Rollbacks at the trot

Today was a strong session, focusing on loose-rein at the trot. Many rollbacks into the wall, from a straight line and on the circle. She is not coming across much at all, but the wall is helping to teach her not to rush. She gave some good bursts of relaxed trot on a loose rein. Later I switched to the "circle at the post" exercise at the trot, which I'd like to do again. Today the circles were very sloppy. Both of these exercises need to be done at the canter once the trot work gets better.

Outdoors she was hesitant to lead and moving out like a drunk. She is fearful and pushy at the same time. Nevertheless, she is showing improvement and the Pink barn has the arena that we can make progress in.

Back to work

Panda moved over to the Pink Barn on Saturday. I've worked her 3 times since then, focusing on one-rein work and stepping over when she rushes. I'm starting at the walk and working up to the trot. She's doing well but still having trouble finding a slow trot or any kind of collection in the trot or canter. But I think I'm setting her up for more improvement soon.

mustang practice

I set up a 40 x 40 square enclosure using string and rope so I could practice round penning on Panda. Worked on getting her eye without too much fuss and driving around. Sacked out with rope, feed sack, and plastic bag without a halter on.

In the saddle she is getting very light up front. She will sink in the hindquarters but rarely diagonalizes--more like tiny rears. The mobility is incredible, though. Anyway, it's too slippery to do anything but walk right now.

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.