Boo the Gazelle

When I went out to my lesson this morning I had discovered that Boo had been painted to look like a gazelle. My Instructor Robyn dressed the ponies up as African animals because her friend was leaving to live in africa for two years! Anyways Boo still had white and black stripes painted on her. It was very silly to look at!

Our lesson went well today. I was getting a little frustrated because I didn't think I was doing it correctly. She was having me do turns on the haunches so that she would start using her hind end more and to "pick up" her front end. We did them in a diamond shape. Towards the end it felt as though I was getting it more. She had me use a whip to push her shoulder over. Basically I laid it against her shoulder and applied pressure when I wanted her to move. She was steering a lot better when we were done. Its amazing that I can learn so much at the same time as she is learning! It was a good lesson overall. Even though I was really frustrated I did eventually feel it. Doing it at the canter felt very rushed and such. But she was turning when I asked even if everything else had fallen apart. ;). Till next week *poof*

four 

three 

two 

another sequence sorry its on its side, but you can see the movement :) 

five 

three 

the sequence begins 

too bad i have to be on the upward post 

boo 

Stretchy :) 

Leg yeilding with Boo

Well on Monday I rode Boo. I love riding her! I rode Joey last week. I forgot to publish that one. Joey is good, we worked on corners and turning and such. I know it sounds boring but it was a really good lesson. Joey really will take you through the corners to where she thinks you should go, so it was quite a bit of work to get her to listen on my cue to turn. We made progress at the end of the lesson though. We did some canter work too, and it felt a lot better. I felt more together with her, it was great. Its great to be feeling progress.

Well when I rode Boo we worked on her listening to my leg aids better instead of just going faster when she feels my leg. Thats the problem with her, you ask her to move over and she goes faster. Its sorta annoying, but she is doing good. So we did some leg yeilds down the wall so that she had to listen to my leg. It was great. I was really getting it at the end. Before when I was doing leg yeilding work I didn't really understand exactly what you were supposed to be doing with your body and legs. I think I am really starting to get it. We also worked on bending and counter bending circles and lines to get her more flexible as well as more willing to listen to the aids. It was a great lesson. I will ride her again next week. Even though she is a novice horse, I feel as though I am learning SOOOO much on her! I'll post some pictures. I gotta go for now
kim~

Chicken and the Tractor
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