getting serious about canter

Real nice sessions yesterday and today. I'm getting serious about lots of transitions to all gaits. I'm cantering for longer periods, focusing on balance more than the departures, which are still coming along. We can spiral down to 8m or less on both reins at the canter, which I'm really pleased about. Today the shoulder in at the trot really felt nice--on circles and straight lines. Two days ago Maria took Jordan to the park again and did the most beautiful canter. The neighbors were in awe. I'm especially pleased with today's session--very quiet and responsive. Not a hint of disharmony.

one handed half pass

Very smooth, accurate session in the double this morning. Some trot work, which was weak. I think he's still tired from yesterday's trail ride! w-t-w transitions helped a bit. Good canter work today, 100% on both leads. Both half passes really nice now, except shoulders leading a bit too much on the right. This is mostly pilot error and I would not know this without the mirror. We ended doing some half passes one-handed, which were great. He is very light in the half pass and it only takes a whisper of the outside leg to get it going. Neglected counter shoulder in and travers on the circle today. Some figure 8s shoulder in the renvers, which were solid on both sides.

Best hack ever

This morning Tracy picked us up in her trailer again and we rode out of Neubauer's. We rode with Tracy & Tamara as far as 5 mile, then went to the RCPC for some schooling. With the group I made some progress with Jordan. Whenever he tried to pass a horse, I would put him in some small bending circles. He was able to slow his walk and soften fairly well. In the woods by ourselves we moved out at a nice trot and took a bunch of the log jumps. What a blast!

At the RCPC we took ALL of the jumps set up in the outdoor and schooled in both the indoor and outdoor dressage arenas. He did OK in the indoor but we will be at a disadvantage if we have to show there. I don't think he has much experience in indoor arenas and seemed pretty nervous. On the way out we cantered from the RCPC barn all the way around the South side of the field and didn't slow down until the woods. SO MUCH FUN! Jordan's trot in the woods was incredible--he has really learned to soften in the past few rides. He has never been this engaged. We worked a lot of w-t-w transitions on the way back, then switched to the double bridle and worked in the arena until tracy & tamara got back. He felt great, and I suspect he could have gone all day. What an incredible ride!

a little tired this morning

Jordan was a little slow this morning, but our work on his jaw continued to improve. He has trained himself to hollow out in one corner at the trot and this was causing the biggest challenge today, but I think we made progress. Canter work was a little better. Overall the action-reaction exercise is really making a difference.

Yesterday afternoon Jordan earned his union card when we gave a dressage lesson together to Kari, one of the instructors from Red Pine and a student of Lalo's. Kari was able to ride Jordan in shoulder-in, travers, and half pass quite nicely. We worked on the circle and straight lines. Jordan was a very good lesson horse.

action reaction

Very good learning session for the jaw. Have gone back to the basics of educating the jaw using Philippe Karl's techniques. Yielding of the jaw from the ground first, then at the halt, then at the walk. High wide hands leading to neck extension with contact. Very good results. Walk trot only today in the snaffle. Need to fix this issue before proceeding on other fronts.

complete session

We rode in the double today and I was careful to work all 3 gaits. Canter leads were 100%, although he is more excitable to the right. The right half pass is still weak, but the mirror is REALLY helping me find the problems. Shoulder in at the trot was incredible! To the left it is weak, which is consistent with his other issues with the left haunch. No problem this will be trained out soon. Nice quiet session with lots of high points.

Circle work at counter shoulder in and travers is coming along great. Counter shoulder in coming very easily, travers more than halfway there.

bitless session

Just out of curiosity I rode Jordan in the ring today with no bit, just my rope halter and a set of English reins. His bend and collection was a little disappointing, but he stretched well and was very controllable. We focused on canter work and getting that sticky right lead. I re-taught the lead from the beginning by stepping over on the left rein, then dropping the left rein and using the crop on the left haunch. This gave us a reliable canter depart on the right, which I then extended to a 10m circle. His canter was very clear and extended today. He has trouble controlling his excitement after a few canter departs, but this is simply lack of training. We will need to include canter in all sessions from now on.

Nearly every night one of us hops on Jordan bareback and walks him around a bit. Maria trotted him also last night and he did fine. He can pick me up off the fence, or I can mount from a bow. My vault is a little weak but he stands well for it, whether I miss it or not.