July 2017 Review

Basil is really starting to come round and supple now in walk and trot.  Lots of circles, serpentines and changes of rein.  I am feeling changes and progress but our canter transitions are so inconsistent and it is difficult to get the balance right between preparation (to get the correct lead) and not letting him get too over excited.

 
My Aims for July were: 

1.      Calmness and Rhythm - great, until we think about canter

2.      Suppleness - definitely progress

3.      More balance and slower in canter - occasionally

4.      Correct canter leads, probably about 75% of the time

5.      Turn on forehand - improving

6.      Leg yield circles (spirals) - done some in walk and trot

7.      Canter Poles - no but set up for August

8.      Small jump - no jump but all set up for August

  
This is what July  looked like:

1st - ride in arena.  Unusually Basil was feeling quite lazy today, I think he was feeling fat because I moved the fence last night!  We walked over the poles today and just had a little canter as we are just getting back into it after my holiday.

2nd  - hack out today, we met another horse on our way home so he got a bit excited but he was better behaved than he has been other times we have met one!

4th - lunged today, he was very good.

5th - rode in the arena again today.  We had some good walk and trot serpentines but struck the wrong lead on both canter reins :(

7th - lunged.

8th - hack out - lovely.

9th - arena, turn on the forehand is definitely getting better.  Basil just trotted faster and faster when anticipating canter so I had to do lots of circles to try and calm him down.  Today Tommy has been here for 2 years x

11th - lunged again.

12th - 17th not feeling well :(

18th - lunged again as feeling a bit better.

19th - arena with some brilliant walk spirals, canters a bit fast but we did get the correct leads and had some lovely trot serpentines.  Vet for a follow up blood test for Chesney.

21st - lunged today, it was quite windy and Basil was a bit silly but he did stay on the circle JUST!

22nd - arena again, walk poles and leg yield.  Canters were OK but still a bit fast, correct leads though.

23rd - rained a lot.

24th - lunged - he is really settled in this now.  Chesney's blood test results in and his levels are improving but still could be better so need to increase his tablets.

25th - rode in the arena again.  Turn on the forehand, walk leg yield and spirals in walk and trot.  Worked really well on the left rein and good canter transition and canter but then he anticipated on the right rein.

26th - arena again today to try and build on yesterday.  Great trot over poles today, he didn't rush and stayed balanced.  BUT wrong lead 2nd canter on left rein because anticipating and getting excited with his head in the air.  Got a good canter next time though.  We had some great trot work though with bend and suppleness.

28th - lunged.

29th - hack out.  Increased Chesney's Prascend tablets to 1.5.

30th - arena with lots of circles, walk, trot and serpentines.  Canter were better transitions but a bit fast.  Tommy had a bomb around the field half way through so Basil got a bit excited.

My Aims for August are the same:

1.      Calmness and Rhythm in canter

2.      Suppleness

3.      More balance and slower in canter

4.      Correct canter leads

5.      Turn on forehand

6.      Leg yield circles (spirals)

7.      Canter Poles

8.      Small jump

Have you seen yesterday's video 'July Schooling' on my You Tube channel?
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Until next time!

Jo