Pictures! (sort of)

After some cold weather and a head cold :P I am finally back in the saddle. On Monday, Pro and I had a brief, impromptu groundwork lesson when we walked into the barn. Three empty shavings bags were lying across the aisle (the barn manager was busy putting new shavings in the stalls) and of course Pro gawked at them. Well that was no good, so we walked over and I made him investigate further. I'm pleased to say that within 5 minutes, I had him walking back and forth over the plastic bags!! :) He even kicked them around and it didn't phase him. That NEVER would've happened a few years ago.

So on Wednesday when I rode, he was actually pretty good. He had some snorty issues about the bunny tree, but we just kept doing voltes (turning off the outside aids) by the tree until he got over it. I made sure he was stretching down over his back and reaching for the bit the whole time. We didn't end up cantering, but we did do lots of walking, some trotting, and lots of bending through circles and figure eights. Every time I felt him start to get tense, I bumped him forward and made him stretch down more. At the trot I did a lot of "light posting", making sure my lower legs were off his sides, to make sure that he was lifting his back.

Pro was still pretty strong though, so my shoulders were sore by the end of the ride. I am getting better about reminding myself that pulling is a two-person game, but he DOES need those "HEY, come here!" reminders a lot. Ugh.

Here are the pictures I got...not sure if you all can see the muscling that I'm talking about, sort of behind his withers. I couldn't get him to do a back lift at the same time that I held the camera...this was the best I can do. We're trying to get him to develop his full back muscles, and stop bracing by his withers.