another session in the round yard

Same team present, started with some ground work in the arena. pretty good responsess shown. moved into the round yard to start lunging in side reins. went around well, tightened them up a bit more. canter still terrible (he has trouble picking up the left lead and falls out of it easily. also usuall bucks into it - i think that's how he gets the lead!)

• got on him and he walked off a little better than the other days
• tried to do the 'bump bump' with the legs to get the faster walk as demonstrated by Elsa
• also tried to make sure i wasn't tense in my body, particularly my seat which might restrict him
• trot transitions better than other days
• got him going past his 'sticking points' better than previous few rides
• coming into a contact at times, and when he did, the forward was better
• norm decided that i was to bring him in off the circle when i was going to go down to walk from trot (so that he didn't associated stopping with being on the circle)
• when i tried to change the rein thru the circle he wanted to walk, but i pushed him on using a sitting trot and tap tap and managed the change ok
• when i took him in off the track to circle smaller he didn't want to move over and stay in. he ignores the right rein. i need to have the whip in the outside hand (left) to tap on the shoulder and push it across

quite happy with how today's session went; feel like things are on the improve

gotta get him fitter and used to the contact

tried on the new Anky bridle - it fits!! thought i was going to buy him something with some silver or gold bling, and ended-up with a black and white - go figure! but, it's got some nice features, it's fine where all the others are bulky, padded headpiece and slight shaping for ears, lovely stitching and good quality leather