Riding Lesson

After my 4th lesson with Ashley, I pleased to say I can walk!  I wasn’t even the least bit sore this time – I like to think this is because I’m riding much more actively than before and am no longer just a lazy rider, sightseeing instead of engaging Kobi!

Kobi did very well yesterday.  He’s a lot straighter than he was – not falling in on his right shoulder nearly as much (I think he finally became time of me kicking him at the girth and popping him on the shoulder he was falling in on.)  So we’ve been able to moved on to cantering figure 8’s with simple lead changes.  I still have to work to keep him straight when we break down to a trot and then ask for the next lead in the circle, because he still anticipates what we are about to do, but over all much better than we have been.

Toni braved another lesson on Sugar.  Oh, that mare.  I overheard several good points:  Riding Sugar to the left is much easier than riding her to the right, Sugar is much more likely to flex and get on the bit at a trot than a walk, and most likely her stifle isn’t what’s to blame but her laziness.  I think the big goals involving Sugar (and please Toni, correct me if I’m wrong) are to get her ‘marching’ in a faster walk without breaking into a trot, bending and flexing at the walk, and moving consistently to the right.  Tall order for such a wacky mover – glad I’m not the one working her!

Next lesson is scheduled for Spring Break – we’ll see how far we are by then!