Tough Times

It’s been a while and admittedly difficult the last few weeks to write blog posts. I know that winter is always a hard time for me, but I’ve also been sick and busy with my new job at a Day Spa.

Today’s ride on Scout I felt was productive and enjoyable. An amazingly beautiful day today, we rode out in the front pasture. Working a lot on relaxation, as he still has tension in his canter. He has a tendency to take the reins push forcefully forward and down with them when he gets nervous, so working a lot on getting through that. Shutting the door on letting that be an option when he gets nervous and giving him a different option of moving more forward. He gave me lovely movement and carriage in the walk and trot, and his departs to canter improved slightly.

I also worked all of the babies on leading and lunging. I’m slowly introducing the idea of lunging to them out in the pasture. Just a halter and lead and a lunge whip, practice leading with a nice forward walk on both sides, then move to adding distance. Ceylon pretty much has the idea, just needs a little refinement on the halt. O-Man needs more work on getting forward at the walk, has a near perfect halt.. Then there is Theodore who requires only the lightest of aids and he is right on cue. Great forward walk, great halt. I didn’t work Truman as he has another bout of diahrria and I try not to add anything that might be stressful.