After going through all my excuses, fears and arguments, I finally laid aside my already-neglected schoolwork, piano practice, naptime, chores and a story that was just begging for me to write it, and I went to go play with the horses.
Heavens.... I’m so glad I did! :)
Lady trotted up to the gate to meet me... bless her, she seemed so eager! We had to work on a threshold or two before we got up to the arena, but she was trying her heart out for me and paying so much attention, I couldn’t believe it! :D
I had set up a cross-rail jump for her and she absolutely loved knocking it over and then pretending to jump over it... haha... silly horse :P She leaped over the feedtrough with a good foot and a half to spare though!
After looking at the self-assessment sheet for online, I had chosen Circling as our focus, since the only task I don’t have marked off for Level 2 is “4-6 laps, trot and canter.” My goal for today was 4 laps each way at the trot on the 22 foot Line. When Lady finally settled into the idea of circling, she offered a beautiful little jog to the left, so lovely and slow and long... it was gorgeous to watch... I have the most beautiful horse ever! :)
I’m almost ashamed to say that I didn’t get my 4 trotting circles each direction... that should be the barest minimum we can do for the level we’re working with... Lady was dragging her feet and kept walking instead of trotting... especially behind my back... teehee... I guess we have something to work on... oops :P
When I got on, I think I was fairly smart... :P I made sure to test my neutral lateral flexion, HQ disengagements, FQ yields, backup and sideways. Most of it was fairly good... the last three were a bit sticky, so I’ll spend a few minutes a day getting those down pat again.
Walk-trot-walk transitions are what I’m trying to focus on right now... Lady likes to bolt at the trot, so I’m just walking and then asking for a few steps of the trot and then walking again. I’m trying to ask for this type of thing during patterns... today I did some transitions on the rail and also on the circles... maybe tomorrow I’ll ask for it during a Figure-8 pattern!
The biggest highlight I had today was when Lady offered to jump for me. We jumped 18”!!! I had forgotten how much I love jumping!!!! :D
My other highlight was after I dismounted. Lady chose to follow me around the arena while I picked up my ropes and stick, at a trot! :) She was totally connected and trotted after me and never asked for food once... amazing! :P
Tempest did well... though I spent half my time with her picking my way through the mud. Because of that, my timing wasn’t so good and she definitely could tell! :P
Shedding time is getting here again... oh the joy.... I’m already finding horsehair everywhere in my clothes and in my room... pretty soon I’ll be sleeping with it and eating it and.... *SIGH* I own a horse... what can I expect? :P
~CONTENTED Kit Marie 2012~
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