Another ride

Although I enjoyed our first little ride, I haven't been madly desperate to do it again until this past few days. It has been beautifully sunny but very windy, however today I got fed up with waiting for the wind to drop and decided to go anyway and see how he felt. This was after lungeing him yesterday in the wind and finding him really quiet and almost lazy. Plus he is a bit too fat so probably a big effort to drag his feet along the floor!

Pete came with me, but did his own thing whilst I rode. First I did a little bit of in hand work just to suss out his mood. Because I have being doing this a lot, it only takes me a couple of minutes to work out if he is switched on to me, feeling pretty laid back or really full of himself and bouncy - in which case I wasn't going to ride. It was funny getting my saddle etc out of the car, I had already decided I was only going to ride if everything was right and he was in the right mood, but I couldn't help putting some pressure on myself thinking maybe I should get on whatever - I had to physically stop and think that NO - I was only riding if I wanted to.

Alfie seemed good, so I hopped on and just rode for 15 mins in the field. We did some walk and just moving around - stop, back up, turns etc but tried to get him actually working rather than last time I was just wanting him to be quiet and behave. Obviously that was still the case, but I asked for him to look where he was going, be soft and round and not stick his nose out in front as he is inclined to do. Then we worked a bit in jog. I could get some lovely soft slow jog which felt great - maybe his saddle is comfortable? - but hard to sustain as the ground is so hard and there are some lumps and bumps we have to negotiate in the field - not exactly ideal to work on rhythmic paces!!
He responded well though when I asked him to slow down, but must remember to work on lightness in my hand and not resort to pulling him too much. A very easy circle to get into with Alfie when he is wanting to trot on rather than jog. He was softer and slower in the jog after I had asked him to stretch out and trot for a bit.

This felt good and the moment felt right so I asked him up into lope, first on the right rein which was so much the bane of our lives last year when we spent about 2 months battling to get right lope lead before discovering actually he had sore shoulders from his other saddle. Then on the left rein, which wasn't so soft as on the right and harder to relax into. However, it was good to do it, I felt fine (or I wouldn't have asked) and he was good with no bucks or squeaks at all. What a star!

He was a bit sharper and bouncier after this but nothing which put me off, so I just relaxed him again with some jog and walk then some (Very) slow spins, but he did some good steps, crossing his front legs correctly and after some reminders planting his back feet instead of stepping with them too. He hasn't forgotten anything and I am looking forward to feeling a bit more confident with him and getting him in an arena where I can work him properly when we are ready and seeing what he can still do and what our next steps will be to move forwards in a positive way.

Was hoping for some more riding pics, but Pete was busy chatting so just managed a few of Alfie. Next time!




Waiting patiently for mum!

What you looking at?!

Haffie cuddles with hat hair!