Walk

Todays lesson was spent mostly in walk and it was an eye opener regards contact and training philosophy.

Arena whilst not solid and had some give and was OK for walk and trot so that is what we'd planned but we rarely got out of walk.

C does not IMO truly take the contact in walk, yes I can fake it, but he doesn't take it and today was about not faking it.

Did some walk -> halt and turn about (as opposed to on) the forehand and walk piris. Clare asked how C was feeling and to me he felt like a school boy saying shan't and pouting, not being naughty at all but just sat there on the sofa not wanting to get off. With the odd star jump spook thrown in

So Clare asked if she could have a sit and her opinion was that he felt confused and the rug had been pulled a bit from under him with regards to him taking as opposed to me taking the contact. Hence the sitting on the sofa not wanting to get off.

So she did similar work and he tried a few spooks with Clare but of course to no avail. She thinks he is but was also suprised at the fact he isn't easy, she doesn't think he is difficult he just isn't easy and if you don't ask correctly, he doesn't try to guess, you just don't get. Seems fine to me as that is pretty much me too

At some points he took the contact down and deep, Clare said as long as he is polite doesn't snatch and doesn't take a heavy contact then he may as it is a symptom he isn't truely through and he should be allowed to but then ask him kindly to come up, then ask for a true stretch forwards and down. I did query this as have been previously told to give him a kick and get his head up.

She then got off and thanked him and I got back on and he felt so different, just clearer in his mind what I was after.

Clare told me to trust my instincts as to what what I felt; as from the ground when I said about him not wanting to get off the sofa she couldn't see what I meant but getting on she could feel it.

I do feel that in the past I've ridden him too assertively.

Clare may not be be a long term trainer for me, I don't have that foresight but she feels like the trainer for now, who can address the issues I want to address so I can look Sue and Pip in the face at supper.

Homework

Legs think long long legs.

Make sure sat on whole of underneath.

Outside rein and give inside rein