Ace took exception today to the noise that SH was making digging a channel to bury a back-up water supply pipe. He wasn't in sight, and I think it was that which was making him extra spooky at the blue barrels and generally pretty unco-operative.
I worked through it with the same trick as yesterday, slow it all down, and I got some OK shoulder-in and travers but he pretty much refused to keep his back engaged and do half pass in trot or even an attempt at it. I settled in the end for a good half pass in each direction in walk. The travers is the issue, he is simply not moving his backside in off my leg. We'll be working on that in the future.
I also did some medium canter training. For the first time ever I really pushed the canter. It's not something I would have dared to do on Jazz, or Radar for that matter, I'd never get them back for the corner. But Ace comes back easily and was only a little unbalanced for the corner, and I think he learnt quite a lot from doing it. Not only about lengthening the canter but about controlling his body when coming back to a working canter.
He's been less than fluid for two days in a row now. I'll be looking for an improvement in that tomorrow, or I'll have to change something about what we are doing to stop him dropping back and locking up his back.
We're off to pick up poor Skratch now. He needed to be made safe to be around Snyph before we ended up with inbred kittens from a brother and sister. It's the first time in their lives they have ever been separated and she is here with me looking for reassurance and purring loudly.
C
I hope Snyph is in the loop to be "made safe" as well. I lucked out with Cocopuff. The local animal clinic had a deal and I had her spayed for only $30! She had a rabies and distemper shot as well all for the same price. It's just as important for the female cats to be neutered, as I'm sure you know.
ReplyDeleteAs for Ace, I'm hoping it's just Spring fever and not some kind of muscular or body issue. You might try some massage techniques if he keeps it up. Lovely about the medium canter, though. It's such a great feeling to be able to "go for it" and know you have a way to bring it back when you want to.
She's too young yet Jean, they like the females a month older. We've just done him as early as possible to avoid any potential for a mishap.
ReplyDeleteHe's as if nothing happene
]========= - that was him,
7889jumping on my keyboard - twice!
C.
noises that can't be seen are much scarier than those that can.....
ReplyDeleteYes, they are aren't they Claire. I thought it was good training for him or I would have asked SH to stop.
ReplyDeleteC
Ah yes, the old, I-can't-see-it-but-I-can-hear-it-therefore-it-must-be-a-pony-eating-monster.
ReplyDeleteThey get around, those pony-eating monsters!!
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