Rescued by Tori Rendel again

Taking a Step Back

So following on from my last post I have actually progressed, apparently. As Charlies issue is not working into the contact on Sunday I popped him back into the split Pessoa (Vienna Reins plus Bum pusher) and didnt ride. I started to feel that perhaps he was looking better. We are ceratinly not getting the hop into trot we were having originally.

Monday we lunged tacked up and he is looking like he is going better but the old problem of falling in on the right rein came back with a vengeance. I rode for 20 minutes trying to get the best walk.

Tori to the Rescue

Our lesson was at 9 and it was flippin freezing so I put Charlies saddle on a good Half hour before the lesson and left him wrapped up in his turnout dress.I wont drag out the detail of the lesson but lets just say if I can keep my hands and arms soft and my brain in gear there is a lot less head tossing.

We used the scientific approach I lunged in Vienna reins no head tossing.
Tori lunged me in trot and got him working in the Vienna reins no head tossing so its not my weight on his back (whoo hoo blow the post Christmas diet then). Then I took up the reins and we just got the occasional head toss when I didnt have my arms relaxed and soft. So unfortunately, yet again, the answer is in my hands.

Unfortunately my arms have always been my Bete Noir so maybe its a good job I have a Cheval Noir (ok Dark Bay then.Whats that in French?).

I also discovered how easy he is to correct on a circle on his good rein just by gently closing my inside hand.

The right rein is obviously going to continue to be a work in progress. But we will achieve.

Dont Push your Luck

It has become obvious that my deisre to get Charlie out Hacking to deal with my fears is not actually what he needs...yet. He needs the constant steady work in the school keeping him interested and helping that balance on the right rein.

Not to self read your own blog more from the start.