Progress check in

I am waiting on something from C4 and then I will have a great review post for you...btw love my belt!

I've had a couple more great rides on the P man.  His canter is getting more and more awesome.  He seems to be getting more comfortable with his body and the things that are now expected of him since he is  no longer a racehorse.  His walk and trot are quite adjustable and his canter is finally following suit.

All the joy

I used to be able to sit for maybe one circle before he would need me to go back into two point and now we are going around the whole arena and doing several circles and going forward and back before he is ready for a break.  I would like for him to stretch more over his topline in the canter like he is now starting to do in the trot, but it will come.

Looking fancy

Might help if I get my hands out of my crotch, what the heck are they doing anyways!?  Note to self: elbow to bit, elbow to bit.  His trot is really starting to be balanced and decent all the time so it is really time to push for more.  More collection, more impulsion, more stretch, more adjustable frame, etc etc etc.

The new normal

I used to have to start with him going quite slow until he found his balance and then I could ask for more trot.  Now, we can start with a forward stretching down trot and then after several minutes of that I can bring his head up into a solid training level frame.  All the while keeping my leg on and keeping him powering from behind.

Pushing for a bit more

His walk and trot leg yields are also coming along.  He has a little easier time yielding to the right, but there is improvement with each ride.  We are even introducing a little shoulder in at the walk and he is catching right on.

During yesterday's ride I shortened up my stirrups to actual jump length and after a great warm up we worked at cantering over a pole on the ground, the struggle was real.  First he wanted to speed up, then he wanted to drop to the trot, then he tried drifting to the left and right.  Finally we got on the same page and he was magnificent.  I really want to enforce all the basics before we do too much jumping this spring, that way when we do jump he can really excel!

Looking dapper post rail flailing

Here is a link for a great read, she makes some great points and it is something we can all apply to our horses of various levels.  Kyra Kyrklund's Smaller Steps.