We got back, Sunday afternoon, from the World Paint Show (watched my wife's cousins win a reserve open and a non-pro world championship in the Team sorting) and rode Belle pretty hard. She had a couple of days off, so of course the groundwork is required.
What I call groundwork has changed over the years and now means something totally different to me than it did back then. Back then, the ground work was a shortlived concept that basically did not take the horse into account. It was only there so I could get them tired and get in the saddle. NOW, it means getting the horse' mind activated. Is she paying attention to what I asked her to do on the ground? Will she yeild her hind end and step over in the front? How is she when you are just swinging your lead (or stick/string) around? All of this will translate to what you are doing on her back. Getting connected with her mind sure makes things go alot easier.
Spent most of the ride time in our big pen, working on trotting in straight lines. Most horses have a little trouble staying straight when you take them out of confinement. Belle had not troubles with staying straight as long as we were in the round pen. Once she got outside, the open space was something new to adjust too. So, we did long straight lines. Lotsa trotting and extending that trot. One of the things to keep in mind with increasing your speed is the hole / ditch / canyon concept. Belle is exactly where she needs to be right now. Weather willing, there should be a lot of good rides this week.
She is scheduled to go home on the 19th, and Cheryl had asked me to ride her with a slicker. Well, we will see by the end of the week where we are on that. Never should you push a horse farther that they are able to handle (wish I had paid attention to that when I was younger!)
No comments:
Post a Comment