Friday, March 3, 2017

Trotting

I impulsively signed up for the schooling show at my barn, and then realized it had been quite some time since I trotted my horse under saddle.  For my lesson on Thursday I decided that it might be good to test out where the trot was at (my other option was warmup for the show which seemed extra dumb, even for me).


We started off pretty caffeinated deer like (thanks for that one SB) and I got annoyed because he lost all of his ride ability.  You know, that thing I have been working really hard on at the walk and there is zero reason for it not to carry over.  I cued for shoulder in and felt him puff up and plow through my aids.  So I shoved (great dressage here) him into it with the assistance of my spur.  It was magical, he resisted for a stride and then immediately softened into it.

Magic bonnet still has the magic

He stepped up with his hind, the swing came back in his back and his head immediately dropped.  He can't hold it for very long, but we actually had a shoulder in I am not ashamed of.  The trot is still very inconsistent, but there was a lot of improvement and he felt quite a bit stronger.

I'm trying

I do need to make sure I have a well established half halt to help with balancing him.  He likes to get strung out and zippy.  And keep using the lateral work to slow him and step up underneath himself.  But overall, we are making progress.  It was a very pleasant surprise.  Of course trotting him made him quite excited and he lost a bit of his walk, but I think it will be fine with time (and that whole half halt thing).

18 comments:

  1. Good for you. He reminds me of Carmen in the 'OMG I JUST CAN'T RIGHT NOW COULD YOU BACK OFF?!' But you have to push them through and then it's all 'okay then why didn't you say that before?'

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  2. Yay, I can't wait to hear about how the show goes! 😁 Caffeinated deer will always make me laugh 😂

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  3. Oooooooh so exciting about the schooling show!!! And even better that you were able to help him past his imbalance and resistance. Sometimes I honestly believe it can be mental for the horses. Like they are guarding or protecting themselves for.... Reasons haha. But if we can show them that it's ok, suddenly they get it. Yay Stinker!

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    1. 90% of riding him is mental. He is so smart and has so much baggage.

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  4. Have fun at the show, it's time to get down to business :D

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  5. Woo! Swing and softness? Good boy, Stinker. We knew you had it in there.

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  6. Good luck with your show!!!

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    1. Thanks, it will be pretty chill so hopefully things go well.

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  7. I hope the show was fun! Sounds like things are coming along :)

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    1. It was fun and they are slowly, but they are improving.

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