I finally got to ride last night after a week and a half of being too busy. Poor Hobbes...all that free time and relaxation!
He was funny after so much time off - like riding a new horse! He was fussy and rushing and even spooky! The weeds beside the ring were definitely hiding monsters...along with the barrels in the middle. He was like, "See! See! I told you there were things in there!" when the cat came strolling out. Ha.
We worked on regaining some sort of connection the whole ride. Transitions and more transitions to get him listening. I couldn't really get too mad at him since he's had so much time off, but I did lose my temper once when I asked him to canter and he gave me the awful extended trot...infuriating. Of course, once you lose your temper with a TB, you gotta spend the rest of the ride regaining their trust. So we did easy stuff while I apologized : )
At least I had some great, butt-planted and plugged-in sitting trot. Now - on to my rocking at the canter. I've gotta get someone to video me while cantering...I'm not sure how bad it is, but I know I'm rocking! Must stop!
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6 comments:
Oh no! Instead of a bunny you have a kitty terrorizing horses!?!
YAY for the good sitting trot! :)
One of our cats likes to lie underneath the jumps while the pony goes over! He is constantly in the arena milling around.
It's weird how sometimes after time off it's hard to get rolling again, and other times things seem to have leaped forward to a new level.
Sounds like you got good stuff though, in spite of the cat!
Good job with the sitting trot! And with appeasing the pony... :p
I don't care HOW old Thoroughbreds are- they're STILL TB's!!
Hobbes...spooky?!?!! :) But hey, he WAS right about the cat, so you have to give him that one.
Hahahaha awww, I can just picture you apologizing to poor offended Hobbes.
"Plugged in" - I like it! And don't feel bad about rocking at the canter...it's like trying to kick a crack habit. ;) One trick that I need to go back to (thanks to Jan Jacobsen, who taught me this) is to take your inside hand and place it on your inside shoulder as you canter. If you're rocking, your arm will be flapping like a chicken wing. Make your arm still, and your body will stop rocking. It works!!!
Ooh...A new exercise to try! Thanks, Kate!
Just a word of caution...don't actually let anyone SEE you do the chicken wing test. They'll think you lost your mind!!!! ;)
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