Busy, But Not
I just had the lesson with Sue and Bud today. Before that I had working students over and I pulled out Dakota to do an evaluation ride on her. Susanne, who is leasing her, said she was having some trouble with her, especially tracking right and asking for her gait (Missouri Fox Trotter). Susanne said Dakota had ducked her head and done something funky with her back end a couple times and she wasn't sure if it was Dakota being in pain or what.
Knowing Dakota (about 15 years now, Opa bought her at 6 years old and she's something like 21 or 22 now) it most likely was an attitude issue, however being an older mare and having been laminitic in the past (why Mom ended up with her, fat and foundered on all the Utah pasture) I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
I got straight on and the first thing I noticed was her response when I asked her to stop: neck straight in the air and her nose sticking out as far as it would go. Not going to fly, Dakota. I know you know better. I followed her up and held with my hands until she yielded. I repeated that several times until she realized that yielding to the bit pressure was the better option. As I walked her around I also noticed she was as crooked as all get out. Counter bending, dragging her butt behind, pushing her ribcage inwards, and just about anything else you can imagine that is not tracking on a line, straight or curved.
She never gave me a bit of issue about trotting and I took her out of the roundpen and around the property. We had some excitement when I gaited her across the front of the house. Just as we approached the North drive the neighbor revved and engine, which spooked Dakota. In Dakota's defence the engine sounded really horrible and needed help. While she did skitter sideways and fling her butt around she didn't think about bucking, which was good on her part. Once she relaxed I rode her away from the problem area and called it good. I left Susanne a message with two questions to think about: What is happening when she asks Dakota to stop and: What is Dakota doing as she is traveling on a curve (i.e. bending what way, etc.). Haven't heard back yet, but we were planning on having the lesson with Dakota Thursday and this gives me a goodnidea of what we need to work on and what Susanne needs to be made aware of.
After Sue and Bud (Bud did well by the way and Sue's getting more consistent with her rein handling. I mostly drove Bud one handed, even through a pretty steep wash!) I pulled out Cinnamon and worked her. She did 100% better than last time. One half-argument about picking up the canter, hut no sucking back and being sticky and humpy. As a reward we cruised around the house and did a micro loop across the street out one drive and in the other. Now I just need to ride her at least weekly instead of every other or so!
Knowing Dakota (about 15 years now, Opa bought her at 6 years old and she's something like 21 or 22 now) it most likely was an attitude issue, however being an older mare and having been laminitic in the past (why Mom ended up with her, fat and foundered on all the Utah pasture) I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
I got straight on and the first thing I noticed was her response when I asked her to stop: neck straight in the air and her nose sticking out as far as it would go. Not going to fly, Dakota. I know you know better. I followed her up and held with my hands until she yielded. I repeated that several times until she realized that yielding to the bit pressure was the better option. As I walked her around I also noticed she was as crooked as all get out. Counter bending, dragging her butt behind, pushing her ribcage inwards, and just about anything else you can imagine that is not tracking on a line, straight or curved.
She never gave me a bit of issue about trotting and I took her out of the roundpen and around the property. We had some excitement when I gaited her across the front of the house. Just as we approached the North drive the neighbor revved and engine, which spooked Dakota. In Dakota's defence the engine sounded really horrible and needed help. While she did skitter sideways and fling her butt around she didn't think about bucking, which was good on her part. Once she relaxed I rode her away from the problem area and called it good. I left Susanne a message with two questions to think about: What is happening when she asks Dakota to stop and: What is Dakota doing as she is traveling on a curve (i.e. bending what way, etc.). Haven't heard back yet, but we were planning on having the lesson with Dakota Thursday and this gives me a goodnidea of what we need to work on and what Susanne needs to be made aware of.
After Sue and Bud (Bud did well by the way and Sue's getting more consistent with her rein handling. I mostly drove Bud one handed, even through a pretty steep wash!) I pulled out Cinnamon and worked her. She did 100% better than last time. One half-argument about picking up the canter, hut no sucking back and being sticky and humpy. As a reward we cruised around the house and did a micro loop across the street out one drive and in the other. Now I just need to ride her at least weekly instead of every other or so!