That was definitely the theme for our lesson on Saturday, so I will let you take my lesson as well! Encore did very well and feels in fine form, just in need of more strength as usual. Our warmup felt solid and I was particularly pleased with his left lead canter, which no longer feels like you are riding a washing machine out of balance.
Video hint: if you want to see details, click the little gear at the bottom of the YouTube window and you can pick HD.
Trot trot trot...
Ca-anter!
As always, David had a gymnastic for us to start with. Encore ate it like it was nothing, but decided he'd rather throw in a lead change AT THE TAKEOFF STRIDE so he could do the whole thing on his right lead, which he much prefers. I never said he wasn't quick with his feet.
Fixed.
Then we were allowed to begin our courses. Watch very carefully as I jump the first oxer here, I think you will see a magnificent example of equitation the way it should be -- a moment of harmony I don't even have words for.
Heh. After Encore proceeded to scare himself by overjumping the oxers, we set about fixing that too; David always emphasizes breaking things down and being very methodical in your training, one careful footstep at a time. In fact, he should just wear a t-shirt that says, "Be Methodical" and it would save him a lot of breath.
They are all green horse mistakes -- I was not supposed to let him run out and I was set to make him eat it, but he is so quick and athletic, his body moves faster than I can think! Lesson: never never never take a jump for granted. Keep that leg ON even if you think you are already at the point of no return! At least until he gets some more solid mileage this fall.
Hopefully, on Saturday, all our fixing will fall into place and we will be ready to eat up some jumper courses!
Video hint: if you want to see details, click the little gear at the bottom of the YouTube window and you can pick HD.
Trot trot trot...
Ca-anter!
As always, David had a gymnastic for us to start with. Encore ate it like it was nothing, but decided he'd rather throw in a lead change AT THE TAKEOFF STRIDE so he could do the whole thing on his right lead, which he much prefers. I never said he wasn't quick with his feet.
Fixed.
Then we were allowed to begin our courses. Watch very carefully as I jump the first oxer here, I think you will see a magnificent example of equitation the way it should be -- a moment of harmony I don't even have words for.
Heh. After Encore proceeded to scare himself by overjumping the oxers, we set about fixing that too; David always emphasizes breaking things down and being very methodical in your training, one careful footstep at a time. In fact, he should just wear a t-shirt that says, "Be Methodical" and it would save him a lot of breath.
They are all green horse mistakes -- I was not supposed to let him run out and I was set to make him eat it, but he is so quick and athletic, his body moves faster than I can think! Lesson: never never never take a jump for granted. Keep that leg ON even if you think you are already at the point of no return! At least until he gets some more solid mileage this fall.
Hopefully, on Saturday, all our fixing will fall into place and we will be ready to eat up some jumper courses!