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.

Spicy Fruit Loaf

I started with Bonbon in the school today. We continued where we left off yesterday. Starting with a short lunge session, she was much improved, calmer, no squealing and more focussed. We then did a little in-hand, halt/walk transitions and then reinback to walk transitions. I then got on and did a few circles on each rein with a few halt transitions, and then asked for the halt/reinback/walk whilst ridden. Good girl.

I then took Remy up to the school and worked at walk, concentrating on getting the release and relaxation. He was great today, it feels like it's all falling into place. He was responsive, balanced and soft in the hand. We worked a little on travers on the long side, both reins. Shoulder-in to counter shoulder-in on the circle both reins and his reinbacks were fluid and straight.
We then tried some trot transitions, some from the walk and some from the reinback. He's starting to put more effort into the transition, but he can't handle it and tenses and then starts to run. It's something for us to work on,  he's really starting to relax into the walk work now and I think it's only a matter of time before he relaxes into the trot work.

We make our own bread, well we have a breadmaker that makes our bread, and after putting up with a rather unreliable one for 12 months we've bitten the bullet and bought a super-duper new panasonic one. I don't usually advertise products, but this really is a good machine. It makes brilliant bread and today I made a spicy fruit loaf which tastes delicious. I know we didn't make it by hand, but I'm still rather proud of it! We were sad enough to take a pic!

In the school and on the tracks

A beautiful sunny day today.  I took Bonbon in the school for a short lungeing session and a quick sit-on. She was a little distracted and had a couple of squeals when I asked her to trot on the lunge, but settled well and was a good girl when I got on. I asked for some flexions whilst at halt and then some very basic walk/halt transitions. Jim held the lunge line and I asked her to move around him on the circle which confused her at first as he's been leading us. However, she moved off from the halt when asked, but  we got one step, then a halt, another step, another halt, but eventually we got a few strides and a nice halt when I asked, so left it there for today. She feels so different after riding Remy.
After the session with Bonbon, I took Remy out on the tracks. It's been a while and the last time we headed home quick sharp after he was spooked by a couple of shots in the wood.
Well, he was brilliant, needed to be more forward to start, but after a few hundred yards he became more enthusiastic and walked out like he meant business. We went through the little wood, across the road, a little look and a hesitation at the stone cutting place, and looking at different things along the way, but never saying no and always willing to go. We carried on further than we've been before,  down a lovely grassy track, and stopped at the bottom for a short break under an apple tree, much to Remy's delight and he had little snack, totally happy and relaxed.
We came home with a mixture of strolling along on a long rein and up and together, well balanced with a lovely soft contact in the hand. I love those moments when he comes together and shows me just how powerful he can be.  I don't want to be greedy but I really do want more please!!
I don't want to make out that I'm a big brave girl as Jim followed us on our ride, but he was fifty yards or so back and I really think we're getting to the point where I can start to take him out alone.
I need to restart his trailer training  too and riding out with other horses, as we've been invited on several little randonnées which I'd really like to do.