Tuesday, December 31, 2013

More Trotting, More Loping

These are our training sessions for now.

No rope gates

No side passing


Just THIS


Note the decent stop.

Trax does not have the boundless energy that he used to have.  I wonder if it is because he is not getting as much alfalfa, or because he doesn't feel the need to runaway as much as he did.

Each time we start out I let him lope the entire arena as fast as he wants to go until I feel him drop down and relax.  It is his runners high, he goes to a happy place and when he reaches that mental state, what I ask him to do doesn't seem like so much to him.  I don't make him run, I let him run. There is a difference. It might not be what many people would recommend to do, but it works for us, so we will keep doing it.

I hope every has a safe and Happy New Year.

6 comments:

  1. Can I offer a suggestion? At the trot, relax your arms and shoulders more so there is a little bit of bend at the elbow. Try to relax your whole upper body, not slouch, just softer, the same way you want Trax to. This will let your hands be a lot quieter and let Trax soften into them more rather than fight against them. He seems to be really trying to be soft, but the bit bumps him. At the canter, you seem to relax more, give more with your shoulders and hands and Trax softens with it. Just an observation/suggestion:)

    I think you two are doing great. Trax sure does try hard, he reminds me of another painted pony I know who always tries hard:)

    Happy New Year.

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    1. Thank you DD, I do need suggestions when it come to my riding, and I saw the same thing you did, but wasn't sure how to fix it. I will try and do that.

      Happy New Year to you as well.

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  2. Looking good! It so helps me improve my riding to take and watch video of myself.

    Do what works! Each rider and horse are different. I have one horse who requires constant contact and micromanagement and another who just wants to be told where to go and how fast then be left alone.

    It seems like you edited the parts where you disappeared from the screen which was cool. I have that problem too when I film, the camera can't shoot the entire arena....what editing software do you use?

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    1. I have Windows movie maker on my computer and I use it. It has taken me time to figure out how to cut those parts out, but I finally got it down.

      Happy New Year!

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  3. Same as said above- relax your arms. When they are straight to looks like you are carrying a tray of cookies around or something. You aren't carrying your horse, you're riding him.

    Also on that same note, relax your lower legs too, especially the left one. It seems to be forward and sticking out there most of the time which means you're bracing for or against something. Relax. This is fun remember? When you brace and stiffen, your horse will too. They pick up all of the little things we do up there.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Okay I will try to remember that when riding.
      That was the point of posting this, to get some constructive criticism on my riding. I know I don't like what I am seeing but wasn't sure how to correct it. You and DD both gave me some good stuff to work on!
      Thanks!

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