Thursday, 3 March 2016

February Review


I can't wait for the better weather, there is just always something messing up our progress.  Basil has not had a consistent week since August; if it is not him, it is the weather and now I am ill.  Things just aren't running smoothly at all.  I suppose this is the best time to be ill because the weather often messes up riding anyway.  Hopefully I will be better and then the sun will start shining :)
 


My February aims for Basil were:

1.       Calmness 
2.       Rhythm 
3.       Suppleness 
4.       Consistency of bend on left rein 
5.       Halt for more than 2 seconds! 
6.       Encouraging contact
7.       All transitions
8.       Circles, serpentines and changes of rein.

We have included these in each session I have actually managed - although I am not asking for a contact as we are really back to the beginning in some ways.  Progress is not really being made:(


This is what February looked like:

3rd - Farrier today and he put Basil's shoe back on :)  Tommy had his toe rasped a bit on his off hind leg.

5th - Lunged Basil for 10 minutes today, first time for a few days.  Unsurprisingly he was a bit silly and instead of trotting around just did a lot of leaping!

7th - Lunged again for 10 minutes.  Very good today we just did walk with a bit of trot.

9th - Rode today for 20 minutes.  He was a bit on his toes today to begin with but settled.  Walked mostly with a bit of trot.  Circles and serpentines. 

11th - Hunt met in the village today and seriously upset Tommy.  The horses ended up staying out all night which was not great for Basil :(

12th - As I really did not want to lose our impetus I decided to lunge Basil today.  He was tired though so just did 8 minutes mostly in walk.

13th - Lunged again today and he was very good.  Walk and trot but I think he may have been a bit tired still.

14th - Rode in the arena but it was quite windy.  I was really pleased with Basil though we did walk and trot with circles and serpentines.

16th - Short hack, Basil was good on the way out but was quite excited on the way back and jogged sideways most of the way.  It is a long time since we hacked so I am not that surprised.

19th - Rode for 25 minutes today; walk and trot but Basil was really jumpy because it was windy again.

Really windy.

23rd - Lunged again, he was a bit of a loopy boy today.

For the rest of February I have been ill - and it is horrible :(

Another month messed up so the same aims for March:

1.       Calmness 
2.       Rhythm 
3.       Suppleness 
4.       Consistency of bend on left rein 
5.       Halt for more than 2 seconds! 
6.       Encouraging contact
7.       All transitions
8.       Circles, serpentines and changes of rein.


Did you see yesterday's video 'How to ... Poultice a foot'  on my You Tube channel.   
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Until next time!
Jo

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