Saturday and Sunday fun

Well, on Saturday, 2/27, I set up a large box using the 8-foot poles.  We used this box for trot-overs, lope-overs, side-passing, and turn-arounds.  The most challenging exercise that we performed was what I call a "U-turn" inside the box at a trot.  Sarah is required to trot into the box, and turn 180 degrees and trot out again, all without breaking stride.  We did this several times.  Sarah never hit the sides of the box, though she came close at first.  She learned to rate her stride after awhile, and make tighter turns.  When Sarah did her lope-overs, she was very good about placing feet and never hit a pole, and never broke stride.  She did well both directions.

On Sunday 2/28, I set up a back-through "L", again with the 8-foot poles.  These poles were set up with 3 feet of space between them, making them appropriate for trot-overs as well.  However, this made for a tight back-through obstacle.  Sarah did quite well with this, but she was not perfect.  We need to work more on these in the near future.  I will need to set up a bit more complex back-through obstacle next time I think, to keep her attention.  The first time she backed through, we had no problems; the next time, she ticked a pole.  She was getting bored, and wasn't paying as much attention as the first time through.  This seems to happen when Sarah is "drilled" on something that she does perfectly fine the first time.  The clue here for me is to catch the exercises that she excels at the first time, and then change it up in some way so as not to turn it into a drill.  Drills only work for Sarah if she doesn't understand the obstacle the first time and needs more practice.
The trot-overs went well, as did the side-passing.  We still need to work a little more on side-passing to the left than to the right.

Overall, a nice workout from Sarah.  The usual Sunday "manicure", and cubes and peppermints all around.  A great way to start a new week!

A bit of a break...

Well, after being in Florida for a week, during which time "Uncle Jack" and "Auntie Susan" made sure that Sarah did not get bored, I finally went to see Sarah on Friday the 19th.  Unfortunately, I found her with a sore left front foot...so, no ride, just treats and treatment for the night.  Then, on Sunday the 21st, I went back to find her sound and ready to go!  We just hit the basics, making sure that the soundness was for real.  Everything checked out.  So, back I went tonight for a review of "skills and drills" with two lope poles.  We worked on walking, jogging and finally loping over the poles.  A couple of hits on the walk-overs, but none on the jogs and lopes.  She placed her feet well on the lope-overs, too; atta girl!  Then we worked on simple lead changes on a figure-8.  Finally, side-passing over the poles.  This went just peachy.  I think that we are close to being back on track.  Cubes and a kiss for Sarah.
Until next time,
Kirsten

Another go

Tonight I set up seven cones for Sarah to negotiate.  Again, Sarah was ready to work right off the bat.  She did not want to warm up on the longe-line.  She has been so down to business!  No fooling around.  Four of the cones were spaced four "human- strides" apart.  We worked on weaving through the cones, both at a walk and a trot.  This went very well, considering the work that we did yesterday.  Sarah remembered all of that work, and applied it to tonight's tasks.  This made weaving through the cones easy.  Her jog-trot was nice, slow and steady.  She was well collected and was lifting through the withers.  We also worked on moving diagonally through two sets of cones, both at the walk and the jog.  I had to use my leg in a slightly more rear-ward position to make the diagonals to the left; once doing that, everything fell into place.  The last thing that we worked on was backing through several cones set up in a triangle.  It has been awhile since we have done this, so it was good practice.  We will do more of this in the near future.
Cubes and peppermints, and we were good to go!

Uncle Jack

Today we had a session with"Uncle Jack", aka Jack Kujansuu, trainer extraordinaire.  We worked on the rail, getting Sarah to carry herself properly and consistently with good form.  This involves the rider setting the horse in the correct "frame" using cues from the seat, legs and hands.  Ideally, everything will come together with the cues from the seat and legs without much use of the hands.  This is how western horses can do all that they do on a loose rein.  Hands are used in the beginning to school the horse; as the horse learns, she will take the cues from the other aids first, with the hand cues being used last if needed at all.  With Sarah, in order for this to be an effective workout, we need to do it "quick-change" style, where many different moves are asked of her in random succession.  This keeps her work interesting and she cannot anticipate what will happen next, so she is always listening and ready for the next cue.
I always appreciate our sessions with Uncle Jack; it really helps to have another set of experienced eyes on us as we ride, so that we know exactly what we need to work on.  We worked on flexing properly at the poll in particular; also body flexibility and working off of the hindquarters, lifting through the withers when traveling clockwise and counter-clockwise in the arena.  She prefers to travel with her nose toward the rail, especially when moving clockwise in the arena, so normally we work extra hard on the right side for flexibility so that she is traveling correctly with a slight arc to the inside. Tonight, however, we spent a little more time going counter-clockwise; her clockwise work was quite good.
Our session did not last too long at all tonight; Sarah picked up on things right away and pretty much did all that was asked of her.  A new bed of shavings and cubes and a peppermint for Sarah, and off I went.  Until next time,
Kirsten