Speedy G Can Be Totally AWESOME!

He's a quirky fellow, of that there is no doubt. I could try and force him to be something else, but I've learned that he has a very distinct personality, and it's best to just try and work with him.

For instance, he will not tolerate being schooled five days a week. Don't even think about it. He's happy to be ridden five days a week, but some of those rides better include some trail work, poles, or at least a field trip. This is the reason I have two horses.

His work schedule is much lighter than Izzy's. Speedy can go three days in a row, but he'd rather not. Two days of work seems to be what suits his idea of a nine-to-five, but I've found that the third day is where we make the most progress, although it's usually ugly.

When we work three days in a row, and although it horrifies him, occasionally four, and then follow that with a day or two off, I am usually rewarded with a seriously WOW kind of day. That's what happened on Sunday.

Izzy got a field trip on Friday which meant it was too hot to ride Speedy when we got back. We went to the beach on Saturday, so both horses had a day off. When Sunday rolled around, I knew Speedy was ready for a good work out. He didn't disappoint.

Playing with Tobias at Shell Beach.

It's not like First Level is hard. It's about correct basics with more thrust to achieve better balance and throughness while also having a more consistent contact with the bit. So even though there is nothing complicated about the level, I want to make sure we get it right. And as "easy" as the level is, we're not done with it yet. 

I feel as though we should be done with First Level, but the reality is that this level is a major foundation for what's to come. Let the rest of the world zoom by us; I don't care. What I do care about is not squeaking by with a 60%. I want scores in the high 60s and even into the 70s.

Speedy got a "bitless" trail ride last week - his idea of the working life.

That means Speedy and I work, work, work the elements of the level. Having a few days off gave me time to think about what I could do to improve his balance and connection while encouraging more collection. I looked at some of the elements of Second Level and saw something that would help us.

In test one, the horse must perform a serpentine of three equal loops with simple changes of lead over centerline. While we can't do a canter to walk transition, I loved the idea of doing all of those changes of lead that weren't at X. I just figured we could do trot transitions instead of the canter-walk-canter.

I started out on a 20-meter circle doing trot to canter transitions at what would be B and E. I did those over and over first on a left lead canter and then a right. When I felt that Speedy was really listening, I gave it a try in a three-loop serpentine. And you know what? He got every change of lead the first time through the exercise.

Pretty much like this.

I was laughing like a hyena the whole time. He LOVED the exercise and did the transitions pretty much on his own. That dude is a total rock star. 

Sorry, ladies, but he's not for sale!