I know, lazy me for not updating since Wednesday when I rode. I didn't ride last night, or even go out to the barn (stupid department held a mandatory invited talk from 4:15-5:45 on a FRIDAY, grrr) but I did get on Wednesday.
Apparently, the cold really put some frisky in Pro's step. He wanted to go. Go go go, rush! He was at least doing it in a frame, but okay, rushing is not acceptable and he knows this. Technically it's just as much of an evasion as doing his llama chicken impression, because it's a rhythm evasion. By rushing, he knows I can't plug my seatbones in and use my seat. So I used half-halts. Well, I guess that just offended him too much! He was so disgusted that I figured out his rushing that he decided I wasn't "worthy" of getting a nice frame out of him. So out came the llama chicken impression. He just really had a bug up his butt with the cold weather, I guess!!! I did high-hands to counter the llama chicken, which only infuriates him because it keeps the bit in the same spot in his mouth. According to Gayle, raising the head is trying to manipulate where the bit sits in their mouth. Raising your hands to always keep the same "elbow-bit line" ruins the effectiveness of their evasion. So Pro was mad, of course.
Okay so if he can't rush, and he can't put his head up, what's a frisky Arab to do? Well gee, let's try running sideways!!! Nope, that wasn't working either. Finally he just got frustrated and gave in, but I felt like I was doing an ab workout the whole time - each half-halt was like a strong abdominal crunch to get him to sloooow his rhythm. His response was to shorten his stride and get choppy and quick, so it was a trick to get him to slow and stretch out, rather than tighten up all tense-like!!
Hopefully riding in the sunshine today will counter-act the coldness. Brrr!
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6 comments:
I like the high-hands idea! I hadn't thought about that as a way to deal with bit evasion. Gayle sounds like quite the trainer!
The cold weather definitely makes them all even more crazy than usual, haha -- hope you manage to stay warm today!
Are you sure you weren't riding Skate? That is Skate's favorite exercise in evasion - pick your own rhythm (mach 10) and curl up behind the bit when mom says "slow the ^&%*$^&& down!" At least he has stopped doing Pro's llama chicken impersonation.
I knew Skate would make every ride this week like that, so I just chose not to ride : ) Next week, we're starting over.
Good luck with your next ride- I hope Pro's better once the weather is warmer!
Silly Pro! I realized today that Pro usually "gets" a concept, does it great for awhile, then tries to convince us he's got no clue what we're talking about. But usually after we fight through it the 2nd time, the issue is more or less solved for good. Let's hope this is his last protest before accepting that he has to carry himself. Maybe?
Well it sounds like all those ab cruches and fighting kept you both a little warmer....maybe that was his plan all along.
Yes, Arabs hate the cold. Or maybe Arabs just hate to work. Or maybe both. ;)
Pro is a smart boy, and tries to be ever so clever with his evasions. He isn't going to be happy that you are figuring him out and countering his evil plans!
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