I had another lesson this morning...Skate was a very good pony - quiet, attentive, and willing. Our exercise of the day was a short leg yield as we come off the short end of the ring. So, building on the straightening (in the corner) exercise of last weekend, we came down the long side in a sitting trot, spiraled in to a circle that would be at about the quarter line, then leg yielded quickly back to the rail. The first time I tried it we lollygagged back to the rail with barely any real crossing over of the legs. My instructor then stood in front of me about 3 strides off the short end so I would have to really push Skate over and get him really crossing over. We got it easily tracking left. Tracking right, however, was much harder. Our combined right-handedness makes for a very crooked horse in that direction so when I asked him to quickly yield left, his butt was somewhere else. So, I realized the point of the exercise - to position him straight (quickly) coming off the short rail so that our leg yield wasn't a failure.
Skate loves the lateral work...he's gotten so he likes to crabwalk around showing off how he has a butt that can move independently of his head! I think we could zigzag around all day in leg yields and he'd be a happy pony. As long as we're moving forward he's fine. Ask him to do a TOF and he gets pissy - its something about feeling trapped, I guess.
I've also gotten him a pretty set of white fleece boots...we are really looking like DQ's now! I have got to get some video/pics of us motoring around doing leg yields and sitting trot. I can't believe I've finally made it here!!!
Next lesson I'm planning on having my instructor help me over fences (cavelletti, really). I took Skate out on Monday and tried to hop him over some little stuff and felt all discombobulated. Ugh. I could NOT get out of the saddle...either due to weak legs or a poor fitting saddle. I'm going to blame it on Skate's recent weight and muscle gain and say its the saddle. Ha.
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4 comments:
Sounds like an awesome lesson! Perhaps I'll see how Pro does with that exercise this evening. He's another one who's a BIG fan of lateral work.
Good luck with the jumping! I'm sure Skate will enjoy something new to keep his attention now that dressage has gotten so ridiculously easy for him ;).
The feeling trapped thing is interesting - I wonder if he's like Pro, in that regard. Gayle has shown me how he's most likely to panic/explode when he feels trapped, which is why we're supposed to give with the inside rein if he spooks or balks at something. I haven't worked much with TOF though, so I'm not sure how to apply that idea to that exercise.
Can't wait to see him in his white fleece! :) I'm sure he looks just adorable.
With all the lateral work and white boots you guys are going to be showing in no time! I can't wait to see the pictures.
That lesson sounds great. Good for you and Skate for doing so well!
I know this comment is coming in insanely late again, but I wouldn't mind coming out to watch a lesson, or even just a ride, and take some pictures or video for you!
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