Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Back to single digits again. BRRRRRR!

Played with the pups to lesson my feelings of guilt before leaving them while I go to the barn. I found it interesting that both, after watching me pack up which would normally have them at my heels, went into their kennels. I think they decided it was in their best interest to stay inside their nice comfy home. See how smart JRT's are!?!

I pulled in to see not too many cars which means the arena may not be too crowded. One rider in the indoor and appearing to be finishing up, two getting ready (one a pasture mate of Josie's), it ought to be enjoyable tonight. It was pleasant not having to be barking commands at the pups - Out, Leave It, Off, etc. I love them dearly but it sure is nice to focus on just Josie.

Josie was at the far feeder. Hoping not to require pasture trudging, I holler "JOSIE, Come Here Mare". I am pleased to see her leaving the feeder and walking very carefully to meet me. It is scary watching them walk in, you see irregular steps and a shortness of step that looks like lameness. Make no judgements until she is in and moving in the arena. She is fine, thank goodness! I am not as paranoid about it since PJ but I still have twangs of fear.

As part of the warm up we cantered in both directions. Her trot and forward thinking improved. Due to the cold weather, the tractor is back in the indoor. I didn't even walk her by it first. I mounted and went about our normal warm up. She looked but marched forward as I told her good girl and rubbed her mane by the withers. As we started trotting, she felt sticky and after triple checking my position I asked for more forward and she responding very nicely. She isn't curling these days and has a nice training "frame". She quickly quit making faces at the little Arab after a bit of focus on me Josie, focus on me.

Our training tonight focused on halts and trotting off from halt. She was given a chance to trot from walk and didn't respond immediately. After a few steps of trot, I asked for a halt, asked for the trot again. She responded the same so I applied leg and a bit of whip. We trotted forward a bit and then repeated. She immediately went forward. What a good girl. Once is luck, twice is skill - Mare has skills.

Our changes of bend doing serpentine has become much smoother. Still not as well off my left leg but using the rein as described in Twisted Truths of Modern Dressage has improved this. This book is definitely a re-read several times over. I will need to return it and will have to put it on my wish list.

While we were warming up I watched wistfully as S and Presto were doing half pass. Hopefully one day . . . but right now we are on track and adding baby steps to jumping is enough for us to work on.

I took pictures of Josie's ear. The scar along the backside of her ear has come in with all black hair. It looks pretty cool and will be another guide to "right" as if the Victory V wasn't enough.

'Til we ride again!