Training Day!

I made the effort to make our Thursday ride a training ride. Since our favorite teams to ride with were both out of action, there were no distractions! (Well not as many anyway)

Whenever I ride with others I always find myself straying from the important things and more just hoon around - not very good.

So we started off with a little round pen lesson introducing long and low on the lunge.
Although this horse seems to live in long and low, it still needed to be done.
I knew it was going to be touch and go with the side reins but, again, it needed to be done.

I would love to have faith in my horse that he wouldn't do anything silly but... it's Mate
His motto basically to everything right now is "act first 'n think about it later".

Look at that hock action - very fancy

llamallamallamallama

The side-reins were put of extremely loosely at first. So even if he engaged his inner llama, which he did, he wouldn't feel pressure.
I soon worked out this was a stupid step and slightly tightened them.

Modeling

The lesson ended very quickly after Mate got the idea.
He lowered his head and was working his pony-sized body wonderfully.
(I actually think he was a bit shocked at how much praise he got - I was just soso proud)
Although they were only baby stretches, it was still an improvement!

That little lesson ended, in succession I might add, within 20 minutes. So I felt I was within my rights to tack up and ride for a little bit in the arena.

 When I got to the arena it was completely empty. Score.
So I hopped off and decided to work on our turns on the haunches and hindquarters - seeing as I'm banned from doing them in the saddle..
I asked for the turns on both sides and boy did he deliver!
Gorgeous turns with absolutely NO fighting on his part. Good boy!
I was very impressed.

By the time I got back on to ask for the same things in the saddle (breaking many rules) there were like eight more people in the arena!?!
And they all seemed to be doing the same thing... jumping

So I quickly asked for what I wanted and got straight outta there before I started jumping myself.
As for the turns, he's pretty such a pro.

When we arrived at the less crowded arena over the other side, we got working on our leg yielding.
They need so much work it's ridiculous - he even threw in a little buck/spin combo after we both got a bit frustrated.
The fact that my instructions aren't exactly crystal clear plus he's not really sure how to use his brain properly yet, isn't a great mix.
But thankfully, we managed to get some half hearted steps in all 3 gaits... Eventually.

I thought that was a fantastic note to end the day on. He was fed and was pleased when I put him back into the paddock - such a dude!