Mom's Departure and Tuesday's Lessons

Today started off a little sad with dad and I driving mom to the airport =( She left this morning for home in order to attend some meetings and look after the farm. Dad and I were both very sad to see her go, but we knew she had to.

Once again all three horses were super in their lessons today with Lientje. I was extremely happy with Oslo. We did some test movements today to test the gaits in the lateral work and just for good practice. For instance, I just need to make sure to half-halt before each change in the canter half-pass zig-zag and then the quality of the changes and half-passes are better. And then I don't have to worry about running out of space either! His trot work was even stronger today. We just worked on getting it more steady and exuberant in the lateral work. We ran through the Intermediaire trot tour trying to get more expression in everything and really keeping the forward in the shoulder-ins on centre line.

Skippy was really good right from the start. As soon as I picked up the reins he was up and light. We did some working pirouette work today and he stayed quick, in front of the leg and light. He felt great. We got the trot shorter and lighter again today as well.

Cashew started off a bit feisty and had a couple of bucks in her! But then she was fantastic! She was so forward today we spent most of the lesson reinforcing the half-halt! Since we could work on the half-halt she was much rounder and supple in the higher frame. She felt so good! Even in the canter she was more supple today and very forward!

Skippy gets his long-lining lesson tomorrow with Shannon and Lientje. I briefly saw Lientje long-lining another horse today and it looks like a very cool procedure! One person is behind the horse with two lunge lines attached to each side of the bit (similar to reins) and then one person is in front with a rope attached to a big caveson on the horse. The person in front keeps their head up and taps their shoulder with a whip to get the front leg more expressive and the person in the back has a lunge whip to get the activity in the hind leg and keep the horse round in front with the lunge lines. It is very complicated and takes precise timing, hence why Lientje wants Shannon to help with Skippy. Shannon is very good with working the horses in hand and has lots of experience with it. Therefore, she has good timing and a good feel.

That's all for today!


Linds