I am a Lemon

Yes folks it is official I am a lemon and I ride like one. Perhaps I should rename my blog. Hmmh let me see now JustLikeaLemon or Lemon Squeezing for Horses.

Today we worked in the school once again, poor Charlie, but he needs the consistent work and the turnout is currently much reduced. He can't be a couch potato.

Firstly we lunged on straight lines and circles and then over trotting poles. Did beautifully and then had a little paddy and jumped over the first two and was very silly. I dealt with this the only way I know how which was to calmly tell him he was naughty stop him tell him not to be silly and then asked again. It was obviously out of his system as he trotted very nicely on both reins.

One issue which concerns me is that there has been a lot of tail swishing must keep an eye on that.

So then I took on the guise of a lemon. The little black devil on my shoulder said 'No don't ride today he has been naughty he might be even naughtier'. The little fluffy wuffy bunny on the other shoulder said 'Get on or you will start finding excuses not to ride'.

So I mounted. Just in case he had an issue I did the saddle smacking and thumping thing before I got on legs astride whoosh I was a Lemon.

I decided that Tori would suggest quality not quantity so didn't intend riding for ages. I rode around on both reins in walk trying to keep my arms and hands light and keep any tension out of my body. Oh and of course breathing was handy too.

We asked for a nice trot and got a nice trot on the left rein did some walk halt walk decided no circles just half circles keeping everything large. Did some more trot and changed to the naughty rein.
Right said the lemon to herself no tension allowed we rode around and asked for trot no probs no head tossing did some transitions and then sure enough as I rode along the long side thinking now where should my weight be he did the lock shoot sideways thing so the lemon squeezed for all her might legs on ride forward shift weight and......hoorah no bounce back onto the track nice trot then transition to walk. Did a little more trotwork and changes of rein.

Then deciding discretion was the better part of valour the lemon dismounted and left her boy to have a roll.
The lemon then went and blew her nose and had a little cry. Still we had no head tossing mostly good trot transitions and no bouncing.

That sodding horse I used to own whose name I will never say out loud has a lot to answer for as it is he who shall not be named who has destroyed my confidence but me an Charlie will get it sorted.