more riding

[blitzen_]

no lesson for me! petra had to cancel. we chatted on the phone for a bit and she's coming out next friday. i told her how beej is still upset at times with the carrot stick friendly game, especially when it's in the air or 'whistles' and she thinks that it's likely he was hit (probably as a racehorse, i don't think his previous owner would be like

Comments

[beybladesabre]

I love riding with just a halter or nothing at all:) Sounds like he's progressing well:)

[penella22]

Even if he is able to carry you in a balanced fashion, he might still be adjusting...think about when you were in college and you suddenly had heavier textbooks, its not like you stumbled or anything from carrying them, but you still had to ADJUST!

Sage thinks I'm pretty heavy right now too, lol, which I am for a pony who is used to not carrying anything...

On the turn on the forehand in just the halter, try raising your 'rein' straight up, towards his ear, until his nose has to tip, THEN use your leg to support him. :-) Us English riders have to adjust to that...my last lesson was on reining that way...SO different, but then it also makes a ton of sense...none of the complicated half halt , supporting aids stuff you learn in english / dressage.

Sounds like a fun time!!!

[blitzen_]

that's a good comparison.

i'll give it a go with those aids when asking in the halter. thanks!

[glenatron]

Why do you ask differently on the ground from how you do with your leg?

[blitzen_]

well, i've got my hand up alongside his head for one, which i don't have when riding. haven't progressed to just using one hand or anything yet. and i use my whole body (eyes, arms, movement) for him to move away. when riding i've got the halter and it's just my leg that's asking him to move over, not the rest of me.

turn on the forehand is easier for me to translate to riding because on the ground i hold his leadrope and ask with my hand along the barrell. when riding i hold the reins still, a bit up in the air, and slide my leg back.

this is easier to do than the haunches cos it's a simple matter to slide my leg back.

[glenatron]

That's what I was thinking. If he's getting the turn off the haunches on well enough from gentle pressure and body language then it should be easy enough to move it on towards following a feel, which is closer to what you want to be able to do on horseback. When I've watched Steve Halfpenny ride he creates the impression that he's absolutely controlling the front feet from his hands and the hind feet from his legs so it's sometimes like watching someone work a puppet on wires. Amazing stuff.