Great weather,ground is drying up and had fun with the boys.
I am a dunce though!When I first had lessons with Polo the key to getting him working calmly and sensibly was lateral work, now I do 'some' lateral work with Ali but think ive been so wrapped up in getting him forward and off my leg ive kind of been going through the motions with everything else.Today I spent ages in walk playing about, turn on the forehand,leg yield,shoulder in etc and he felt as responsive to my aids as he's ever been.I could really feel him lift and was truly carrying himself at times.Worked on some laterals in trot which he made a good stab at then a few circuits in canter on each rein ,he was getting tired at this point but we got a couple of really departs so I was pleased.
I also Polo into the school and braved some rope circling with Polo,Richard Maxwell style. Now Polo is an absolute nightmare to lunge or long rein he just wont go away from me unless im forceful then explodes when im forceful so its something ive not bothered with too much cos its always been more hassle than it was worth. Today I thought i'd give the rope circling a crack and im shocked but he was actually very good!
Seems like Ali's my school master, because he's so forgiving when I make mistakes and stays calm when I clearly dont know what im doing its allowed my timing and skill to improve and this transfered to working with Polo.
Polo is quick to pick anything up,both good and bad,and cottoned on immediately to the idea I had to be very subtle and still he bounced into trot most times.I wanted to keep him at walk as he is starting to look sounder and I dont want to put the spanner in the works but it took some doing.Seeing him working even just for a little while makes me miss riding him and his extraordinary movement.
Ive decided to go hunting next winter,some of people from the yard went today and it sounded like such good fun.YO had gone too, when wife came back (she gone on foot as there wasnt enough room on the wagon) said she's definitely going to take one of her neds to a few of the local meets next winter as some of them will be within riding home distance.It sounds like such good fun and I reckon Ali is the perfect horse to take and have a great day out on.
4 comments:
funny how that's worked between Ali & Polo on the rope circling....
Ali is your school master, ain't?
Oh you won't get away with ranting about him not being forward enough anymore ^-^
I am glad you apreciate him. If you can stimulate him with "games" either Nh types or CT types, you might discover that he is a very clever horse, because he takes time to think!
Good for you! One horse has trained you to work the other. You are a very good student. *G*
Hunting Ali would be fun and it surely would help him learn "forward" at all times. Great idea.
Ive no doubt he's clever Muriel he's shown that he is time and time again.
I promise not to complain about his lack of forwardness..well i'll try!:)
Im going to have a crack at some clicker under saddle during the summer,my friend has 'done' a bit with her horses so we are going to have a play about.
Its really interesting how the rope circling worked with Polo Claire he accepted it far better than he's has with lunging etc,funny because Ali took much longer to get his head around it and argued quite alot.
Jean it does seem madness that a four (rising5) year old is giving me such a fantastic opportunity to learn with,its a true testament to the horses bred at St Piran's/Suseta stud.
Working with a 'sane' horse has shown me that im not such a bad horsewoman and actually Polo is an incredibly complex and difficult character.
I wish he was fitter think i'd be tempted to go to one of the hunts this year but there are only a couple left so will have to wait.
I reckon he'll be great fun!
Had my niece today so we had a trip to the beach with the dogs then she came and 'helped' feed the boys.She totally loves the horses and has absolutely no fear so I have to watch her every move.
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