Session at Micki's

I went over to Micki's this week to ride Jordan and have some pictures taken. Micki took some real nice pictures of Jordan in shoulder-in and half pass. I am really happy with his work.

Jordan goes home!

Jordan went back to Micki's last night. The plan is for him to stay there while she is taking a week of vacation. I was so proud that he loaded without any hesitation, even though it was after dark when the trailer pulled up. What a good boy.

We've had good progress in getting a softer mouth the past two weeks. He can half-pass on the bit in both directions now, and do some shoulder in at the trot on the bit. His left haunch is still weak and he can cross fire on the right lead, or fall on the inside shoulder. His overall impulsion is 1000% better than when he arrived, especially at the walk. What a good boy.

apple flavored flexions

Working on many fronts since my last posting. Rain has taken away the canter, and many days were barn only goofing off. Introduced the clicker and target training. Very fun and rewarding. Also used the clicker for Baucher/Fillis flexions in the snaffle and double bridle. Renewed focus on jaw mobility according to the French school.

The right shoulder in is really, really good in walk and trot. The left shoulder in is still squirrelly. Using the inside snaffle to soften and bend, which is really helpful. It's clear to me that jaw mobility is everything, and it is not useful to do lateral work with the horse leaning on the snaffle or the curb, period. Jordan is making great progress.

I have banished all nosebands from the barn, which has been helpful. Probably not all horses would allow this, but his mouth tends to the quiet and sometimes it seems the noseband (even when loose) makes it worse. So they are all gone.

Can't wait to get some pics and see our progress. I want to see how much expression there is in the shoulder in especially.

more mouth training

Really concentrating on the mouth and neck this week. For the past 2 days I have been lunging before riding "french style," where the lunge line passes through the bit ring and goes back to the saddle or surcingle. This has helped him stretch well, at least while lunging, and I think it has carried over to his riding. Today I rode in the double but knotted the curb reins and never touched them. His jaw was the most mobile yet. I will use this combination again.

Nice shoulder in at the trot. Renvers/travers still stargazing, but some progress. I think we are figuring it out together.

better at the trot

Jordan is developing a solid shoulder in at the trot with a soft mouth. It was really fun today. Definitely getting better at coming off that left outside leg in travers and half pass. Took outside lead in canter when I asked for it on the left rein, which is also progress. Really mixing his sessions up with walk, trot, canter, and halts all over the place. Impulsion for lateral work at the trot is outstanding. Two sessions today in the ring.

really nice trot

Trot really coming along. Warming up with half-circles in canter, which were mostly calm. Really nice shoulder-in at trot, although I start losing some of the good contact when I start with half-passes in trot. Shoulder-in/renvers/shoulder-in at walk very smooth and easy. Multiple walk-trot transitions: need work. Right half pass at 85%--room for improvement. Nice sessions yesterday and today, in good cool conditions.

first flying change!

Crimenee! My wife beat me to it. Without telling me she was going to try anything, she asked for a change coming out of a tight turn around a barrel at the canter. He gave a beautiful, calm, clean change both times Maria asked for it. Go Jordan! But I'm jealous that I wasn't first. :)