This week has been a bit of a struggle for various reasons. Not quite as much pony time as hoped, but we made it out again today!
We have done some more work on the last Groundwork Study Group week. Didn’t get the video in time for Hannah to see it but I’m pleased with our progress over the eight weeks. It’s been good to have something specific to focus on. I need to keep the habit of recording every week or two ideally so I can see the changes.
We’ve made progress with some good things: – not being scared of the flexible poles – crunches and the beginning of engagement – leg yield at liberty – generally he’s pretty relaxed at the moment and we haven’t had much leg waving!
So this is really good. I’m going to keep working on these this week and want to make sure I keep powering through the groundwork course and don’t get stuck on these.
We went hacking! And we did the WHOLE loop which took nearly 1.75 hours. Poor ponies, they were a bit knackered but it was only walk and it was sooooo good to get out. Hopefully we’ll be able to do the same tomorrow and maybe Monday as well. We shall see….
We’re still working on all our Connection Training stuff and I think we’re beginning to get the crunches now. Also I got a Pivo last week which works really well to follow Dino with my phone camera whilst filming! Amazing!
We’ll keep that up this week and see if we can refine it a bit. We’re also still working on the lateral work which he doesn’t enjoy very much so I need to refine my expectations there I think and up the reward so he remains excited about training.
Anyway just a short update this week I think. Hopefully I’ll have more hacking photos tomorrow….
We are keeping on keeping on over here in East London and whilst it’s not much fun, it could be a lot worse! Dino is well. Bit too well really as he’s not in much work and has a LOT of grass to be getting on with! We have been keeping up with the Connection Training Groundwork Study Group and working on the shoulder isolations and crunches I talked about last time. Our latest video is here:
We got some useful feedback from Hannah: – the crunches are actually ok even if they don’t feel it to me! He’s got a super flexible neck so he can avoid doing what he’s supposed to do a bit by tucking himself up which is why it feels like it’s not going right – for the shoulder isolations I need to be more obvious with my body language so he can see the cue.
So we’ll keep focussing on that for the next couple of weeks. I also think it’s got to the point where it’s ok to ride in the field!!!! AND hopefully Hannah and I can hack out together over the weekend! WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Super shiny pony at the moment and hopefully we’ll bring the weight down a touch with some work. I could also start some lunging in the field I think to get him moving a bit. So things are moving in a positive direction for us at the moment.
We’ve also found a new trimmer. Sarah Swallow came out to see them last week as our usual trimmer wasn’t available and she did a great job and the ponies were very relaxed with her. They were four weeks overdue to lots of growth to remove:
Finally in the Dino tweaking corner David came out to see him this week. He’s generally ok but this time it’s the right hip that’s stiff instead of the left one! He hasn’t done much work so it’s hardly a surprise but it does explain why leg yield on the right rein is more challenging than on the left at the moment for him.
