1000 halts

Working to extend Panda's calmness. W-h-w transitions on the circle with barrel work at the walk and trot. Her bend around the barrels is very good. Collection at the trot is very hard to find, which is more nerves than physical ability at this point, I think. Overall she is very respectful and easy to work around. No more walking off when mounting, and halting fairly square now.

great starts

Yesterday and today the rides started out very soft and calm. She is lifting the bit and accepting a nice contact. She is staying in this mode for about 20 minutes before getting nervous and losing some of the softness. This is progress, though, and her mouth and bend are feeling better and better. It feels like each time she is starting better and giving more, for longer periods of time.

Did jump work both days as well of the lunge. She is able to canter into the jump with control and is lifting her feet over the ground poles better. Her trot continues to soften up. Still very little canter from the saddle--waiting for her balance and collection to improve some more.

fantastic jump session

Maria noted that Panda overjumped one of her jumps on Saturday so I figured we should do a bit of arena work. I set up a single jump with placing poles on both sides and worked both reins. She mostly trotted over the cross rails so I had to raise it to 2' vertical. Even then she was able to trot over it sometimes! But once she was warmed up she jumped very smoothly with few knockdowns. Mostly it was a challenge to slow her down, but the exercise itself served to collect her and slow her down in stages. Overall she was just terrific today, calm and easy to work with.

Yesterday and today I also worked all kinds of lateral work. Fun stuff, make it up as you go. Turn on the haunches to renvers, half pass to turn on the forehand to half pass, half pass from a halt, etc. Getting softer and softer at the walk. Some of the best softness is at the half pass now, and the right bend has caught up to the left. Tried shoulder in at the trot in earnest yesterday but there was not much there yet. She stayed in shoulder in just fine at the trot, but it was bone jarring and forced. Will try again in a week or two.

Panda's big ride

Today Tracy picked us up again for a trail ride in Caledonia. This time there were 5 horses in all. I borrowed Peppy and let Maria take the ride on Panda. We spent a lot of time trotting and cantering, and Panda rode in nearly every position. She was well behaved and easy to control, just getting a little fussy when we stopped once. The ride lasted 2.5 hours.

Yesterday was another fantastic session in the arena. Mobility in all directions was light and accurate. Turn on the haunches really easy. Later in the day I also set up two jumps and a set of trotting poles, which I lunged her over in combinations.

mobility

Tried Panda in our new, unfinished arena today. Here mobility was unbelievable. She could move off of any leg at any bend, including backing SW & SE. Stayed on the bit very well despite a blustery day. Later on she got fussy, but the first 20 minutes was very good.

new stuff

Today I put a lot of ground poles in the arena as well as the barrels. We did a lot of backing and bending. I tried sidepass for the first time and she could go either direction quite easily. She is staying calm for longer and longer periods of time now. Shoulder in was really light and easy on both reins. Answering to the outside leg better now. Right bend responding better.

Quick rides most evening before I put her away. She is not fussing over the neck rein anymore and has been 100% on picking me up off the fence. Lots of fun.

walk week

Some good work this week, but still only in walk in the arena due to slippery conditions. Doing some barrel work, which exposed a weakness in the right bend. Rode one session in the double bridle. In the barn we started backing by the tail, which is fun.

Nice session of jumping of the lunge today for a few minutes. She jumps very well up to 2'6", which is as high as my standards go!

Today Maria rode Panda double with a friend just before dark, riding off a lead rope only. Panda did great and everyone had fun.

Great day

Panda was in a great mood this morning. We worked for about 30 minutes, first doing Western speed control exercises like "circle at the post." The footing was just barely good enough for the tight trot circles. In walk I focused on lateral work with a more stretched neck than what I have been asking. This evened out her neck bend and helped her advance more in the half pass. But before I got very far, Maria came and kicked me off. They went across the street for a fantastic trail ride that included a lot of trot/canter work. Maria felt she was much better than the last time she rode Panda, able to stretch and relax better and not rush ahead.

first trail ride!

Tracy picked us up at 8:30 this morning and we rode out from Neubauer's together. Panda was alert but respectful. Loading went well, but it would get better with repetition. She did not want to get on, but stepped forward when I pulled on the lead line. Nervous but respectful.

Predictably, she walked out very fast on the trail and I made her do tight turns when she started to pass Rico. After a few repetitions she was doing better. In the woods we picked up a strong trot and she dropped her head to keep her footing. We cantered a couple of times in the field, which felt great. She is very powerful. We rode in front, in back, and alongside without incident. By 30 minutes into the ride it was very easy to ride on the buckle. She did great.

Maria had a good ride on her Friday in the park. Yesterday in the arena we did walk work only, focusing on straight lines and loose reins.

some footing

It finally dried out enough late yesterday to have some footing again, and since it's supposed to rain tonight, I wasted no time today. More jumping in the morning at 20" vertical. She got the better of me on the right rein and ran out several times. She took some nice jumps, though. Later I went back and lunged her over doubles to 2'6". She did very well.

Outside leg getting a little more responsive. Focusing on getting the active hind leg under the center of mass in lateral work. This will teach her better and help get her off the front legs.

Maria took her to the park later in the day and did quite a bit of cantering and galloping. She was controllable and very sensible, but definitely had plenty of energy. Still pretty much on the forehand, but she had her moments. She feels quite different in the canter than Jordan and it will take Maria & I a couple of rides to find the sweet spot in canter.

real jumping

Nice day of work with Panda. Morning was walk only due to footing. She was still getting confused sometimes and moving into the active leg, but her mobility was fantastic. Right bend improving.

By 4:00 pm the ring was dry and I set up a single jump. She tried to run out the first couple of times but settled down quickly. We worked over a 20" vertical until it was really smooth and easy. She is a very efficient jumper and feels very solid.

Worked on picking me up off the fence before locking her up for the night.