trot video

Finally captured the latest trot work ; it was really windy but he worked well. He is still uncertain with his balance and so his head/neck are not that stable but much improved I think. I'm using the 1/4's moving when I *loose* him (ie when he gets tooonward bound and ignores my aids) and I find that if I ask for a giravolta as soon as he stops listening then it engages the head and then as I increase the circle I can replace the shoulders in front of the 1/4's....until he looses himself again, lol.

a line in the sand

Today dawned bright again and for the third day in a row I was in the school to play. I'm posting some short (never tell an 8 yo to keep the filming brief, lol) videos of today's work as a comparison to earlier videos, drawing a line in the sand so to speak. I'm pleased to see the lack of curl back, this is a big thing for Moralejo and although he is inconsistent into my hand, especially through transitions, this is definitely better than before. We need to work more on keeping the softness over his back, not blocking the energy when he chucks his head about and I hope this is going to improve as he gets stronger.

We are starting to build strength with the rein back to trot as you will see here and then a very short clip of the wall of death canter, it actually doesn't look so out of control as it feels on board. Going forward we will work on the transitions, the rein back to trot and, of course, the canter. I will be working on getting my short ass legs around that barrel of a horse and trying to loosen my right hip (not easy on a fatso) as my right leg has a life of it's own,lol.

If I had a hammer

Brain ache today, not because I've been thinking aids but 'cos the boys were taking down the fireplace and chimney breast with hammer drills. I HATE renovating, that is official;be nice when it's done though.
Sad news regarding my beloved Albion, tried it today and it just isn't right for Moo. Not sure what to do with it but it will perhaps be right for Midget as he is a lighter frame. It used to fit Fidge perfectly and I miss riding in it but it has to be right for the horse first, me second. I have the saddler coming out soon to check Moo's saddle (a very reasonably priced made to measure dressage) so we'll have to see.
On the other hand it was a good day for work, dismounted straight away and removed offending Albion to get on with some in-hand work. For only the second time I asked him for some trot in-hand, bless him he tried so hard and actually got a wetter mouth than I've ever seen him with. I so wish he was 6 not 12, lol.