Post by brigadier on Nov 26, 2015 6:18:30 GMT
Last night I had a riding club lesson booked. First I went to my mates and collected her little connie pony, Pixie as her box had broken down. It was Pixie's first time in a trailer and in the dark, loading with a strange horse. I managed to reverse around a corner,in the pitch black, which is always something remarkable!! They travelled well together and we had a nice steady prep at the start. So into the indoor arena- Welly's first time. It was set out with lots of pole configurations as that was the focus of the lesson. Outwardly he was calm but seen as he pooped himself several times I know he was stressing. He was spooking a touch, first at the mirrors but gosh it was nice to see him work as he looked fab, then at a blue board propped in a corner. The club secretary was sat in the corner and he checked she was there but then as we rode past he did a massive spook and I was nearly off- felt my left leg come right up and nearly over the saddle. It was the white dressage boards he has suddenly noticed stacked behind her! He felt me going and stopped for me, what a good boy!One of the troubles with schooling and fittening up a horse is that their spooks become more energetic!
So I introduced him to Verity the trainer,explaining that he hadn't done that much due to my finger issue, bless her she ws really interested and knew my pain.........!
We had a gradual build up but ultimately we had a Z shape course of trotting and canter poles to build up to. He was ace, simply ace. really thinking about the exercises and coming soft and round. One row was quite daunting but other than a slight drift he worked his way through. On the final pass we had to ask for canter for the final two sets of poles- one on the straight and one on the bend. It was his bogey right rein but he went for it and gave me the strike off- but lost confidence on the poles and broke but I was really happy he had been honest enough to go for it.
We ended there, Verity was really complimentary, saying how lovely and genuine he was and how I had found a good un! (I knew already of course ;-) What was interesting was how 'up through the back' he came as we progressed. He really wanted to stretch and work through. It was lovely. The only downside to the whole session was that my posture was creeping forwards again :-( as I worked. Bum! Anyhow Pixie my mates horse loaded well again and we had a steady drive home, another successful but slightly more traumatic reverse and so to bed!
J my mate did say she was astonished at how wonderful Welly was going, she had seen him and had a sit on when he first arrived so knew how different he was.
I now need to clip him out fully (Ive done him a bib.) I am waiting for a friend to do him as she wants to use him for Jack (Christians riding instructor) to practice on but she is taking her time and he got very hot and tired last night, so needs doing pronto!
So I introduced him to Verity the trainer,explaining that he hadn't done that much due to my finger issue, bless her she ws really interested and knew my pain.........!
We had a gradual build up but ultimately we had a Z shape course of trotting and canter poles to build up to. He was ace, simply ace. really thinking about the exercises and coming soft and round. One row was quite daunting but other than a slight drift he worked his way through. On the final pass we had to ask for canter for the final two sets of poles- one on the straight and one on the bend. It was his bogey right rein but he went for it and gave me the strike off- but lost confidence on the poles and broke but I was really happy he had been honest enough to go for it.
We ended there, Verity was really complimentary, saying how lovely and genuine he was and how I had found a good un! (I knew already of course ;-) What was interesting was how 'up through the back' he came as we progressed. He really wanted to stretch and work through. It was lovely. The only downside to the whole session was that my posture was creeping forwards again :-( as I worked. Bum! Anyhow Pixie my mates horse loaded well again and we had a steady drive home, another successful but slightly more traumatic reverse and so to bed!
J my mate did say she was astonished at how wonderful Welly was going, she had seen him and had a sit on when he first arrived so knew how different he was.
I now need to clip him out fully (Ive done him a bib.) I am waiting for a friend to do him as she wants to use him for Jack (Christians riding instructor) to practice on but she is taking her time and he got very hot and tired last night, so needs doing pronto!
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
