Sunday, May 1, 2011

in the groove

Good week end with more lovely spring weather.
Saturday Lydia videoed Moo and I doing an Interdressage horsemanship test, I hadn't really planned on doing it but as part of my 'planning' theme at the moment it seemed a good way to get some feedback and perhaps push me to do something I wouldn't otherwise do. I was badly prepared (oops) but Moo tried his heart out even if I couldn't quite get my act together! It wasn't a total disaster but perhaps the judge was being kind because I know we could have done better. Really looking forward to reading my score sheet to see if I agree with the judge ;))




Today I spent some time with Chapsi at liberty, he decided we'd work on head down, so we did and then we spent time on neck flexion (again his idea) I'm not sure I got it attached to a cue like the head down but he seemed happy.

 Then I popped the headcollar on and worked in hand. As I mentioned the other day I'm really trying to keep him out of my space when leading and at liberty so I was CT'ing for walk on and halt when keeping a good space between us and again he was obliging. Then on to a little shoulder fore which he seems 'excited' about (not in a good way though), he rushes off at a brisk walk and then we encounter the other 'to work on' problem of keeping him with me. To cut a long thought process short (thank goodness they cry) I have decided to change the physical cue. Currently my  aid is to draw my lead hand  towards me a little (just a thought of a feel really) and then connect with my other hand on his inside shoulder which  brings the shoulder in whilst keeping the movement forward down the track. Today instead of a constant touch at the shoulder I found that a more lightly stroking hand wound him up less. I'll have to see if it was a fluke or if he really does prefer this new aid.


 We finished with some trot work on the lunge and then walked up the lane past the house and up to the neighbours, he was very calm and behaved perfectly.  

Moo was just fab with some slowing of the walk and lateral work, finished after 30 mins and went down the tracks in the evening sunshine, managed to avoid any jogging by slowing the trot on the steep parts of the hill, great end to the week end.

6 comments:

Claire said...

i was thinking, i like that i can visualise where you are going when you go out with the horses - i know how hard it is for me to describe where i take mine as people haven't seen it....

for the rest - i'll worry about shoulder fore aids when we get there, LOL!

Unknown said...

Well done with the Interdressage result!

Di said...

Loved the vid,I think you both look great. Moo looks so chilled.

hilaryc said...

Congrats on the interdressage. Re the aid on the shoulder - the lightly stroking hand makes more sense. Transferring to ridden, your cue may be in time with the legs/steps ie a pulsing sensation rather than a static feel. ( by that I mean constant if you know what I mean), You coudl try playing with the timing, and see if affects length of steps etc - you have just given me something to go play with!!

trudi said...

Thanks Hilary, yes I think because Chaps has started from a different place in terms of aids he finds a constant touch just too much. I think you could play lots with the timing...will do so once my house guests go, groan......

trudi said...

Thanks Di and Helen :)