.....Ace was perfect today, calm and quiet with no hint of any stomach problems. I have given him indigestion powder - Settlex - for two days and he has been in the barn until early evening for the last two days. He came out with a rug beyond repair, but that's a small price to pay.
We have just finished a session where he worked really well for me. I have got the knack of steadying him back and then sending him on now. And he is so much better able to carry himself that sending him on to get the front to back connection is really working, even on 10m circles.
I rode Radar out on a hack yesterday and I described him as a blancmange when I got back. He felt like he was holding his shape, so I took the mould off, and it all went splat as he strung himself out along the road. I put the mould back on, and he was carrying me nicely, then took the mould off to let him do it by himself, and splat it all went again :-) He really is lacking in some schooling lately!
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The trouble with having a horse that's so much fun to hack is that going on a hack is far more enticing than schooling in the arena. Chance lures me out on the trails all the time. Like Radar, his schooling is as much "off" as "on."
ReplyDeleteBut, we need to remember we are doing this riding thing because we enjoy it. Might as well enjoy it as much as possible!!
Good work with Ace in the meantime. It can be fun getting such good results in the training too!
True, Jean. While he is not hunting and there is no pressure to ride him at all, I prefer a nice relaxing hack as a change from Ace.
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