Finally Some Photos and Even VIDEO!

4/4/2013

Woohoo! I finally, FINALLY caught my barn owner at a good moment. She very graciously agreed to snap a few photos while I rode Sydney on Monday, and to my surprise, she caught a small snippet of video during our right lead canter. That's not our best direction, but it looks decent on the video!

A little background: for this past week or so, I've simply been doing a walk lap followed by a few rounds with my hands planted in my thigh as we trot around, followed by a trot-through of Intro C, followed by some left and right lead canter work. None of the work has been to shorten his frame or "round him up" at all. I am simply working on getting him happy to move forward all around the arena so that on show day, that's what he's thinking; just go forward.

hands on my thigh - "side reins"

Just move forward ...

still thinking "forward..."

preparing for the canter ...

My favorite shot - look how happy we both look!

Drumroll please ... An actual video of our right lead canter. Please remember this is our "bad" side!

HammerHorses link

4/4/2013 01:00:08 am

You both look so happy! That is wonderful! His right lead canter doesn't look bad at all,so your left lead must look pretty amazing!

Karen

4/4/2013 11:43:23 am

I promise that just a month or so ago, he could barely pick up the right lead canter without pivoting to the inside and cantering off in the wrong direction! I was THRILLED with the clip. it shows we have improved a TON! Thanks for the kudos. ;0)

Lauren link

4/4/2013 01:51:06 am

Y'all look great! Very happy and relaxed, and I think your right lead canter is hugely improved from what you have described before.

4/4/2013 11:44:07 am

More than you know! It really was pretty bad. :0)

Kelly link

4/4/2013 03:07:26 am

Pics and video! Can not beat that :) You both look great - relaxed and happy!

4/4/2013 11:45:11 am

No glamorous, lovely work, but at least we're going around and he's relaxed. The glamour will come (someday!). :0)

Calm, Forward, Straight link

4/4/2013 03:48:06 am

Nice! Happy and relaxed horse and rider. Love the snorts.

Thanks for posting a picture of the hands on thighs. I had been wondering about that exercise. Now I can see that it's not restrictive but compels the rider to give the horse a consistent steady contact to reach into.

4/4/2013 11:47:37 am

I am glad you mentioned that, CFS. I know I find it hard to visualize some of the exercises I read about. Sydney really likes this exercise as it does force me to very steady with my hands. It doesn't take him long to really start stretching his top line. As I bring my hands to a more normal position, we lose some of the stretch which tells me my hands are not as quiet as they are when fixed to my thighs. Something to work on ...

Sandra

4/4/2013 03:40:00 pm

What a lovely transition! No bucking or crow-hopping! He seems happy and WILLING! What a great video clip! Thank you so much for sharing! NICE ride!

4/4/2013 10:27:03 pm

Compared to what I've ridden through over the last year and a half, it's nice. We still have a lot of work to do, but at least we're going forward and not up or sideways!

He's not been much of a bucker, but has been a serious "bolter" and "rearer!" So to actually canter forward is a big accomplishment for us. Thank you for the support. :0)

Sarah link

4/10/2013 07:55:55 am

Wow. The proof of all your hard work sure is in the pudding, er, photos. And video. Excellent!

4/10/2013 11:02:08 pm

It might be slowly, but we are getting somewhere! :0)

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage