River was a bit fresh yesterday but was managable. I had him walk through the creek that runs by the house and once he was brave enough to walk through it, he crow-hopped and squeeled and was generally very proud of himself. When we went back through and reached the other side, he flug his tail and bounded around and sprayed my back with murky creek water. I laughed and patted him and told him he was a brave, brave boy! No bucking and bolting. No cursing and emergency rein pullying. He's different these days. He's still River, he's just not as flamboyant or reckless. I'm taming the beast (with the help of a leverage bit)!
We did some flat work and I really felt his crookedness. Going right I really have to think about bringing his shoulders right. Going left I have to think of making him yield his ribcage and keep his haunches left. He had a hard time getting straight to pick up his left lead and keeping it down the long side without switching in front. On a good note, he displayed good progress in his trot lengthenings! The new "forward button" comes in handy there! I dread the day I have to sit his trot, though. That will be the day I invest in padded underwear.
I put Flo, Mia, and Pom Pom through the jump chute. I set up 2 bounces, one stride to a vertical. Mia really kicked up behind. I don't have to do much to push her through, I just cluck and she's off! She is really getting more and more confident in her jumping. I think I put the last verical up to about 3'6" and she popped through the bounces and powered the one stride to the vertical in true Teddyette fashion!
Flo has been back sore and I haven't really ridden her much lately. I wanted to put her through the jump chute to see if she seemed uncomfortable jumping. She seemed relaxed and powerful! She over jumped the crossrails every time. She went through the bounces and over the big vertical, about 3"9, without batting an eye. I'm so releaved!
Pom Pom was really rushing and just wanted to blast through the chute like a rocket. The bounces fixed that! She is so much better with her feet! I set the vertical up at about 3'6" like I did with Mims and she just loped right through it. She didn't put a TON of effort in to the vertical, but I don't think she really considered it a challenge. Pom Pom has put on some more weight (added some beet pulp to her diet) and is better about not being so buddy sour. Our little girl's growin' up!
We did some flat work and I really felt his crookedness. Going right I really have to think about bringing his shoulders right. Going left I have to think of making him yield his ribcage and keep his haunches left. He had a hard time getting straight to pick up his left lead and keeping it down the long side without switching in front. On a good note, he displayed good progress in his trot lengthenings! The new "forward button" comes in handy there! I dread the day I have to sit his trot, though. That will be the day I invest in padded underwear.
I put Flo, Mia, and Pom Pom through the jump chute. I set up 2 bounces, one stride to a vertical. Mia really kicked up behind. I don't have to do much to push her through, I just cluck and she's off! She is really getting more and more confident in her jumping. I think I put the last verical up to about 3'6" and she popped through the bounces and powered the one stride to the vertical in true Teddyette fashion!
Flo has been back sore and I haven't really ridden her much lately. I wanted to put her through the jump chute to see if she seemed uncomfortable jumping. She seemed relaxed and powerful! She over jumped the crossrails every time. She went through the bounces and over the big vertical, about 3"9, without batting an eye. I'm so releaved!
Pom Pom was really rushing and just wanted to blast through the chute like a rocket. The bounces fixed that! She is so much better with her feet! I set the vertical up at about 3'6" like I did with Mims and she just loped right through it. She didn't put a TON of effort in to the vertical, but I don't think she really considered it a challenge. Pom Pom has put on some more weight (added some beet pulp to her diet) and is better about not being so buddy sour. Our little girl's growin' up!