The arena managed to thaw enough to ride on today in spite of a covering of snow. I wondered how Woody would react to it but he was no different from normal. He spent several minutes in "don't touch my mouth" mode, while I followed his mouth, mostly upwards, with my hands but told him that the contact wasn't going away. Finally he dropped his head and walked, though he did not really settle until I put him into a figure of eight, which he eventually found so repetitive and boring that he dropped all his tension.
He did some very nice trot on the right rein really easily, with a nice rythmn, without hurrying. The trot on the left rein was much more difficult, with him swinging his shoulders outwards and not wanting to allow the power through from the back. Eventually I sat to the trot to keep him forwards, and once I had that established things went a lot better and I was pleased with him.
That was enough for me, so after a few walk/halt/walk transitions (some of which can make him quite stroppy and jump around!) we came in. There was no sign of lameness at all, and provided there is none when I give him a little hack at the weekend, we are headed to the farm ride on Monday to see how he likes to pop a few little jumps.
I must screw his saddle together or I'll be jumping in a dressage one!
C
Once again, great progress. That farm ride looks better and better.
ReplyDeleteAnd do get a jumping saddle fixed up for Woody. Jumping in a dressage saddle is not exactly comfortable. *G*
I have the screwdriver in my hand :-)
ReplyDeleteC