I rode. Because I wanted to and not because I had to. WOW!!
I got straight onto Ace. I have decided that if he is a horse who is going to explode just because he hasn't been ridden for a few days, I probably don't want to keep him anyway. So up I popped, clipped on my jacket, and he was absolutely fine. We worked on trot/walk transistions while staying soft. At one point I had to decide between keeping him soft and actually making him stop, since he was taking two sides of the arena. I decided to make it clear I wanted him to walk and pulled him up. One repetition of that, and suddenly he was on message. So we did a free walk on a long rein, as we always do to finish, and when I said "out" which is my command to stretch forwards and out, he responded immediately. He even finished with a square halt.
I rode Jazz then. Now, who would have thought, a year or two ago, that he would concentrate on flying changes while the other two were just by the arena having a "who's the taller" boxing match, eh? Talk about growing up :-) He did some lovely trot lengthening, improved yet again his collected trot "almost piaffe" and did his first ever flying changes on a dead straight line across the arena. Previously I have always used the sides and done a slight change of bend. Up til now he has ignored the aid if given on a straight line, as he did at first today. I tried again, kept him very straight, sat him on his hocks and flicked him with the whip exactly on the aid. Bingo!
Now I DO feel better today!
C
ps I can't answer your comments at the moment as Blogger has gone crazy again. They released a new version, with replies directly related to the comment, too early and it's up and down like a yo-yo as they try and fix one problem only to create another!
NH you made me feel guilty though. Here am I whinging and you are in the Highlands! You must think I'm right nesh :-)
Ah, my better weather wish must have taken effect. Good thing.
ReplyDeleteGood for you with Ace. I've kind of started treating Tucker like a real horse too--just get on and ride, even if he's had time off. Interesting how the straining sticks.
And Jazz....tempis on the horison for sure. Let's see....you could counter canter the corner, (say counter canter on right lead.) then do a change to left lead near the center and then ride four strides to the rail where you could do another change back to right lead--true lead for the new direction.
Can't quite remember what exercise MaX Gahwyler had me do when I was starting tempi's with PJ. I think it was true canter to counter canter on the side and then true canter again in the corner, but I also remember some kind of exercise using the diagonal.
What you are going to find is that once Jazz changes just on your leg, the tempis will be relatively uncomplicated. But, he may also start offering changes whenever when you first teach him. You might really have to focus the both of you and just doing them on your aid.
Have fun. There's such relief in your "voice" in this post. I'm relieved too. Trying to send more good weather.
TEmpis do feel close now Jean, so does piaffe. He suddenly seemed to understand today that I want him to keep trotting without moving forwards. There was no power in it, but that can come later now that he understands the basic concept.
DeleteC
Wots a nesh... ? I guess I just accept that riding in Dec / Jan is unlikely and Nov and Feb can be iffy... but this year has been particularly bad.. very very wet made worse by freezes and our very low sun so unlikely to thaw shaded roads and tracks, which many are as lots of forestry.. to put it all in context I have been snowed in at end of April.. Anyways glad you're out and about again.. cabin fever isn't great and tends to lead to the human equivalent of weaving / windsucking .. ;)
ReplyDeleteGood northern term, lass. Nesh - mardy - soft - wet - namby pamby etc.
DeleteMy equivalent of windsucking has 13.5% on the label,so I have to watch myself!
C
I had the same question about "nesh". Wimpy, we would say here. Ha 13.5% - maybe that would eliminate weaving in the horses - worth a try :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like Jazz is developing a work ethic. As for Ace - it appears that your attitude makes a big difference - I guess we all know that but forget from time to time.