain at the moment) here and I really do need to get my arse in gear and get him out and about and back to the work in the school. It's been a bit intermittent the last couple of months.
He was a good boy, despite the fact that the world and his wife were out and about too, tractors, trailers, woodcutters etc, etc, etc.
Today, I dodged the showers, and actually got some decent weather to ride both Remy and Bonbon in the school.
I rode Bonbon first - she's being a little bit grumpy as she's on her first season of the year, but she was great in the school. I warmed her up with some work in walk, small circles and giravolta on both reins, then some walk/trot transitions. Better today with her keeping her inside shoulder up into the transition, and the trot feeling more balanced.
I did a little bit of groundwork with Remy first, just wanted to give him a few minutes on the lunge and a little in-hand moving quarters and shoulders. He was soft and relaxed on the lunge, a nice easy trot and a few trot/canter transitions. I finished by riding for a few minutes, a bit of lateral work at walk followed by a trot on each rein.
Happy with both sessions!
Dentist coming tomorrow, not looking forward to it.
My Life, My Horses and My Attempts to Train the Classical Way
Monday, 11 March 2013
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Some good work in the school
A session each in the school with Remy and Bonbon this morning. That's twice this week I've managed to ride them both, and today was extra nice because the sun was so very warm and relaxing.
Bonbon was a little tense and distracted, but once she started to relax we got some good work. She's started to really soften in my hand, giving her mouth and relaxing through the neck. When we get it right, she's like flowing water, moving with ease and a quiet power which is lovely to feel. When we don't get it right, she's a little bit like an oil tanker trying to turn in a small space, heavy against my inside leg, wanting to look outside, and falling on the inside shoulder.
It's becoming less like this though, it's very early days in her riding career and I have high hopes that we'll make a good partnership.
Remy softened immediately when we started, he stretched down and flexed easily on both reins. We did a small amount of work at walk to get him nice and relaxed and bending easily, concentrating on keeping it slow and accurate, allowing him to raise his shoulders. The reinback was fluid and the shoulder- in was good with correct bend and even steps.
I moved on to walk/ canter transitions, and was really pleased when he immediately raised his energy without pushing against the hand. I wanted to start to address the rushing in the canter, as, after a good transition, we get a few well balanced strides and then he loses his balance and starts to rush.
A well timed visit to the 'Horse Listening' blog reminded me of the use of transitions as a balancing tool, and something I need to be doing.
Well, today, I asked for the transition, let him canter a few strides (aiming for three, but not always accurate) and then asked for a transition to trot. After a few attempts, he started to rebalance himself into the transition, and gave me an active, well balanced trot. Because he started to listen and anticipate the transition, his canter remained well balanced. A timely reminder, as, although I know that this works, I'd sort of forgotten, gettin lost in my attempts to ride and rebalance the canter.
All in all, a great morning, made all the better by the weather.
Bonbon was a little tense and distracted, but once she started to relax we got some good work. She's started to really soften in my hand, giving her mouth and relaxing through the neck. When we get it right, she's like flowing water, moving with ease and a quiet power which is lovely to feel. When we don't get it right, she's a little bit like an oil tanker trying to turn in a small space, heavy against my inside leg, wanting to look outside, and falling on the inside shoulder.
It's becoming less like this though, it's very early days in her riding career and I have high hopes that we'll make a good partnership.
Remy softened immediately when we started, he stretched down and flexed easily on both reins. We did a small amount of work at walk to get him nice and relaxed and bending easily, concentrating on keeping it slow and accurate, allowing him to raise his shoulders. The reinback was fluid and the shoulder- in was good with correct bend and even steps.
I moved on to walk/ canter transitions, and was really pleased when he immediately raised his energy without pushing against the hand. I wanted to start to address the rushing in the canter, as, after a good transition, we get a few well balanced strides and then he loses his balance and starts to rush.
A well timed visit to the 'Horse Listening' blog reminded me of the use of transitions as a balancing tool, and something I need to be doing.
Well, today, I asked for the transition, let him canter a few strides (aiming for three, but not always accurate) and then asked for a transition to trot. After a few attempts, he started to rebalance himself into the transition, and gave me an active, well balanced trot. Because he started to listen and anticipate the transition, his canter remained well balanced. A timely reminder, as, although I know that this works, I'd sort of forgotten, gettin lost in my attempts to ride and rebalance the canter.
All in all, a great morning, made all the better by the weather.
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