I did a bit of 'join up' with Tallic in the yard before catching him today, I'm trying to work on our relationship, I'm quite fed up with him being narky at me. I feel like he resents my presence, and for a horse that is waited on hand and foot, he can just cut the crap!! I'm guessing he just sees me as a feed and comfort source, and the sooner I'm out of his way, the sooner he can get on with what he wants to do. Well, that's going to stop. He copped a slap on the mouth for trying to take a chunk out of me earlier, and he doesn't seem to resent that, so I'm starting to realise I just have to be a bit more assertive and demanding of him. A bit like getting him on the float and the riding I did at rc yesterday, less defensive and more assertive.
- I think he is finally realising that being brushed in the chest and girth area is no longer going to hurt him. There's probably a bit of history and memory to get over, but he's a smart cookie, he should figure it out!
- Didn't bother doing any ground work before getting on him today, just walked across the paddock a bit with Joe, backed him, forwarded him and prepared to get on. We'll need to practise that so he doesn't wander off, but not too bad.
- Sat there for a moment then went for a walk.
- Concentrated on keeping the contact correct, keeping my elbows and just riding him like a 'growed-up' - and it works!!!!! I'm trying to make sure I keep my right shoulder and right hip back too, I'm sure I've somehow developed an un-eveness there that is going to take some working on. Nicole reminded me a couple of times about elbows, so that was very handy! I was closing my fingers properly on the reins too, something else I've been failing to do since having him broken-in. For some reason I've been riding with my elbows out and my fingers open - geeesh, thank goodness I'm sorting that out sooner rather than later.
- Anyhoo, we walked for a little while then did some trot work, basically trotting up and across the incline (can hardly call them hills can we?), then walking, maybe going across the diagonal and trotting again.
- I think we rode for about 45mins like this, and it went really fast. Both horses were well behaved and focussed - a big success! Tallic was keeping a lovely frame most of the time, and correcting very easily, so nice and soft. Might be overbending a bit at the trot (at times) so I'll have to start pushing him out a bit more. Did do sitting trot some of the time to maintain his softness and roundness. His contact has improved out of sight!
