only_me
Well-Known Member
Trundled off to local eventers indoor arena, where Clayton Fredricks was giving lessons
Tacked up etc. and walked in. spent the first 20 minutes or so flexing and bending as merlin isnt truly on the bit, he tends to go just above the correct outline, and concentrated on making him react to the leg and him to go when I asked etc.
Was really good, CF said that think of your forearm as part of the reins, and move your elbows when you want to move the horse. I found it really good, and made me really think about how I was turning Merlin
Was told off for letting him come up slightly off bit, CF wanted merlin to round more and to soften in the contact, which was achieved by the end
Then we did poles set in the corner, ie. This formation \\|// around the corner, with the \|/ raised up on a slant, so made the horses really pick their hinds up and brought the hinds underneath them more. We found it really difficult to get the correct canter, but once we found it the exercise became easier, but still difficult for the horse. I am going to use this exercise again; it was really really good!!
Then we kept doing loops on the way to poles; it was based on balance, suppleness and rhythm really
merlin is very supple at the moment, due to stretching exercises and use of the equilibrium massage thingy, which has been amazing!! So we found the looping easy, but the actual keeping him up to the bit difficult; he tended to drop behind the bit and mince
We finished the lesson on jumping a fence, which Merlin was simply fantastic
he kept the elasticity that we had worked on, and didnt change his rhythm at all
So excellent lesson imo, and very lucky that we had our lesson when we did, as have just heard that the electricity has gone in that area
I have a couple of pics, but unfortunately dad isnt very good
these are the best of a bad bunch
Merlin yesterday:
blurry ones - trust me, these are the best!!
and just to show you the set up of the corner poles:
thanks for reading
Tacked up etc. and walked in. spent the first 20 minutes or so flexing and bending as merlin isnt truly on the bit, he tends to go just above the correct outline, and concentrated on making him react to the leg and him to go when I asked etc.
Was really good, CF said that think of your forearm as part of the reins, and move your elbows when you want to move the horse. I found it really good, and made me really think about how I was turning Merlin
Was told off for letting him come up slightly off bit, CF wanted merlin to round more and to soften in the contact, which was achieved by the end
Then we did poles set in the corner, ie. This formation \\|// around the corner, with the \|/ raised up on a slant, so made the horses really pick their hinds up and brought the hinds underneath them more. We found it really difficult to get the correct canter, but once we found it the exercise became easier, but still difficult for the horse. I am going to use this exercise again; it was really really good!!
Then we kept doing loops on the way to poles; it was based on balance, suppleness and rhythm really
We finished the lesson on jumping a fence, which Merlin was simply fantastic
So excellent lesson imo, and very lucky that we had our lesson when we did, as have just heard that the electricity has gone in that area
I have a couple of pics, but unfortunately dad isnt very good
Merlin yesterday:
blurry ones - trust me, these are the best!!
and just to show you the set up of the corner poles:
thanks for reading
