tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post1053655393334114104..comments2023-06-10T06:38:37.815-07:00Comments on Life With My Herd: Why I only have one horseAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15617546413512282387noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-55943713727667569942018-06-20T12:24:22.228-07:002018-06-20T12:24:22.228-07:00Excellent comment from Cut-N-Jump. I never thought...Excellent comment from Cut-N-Jump. I never thought to look at his leads. Glad to see that he is trying his heart out for you and enjoying what he is doing.Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15454110560303310751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-58194516112099987602018-06-18T23:50:39.624-07:002018-06-18T23:50:39.624-07:00PS- sorry for the long winded comment. PS- sorry for the long winded comment. Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10355349642284506192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1551110757601242898.post-92151249300357460672018-06-18T23:47:28.500-07:002018-06-18T23:47:28.500-07:00While I know Trax can be a tough horse to work wit...While I know Trax can be a tough horse to work with at times, I have to say, he still needs to work on things on a bit more of a basic level. I'm not trying to throw shade, but he is clearly not working in balance like he should. <br /><br />Pic #1 looks good, but drop your hand a bit and help guide him around the barrel. <br />Pic #2 He has switched leads on you. His inside hind is way out behind instead of up underneath you and the front legs are the same. Instead of being blanced thru the turn, he is having to step over himself to get around and get the job done.<br />Pic #3 where you say you struggle with balance- it is because he is not balanced and is flipping leads all over the place to compensate. If you look at his legs, the inside hind looks like it has already touched down in the wrong lead behind.<br />Pic #4 & #5 he looks like he is more balanced but he is coming out of the turn cross firing- left lead behind, right lead in front. Inside hind has already left the ground when it should be under him supporting you both thru the turn. Again, drop your hand and guide him. <br />Pic #6 while this one is a cool shot and shows the power he has and he is trying really hard for you, it also shows he is crossfiring in a BIG way. <br /><br />When you address this problem and fix it, you will find he is going to be a much smoother ride and your times will also likely improve. He will be more balanced and able to put his power to use more efficiently as well as being a less likely candidate for injury. <br /><br />It will take time and loping lots of circles at home, helping him build up the muscles to maintain the correct lead at all times, as well as you developing a feel for when he 'flips' on you. When he bounces from one lead to the other or begins to crossfire on you, bring him back down, ask for the correct bend and lead and continue on. Change it up on him, doing bigger circles and smaller, fast and slow in each, but always maintaining the correct lead. Work on this in both directions since it looks like he is doing it no matter which way he's turning. <br /><br />When he's able to maintain the correct lead on the circles, add in a barrel and work around it focusing on helping him maintain the lead and balance. Go around the barrel incredibly wide to start, to help you both focus on the lead, not the turn. When he is maintaining the lead around the barrel, start closing in on it little by little, but always maintaining his balance and the correct lead. <br /><br />You'll get there and things will improve, I promiseCut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10355349642284506192noreply@blogger.com