Okay, this is from Wednesday night...Andrea beat me to the blog posting today. ;)
I decided to extend our whip/groundwork session into a longer lunging session. No sidereins or anything, just bridle and lunge line, plus the whip. I started off at the walk as usual, just like we do before our rides. Pro's getting a LOT better about accepting the feel of the whip on his side. Once he ceased with the tail swishing, I let the lunge out to about a 20m circle and let him stretch out at the trot. He actually "gets" the use of the lunge as an inside rein. I can taaaaake, and then gently release and he'll drop his neck down and stretch. It's pretty neat! He is smart, sometimes.
After that, I gradually reduced the side of the circle and gently touched the whip to his side again, just like I did at the walk. He seemed a bit shocked that I would dare try this at the trot (someone doesn't like change) but eventually settled down. He even let me gently tap it on his side and it seemed to really help him step up and underneath himself at the trot. He's getting it! :) Starting to realize that it's not a "BAD PONY" aid or a "GO FASTER" aid, but a "step under yourself, lift your back" aid. Woohoo!
I let the line out, had him canter for awhile and practiced trot-canter transitions, then repeated the whole thing to the other direction. Such good pony. :)
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5 comments:
Yay! Glad he got to have a good report as well as a naughty one this week. I forgot to do my ground work before I started last night. And I think you're right about him not liking change, I think a large portion of his fit last night was because I wasn't just letting him trot around on a 10 or 15m circle being round. Which really makes no sense, since he loves trying to figure out what we're asking sometimes. I guess maybe last night was a "Let's just do your stupid circles so I can go get my dinner" type night.
wow, he seems to have really gotten it. Sounds like an awesome day.
What a good pony. I think I would have trouble coordinating riding with a whip. I do some but only if I REALLY have to. LOL
I think Pro is probably a smart pony much of the time! That is part of why he can be so difficult, I think...
I'm glad he is getting what the whip is for!
Good Arab! ;) I too am also glad he's getting it!
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