So after Pro decided to be very naughty, distracted, and disobedient on Friday, I knew I had to do something different to get his attention. Friday was just a battle of wills - he was INSISTENT that there was something awful and spooky in all parts of the arena. The bench, the poles, the tree, the fence... Even with giving my inside rein forward and booting the snot out of him repeatedly (WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP) he just wasn't caring a bit. I think we walked the entire ride, and I only stopped when he finally gave a bit. Otherwise, his ears were perked straight and his neck was tense and rigid.
Yesterday - spurs! I couldn't find my old spurs but Tara dug through her tack trunk and found smooth rowels. Admittedly, rowels weren't *exactly* what I was hoping for with my first spur ride on Pro...(I even asked her - "Do you happen to have spurs? Any kind except rowels will do!"). Oh well, I could always take them off mid-ride if needed.
I was grateful to Gayle's teaching of "keep the leg off until you need it" once I got on, realizing how easy it was to keep the spurs separate from his sides until I needed them. His face must've been hysterical when I first rolled the spur gently across his side with my inside foot - he'd wanted to look at the fence, and I said no. No bucking, though! He tried to look again and I gave him a light bump, "no no, pay attention". Within a few minutes, I had him more within my hands and in front of my leg. Woohoo!! Again, I spent a lot of time making sure my hands were in their correct place (which feels oddly saddleseat-ish...but I know that's just my body telling me lies!). it helped to have Erik on the ground who could tell me when my elbow-bit line was actually straight. Gayle taught him how. :) This continued into the trot - keeping my line straight, bumping him lightly with my inside spur if needed. Considering that the leg whacking from Wednesday's lesson left my peroneal muscles inflamed (side of my calves)...it was MUCH nicer to be able to just nudge with my spur. And it got a lot better response!!! He wasn't as fussy about me not "diving" with my hands so maybe that's a bit of progress. Overall, huge improvement over Friday's ride.
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5 comments:
Ooh...a new tool in the toolbox!
Beware the spur addiction, however. My trainer made me take mine off as I had become very dependent on them to get the big oaf to move. She made me move on to the whip to back up my leg.
I hear you on the "Saddleseat" feeling of putting your hands where they're supposed to go. Surf has also trained me to drop my hands way too low...so he's been in "proper hand position bootcamp" too :)
Spurs!!! thats awesome. and rowels?!? Im surprised you even put them on.
Good you for that he is doing better. The spurs woke him up and reminded him that you still mean business!
What a wake-up call for Pro! I'm glad you didn't have to use them much. Hopefully he will remember this lesson ;).
Yay! Maybe that will really get his attention!
It is always great to have extra eyes on the ground! Good for Erik to be willing to learn and help! Yay!
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