I rode Mandros tonight at 8 and it was so nice to ride at night. After I warmed him up at the walk, we started trotting long and low, like always. He was super forward.
Once I collected him up, we practiced the piaffe and it still needs some work, but it wasnt too bad. He was still very forward and when I asked him to half pass at the trot, he just got fast and kinda went to the side. So I decided to canter him some and we would come back to the halfpass. The canter was really nice and we tried the counter canter into X and he did it without breaking. We did this several times. I was so proud. When we did it before, it was at the end of our lesson and it was really hot, so he wasnt as willing. I was able to really collect him up in the canter and feel him really sit on his hindquarters.
Back to the half pass... when I tried it again, he was rushing through it so I made him do it at the walk. We picked up the trot again, and I half halted right before I started the half pass, and he did alot better. We kept practicing it and it got better each time. I worked on halfpassing from the centerline to the rail within two arena letters. I was able to do it each time. The half pass still needs work, but its getting alot better!
We had a really good ride today and I was the only one out riding at the barn. Yay for having the arena to myself. He had alot more energy and was more willing to work. Today proved my theory that it was the heat making him not want to work.
7 comments:
It sounds like you had a great ride. I am so jealous that you get to ride such a neat horse.
I always ride in the evenings...8pm or later is best!
Do you ever try warming up at the canter? Hobbes seems to do much better after getting good and forward at the canter...but then, he's a TB and TB's love to canter!
I, too, am jealous of your fabulous mount..he sounds SO cool!
Awesome!!! I am really glad he is doing so well, and you are able to do so many cool things with him. YAY for getting the counter canter! :)
Glad things went well!
I second Gabby's question about warming up at the canter. Surf can be a total slug (especially at the beginning of a ride) and I really need to get him forward asap at the beginning of a ride -- so we do a little warmup at the walk, then canter for a bit on a long rein trying to get forward without fussing too much with him, then slowly package the canter a bit and go back to start our trot work.
Somedays he needs a bit more than a canter...so we do some handgallop or go out in the field and gallop a bit, then come back to the arena.
Just another reason we're easy to spot at shows...can't find us in the dressage warmup...we're the ones WAAAAAAAY on the otherside of the showgrounds galloping around in 2-point in our dressage saddle :P
Awwww M. :) He sounds like he did so well in the cooler evening weather!!! Plus you got the arena all to yourself. :)
Yes, the heat will do that to every horse. (And humans too!)
I'm so glad he's coming along so well for you! I'm sure his owner is THRILLED to have someone so dedicated to his recovery and to him!
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