Post by DJ on Feb 10, 2008 19:57:04 GMT -5
Hope pulled on the mare's reins as she tried to walk forward. "No, Dazzle." The grey Thoroughbred mare sighed and her ears twisted back in annoyance. She lowered her head in acceptance. "Good girl."
Hope swung up into the close contact saddle, settling herself gently on the mare's back. She made Dazzle stand for a moment, waiting for Hope to ask her to walk on, rather than just pushing forward. Not standing while being mounted was an annoying habit the mare had come with when Hope bought her, but she was slowly learning.
Hope gave the horse a squeeze and she strode forward, moving gracefully.
Hope warmed the mare up with large looping circles, serpentines, and diagonal lines, bending around the corners.
After Dazzle's walk was loose and she was flexing around the circles, Hope moved the mare into a trot.
The mare bounced into the trot, taking long, sespentional strides, tucking her head in lightly under her, creating a slight bend in her neck, rounding over her crest where her pulled mane bounced with every stride.
More circles, bends, serpentines, the mare was moving nice and forward, still relaxed and loose.
Hope asked the mare for a canter and released her hands a bit as the mare rose into her usual stride, which was quite long and easily ground-covering. Dazzle pulled her head up and Hope gave her a half-halt, but the mare twisted her head in protest. Hope deepened her seat in the saddle, trying to stay relaxed and lowered her hands before asking, with another half halt, for the mare to lower her head. Come on, Dazzle we've worked on this. You remember how to put your head down and canter nicely. After a few more half-halts, the mare started to lower her head not more than a few inches every stride, but with another circuit around the ring, the mare's head was finally lowered with a slight tuck toward her chest. "Good Girl!"
Hope warmed the mare up at a trot and canter over a few cross rails and small verticals.
Hope allowed the mare to walk. And steered her around the course, trying to make up a course in her head she could take Dazzle over.
Hope moved the mare to the end of the ring and picked up a light canter. She pointed the mare toward a vertical. The mare tucked her knees and jumped over the fence, easily landing on the other side.
Hope continued around the liverpool and headed for an oxer. Hope stayed balanced over the mare, giving her her head over the large jump.
Hope swung up into the close contact saddle, settling herself gently on the mare's back. She made Dazzle stand for a moment, waiting for Hope to ask her to walk on, rather than just pushing forward. Not standing while being mounted was an annoying habit the mare had come with when Hope bought her, but she was slowly learning.
Hope gave the horse a squeeze and she strode forward, moving gracefully.
Hope warmed the mare up with large looping circles, serpentines, and diagonal lines, bending around the corners.
After Dazzle's walk was loose and she was flexing around the circles, Hope moved the mare into a trot.
The mare bounced into the trot, taking long, sespentional strides, tucking her head in lightly under her, creating a slight bend in her neck, rounding over her crest where her pulled mane bounced with every stride.
More circles, bends, serpentines, the mare was moving nice and forward, still relaxed and loose.
Hope asked the mare for a canter and released her hands a bit as the mare rose into her usual stride, which was quite long and easily ground-covering. Dazzle pulled her head up and Hope gave her a half-halt, but the mare twisted her head in protest. Hope deepened her seat in the saddle, trying to stay relaxed and lowered her hands before asking, with another half halt, for the mare to lower her head. Come on, Dazzle we've worked on this. You remember how to put your head down and canter nicely. After a few more half-halts, the mare started to lower her head not more than a few inches every stride, but with another circuit around the ring, the mare's head was finally lowered with a slight tuck toward her chest. "Good Girl!"
Hope warmed the mare up at a trot and canter over a few cross rails and small verticals.
Hope allowed the mare to walk. And steered her around the course, trying to make up a course in her head she could take Dazzle over.
Hope moved the mare to the end of the ring and picked up a light canter. She pointed the mare toward a vertical. The mare tucked her knees and jumped over the fence, easily landing on the other side.
Hope continued around the liverpool and headed for an oxer. Hope stayed balanced over the mare, giving her her head over the large jump.