sunday is hack day

Z is fab - we went for a hack on the roads in the rain. He is such a happy horse - he ambled along, nosing at everything. No schooling on hacks for him atm, and he seemed to enjoy the break.

I was thinking when i ride tues, i need to remember nias advice - when they give, you give, and see if they will take it forward. Also when you get something good stay in it for a little while, as that is a reward in itself.

was thinking about my goals for Z. Although one is to get further with dressage i also dont want him realising bad habits - i think he needs the best i can do to make him an easy horse to ride and be around who can do a bit of everything. Although i never want to sell him, you never quite know and its important that he is a nice horse to deal with as they tend to land on their feet...

J lesson today

Sadly, my video was rained off. However, my lesson was not. It was pretty good but unlike recently i didnt feel i made any particular breakthroughs. I have to:
1. keep my right hand soft - almost think of giving with it all the time.
2. forward sorts out the nose curl. Its a forward issue not a rein issue - as Z gets stronger, he will stretch his nose out a little more each time, as in fact he does when he s going forward.
3. he tries very hard not to go forward into the canter transition. this results in a few steps of little crappy canter before he stretches out into a proper one. We are not expecting him to stay round, but he needs to move forward into the canter. Way to do tthis is to only ask for canter from an active trot, and praise lots when we get a good transition. remember to pat on the neck as well as good boy.


I am sure there are other things i forgot....