If there's no jump I don't want to know!
George definitely isn't interested in schooling! He was a pain in the butt, literally and metaphorically, today. Stomping around, refusing to respond to a half halt or a signal to turn. I ended up riding with my reins in one hand tapping him constantly with the whip in the other. That way, he kept going into the bridle and I could half-halt and turn. He ended up a sweaty heap, but that's just too bad. He could have chosen to relax forward into the rein any time he wanted, but there was no jump in sight so he wasn't interested in doing anything the easy way!
I realised he was likely to be a dork today when I could hear his heart beating as I brushed him. He was very het up about the rain and hail thrashing down in some pretty violent showers. He's very sensitive to weather fronts like that. And then when I took him into the barn he was turning to get to the door to look for the other two, while I was trying to do the girth and stirrups. He hasn't yet realised that the herd leader is ME and not one of the others, but we'll get there soon I think.
To get the idea in his head, I did some in-hand work moving his shoulders and quarters away from me and backing him up. It took a few minutes for him to focus and it was quite good when he did. I hoped that it would carry through into the ridden work, but no such luck. Never mind, more jumping tomorrow George!
I rode Jazz too and he was really moving and really bouncing today. We did some basic walk, trot and canter. He was smooth and powerful. He was trying to be silly at the door with the hail pinging in off the sill, but I just kept him moving bent outwards. That was a really good suppling exercise in itself, so it wasn't worth arguing to try and get him straight. In spite of the short space, he also lengthened in trot. He's not really been able to do that before in such a short distance, but he has a good try now. He finished with one canter/walk almost perfect and one on the other rein pretty good. A good session which we both enjoyed I think.
C
posted by cptrayes @ 5:31 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Oh, George...what a silly boy. You'd think by now he'd be getting at least a little of the message.
He is definitely the spoiled schoolboy. *G*
And Jazz seems to be blossoming. Maybe with the pressure a little off he will setting into a good comfort zone and gain some confidence.
It was my attitude today I think Jean. I just wasn't prepared to be annoyed by his evasions and just turned them into exercises. They weren't the ones I planned, but so what, they still increased his gymnastic ability.
'Dork' - I love that word! Sounds as though schooling is so obviously beneath him...You have to love him though, he obviously knows what he likes!
Blog problems should be fixed now...
Louise
I'm not sure where it came from "dork-brain" is the least of the names we call Jazz when he does the stupid stuff he's capable of!
C
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