I finally feel like we are making progress. We had a little blip because Chesney managed
to bruise all of the soles of his feet.
However, I managed to figure out a way to carry on riding which wouldn't
make him worse. Now, finally, the field
is drying out which means that they are all much cleaner :)
My April aims were:
1. Calmness -
still a bit speedy (not sure we will ever sort this)
2. Rhythm -
needs work
3. Suppleness -
improving again, slowly
4. Consistency
of bend on left rein - disaster
5. Halt
for more than 2 seconds! - 3???
6. Encouraging
contact - this is working, but variable
7. All
transitions
8. Trot
serpentines - getting steadier and better
9. Increase
cantering - bit more than we were doing, still too rushed
10. Trotting
poles - we have only managed to walk over these so far
This is what April looked like:
1st - Rode in arena, about 25 minutes and he was naughty
today :( Jumpy, shying, trying to canter
off and generally looking for trouble!
2nd - Arena again and much better today. We did some walk and trot 20m circles and
some walk serpentines. A bit of walk leg
yield which he has remembered really well and a canter on each rein.
3rd - Hack today, just 35 minutes but so nice to get out
again. Tommy was so sweet because when
Chesney started getting stressed by the gate he went over to his fence and
sniffed Chesney, as though he was reassuring him and saying 'It's OK I'm still
here'
5th - Lunged today and he was good.
6th - Arena again but it was quite windy today so Basil was
a bit jumpy. Pleased with him
considering the wind though and we managed to trot over our single pole with no
drama.
8th - Arena today, better again, we also managed to do some
trot serpentines which were a bit rushed and canter on both reins. The cantering is also a bit rushed and we
don't always get the right leg because Basil is not listening to me properly at
the moment.
9th - We had a surprise today when we were walking around
the arena because the Little Owl popped up and sat on the fence for a
minute. We did 30 minutes today, walk
and trot, we trotted over the pole again and did some better trot serpentines. We also managed some trot leg yield and some
walking spirals. Really pleased today.
10th - Hack out again today.
Enjoyed it.
11th - Vet to Chesney - he has bruised all his feet.
15th - Lunged Basil today and he was very good, despite a
few extra days off.
16th - Rode Basil in the arena today for 30 minutes. Walk and trot circles and some lovely trot serpentines. We went to trot over the pole as we have been
doing but today he thought it would be fun to jump it. Canter was a bit rushed again and he was strong
and stroppy. Good walk spirals though.
17th - Arena again, we did some 20m circles in canter which
were still a bit fast but he wasn't so stroppy today. Not bad trot serpentines but again he jumped
our pole.
19th - Lunged today.
Very good.
20th - Arena today and he was strong and awkward again, not
sure if he is having a strop about the bit all of a sudden or just being
difficult.
22nd - Lunged, again very good. We are getting our lunging rhythm going again
now.
23rd - Arena, Basil was still keen today but better than
last time, good walk and trot leg yield today.
Over pole, jumping again - think he might be telling me something!
24th - Arena again, tried a new exercise when we walk a 20m circle
at A then trot a 20m circle in the middle, then canter a 20m circle at C. Pleased but still cantering a bit fast. Better on the right rein.
26th - Lunged and again very good. I'm not sure how long
this will last.
27th - It started to hail and rain after our first 5 minutes
so we only managed 20m before we were really wet and cold. We walked over 3 trotting poles and although
he was hesitant to start with Basil did walk over them without stepping back.
29th - Arena , disaster.
I think neither of us were really in the mood but it was a bit windy and
Basil took the opportunity to be difficult.
Really jumpy and wouldn't walk up the side of the arena or bend the
right way.
30th - Hack, after yesterday (and now Chesney is a lot
better) I thought we needed a change of scenery. Basil was really good.
1. Calmness
2. Rhythm
3. Suppleness
4. Consistency
of bend on left rein
5. Halt
- we don't practise this enough
6. Encouraging
contact more now
7. Canter
transitions need improving the most.
8. Trot
serpentines still need to be more balanced
9. Improver
our canter, less rushed, right lead
10. Trotting
poles.
Horse Life and Love. Please check it out and SUBSCRIBE.
You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates on Chesney, Basil, Tommy and Daisy.
Until next time!
Jo
No comments:
Post a Comment