A restful weekend

Haha. But it was in that we didn't have any parties, and Magic and I went for nice hacks FIVE days running. Plenty of opportunity for me to practice.

He was his usual eejit "I've had days off" self on first ride. Good in trot, wanted to gallop everywhere, but mainly just the walking at warp speed issue again. Got to practice my slow the walk walk, but I wasn't too hot after a few days off either!

Next day, the other way, and he chose to do the boring road and round bridleway option, so only opportunities for trots really, handy as good practice. Its amazing how I've gone from NEVER trotting anywhere (walk or canter only!) to trying to trot as much as possible.

Then I decided to show willing and took him up in the field to see if I can trot a circle on the side of a hill. Wasn't sure.... but we did the best trot circles, and NO change down hill on right rein, and I could stop changes happening on left rein if I concentrated 100% and really really rose and sat. Quit after 20mins as my abs were saying "enough, enough" and I wanted to quit whilst ahead. I honestly think that's the first time in our 5 years that it all just went well and he was trying to focus on me all the time. Hard when on top of a hill and there's LOTS of important stuff to see.

Then a gallopies hack on the airstrip. But we did trot everywhere else, and rather than warp speed takeoff, he has taken on board the "we trot everywhere, even before mad gallops" and so he did....

Left rein diagonal is still harder than right. I can do it, but its much harder for me to balance over my leg in ALL parts of the sit/rise.... I can rise in control, do the pause at top, sit in control... but then there is about an inch before I touch the saddle where I can FEEL now that I just don't have it.... then I sit and try to stay sat, but that is harder on this diagonal too.

Its funny but much easier now I can feel it so well and have broken it down. If I keep pelvic floor relaxed, then I can do the sit... but I need to be totally balanced in the WHOLE sitting part, or everything fails and he can still do bigger trot. The best bit is that even if he DOES do bigger trot, he's not pulling the rug anymore... just trotting bigger than maybe I want and waiting for me to catch him up and slow it down to my trot again.

He's also much more relaxed in all ways about riding, spooks less, listens to my seat slowing the walk if he feels tense and about to spook. Although, obviously nout much works when he's fresh....!

Then today, I trimmed 2, did the muck heap and wore myself out before riding, so we went for a short blast round the two big fields as it was midday, flys were awful and I was gonna burn.

Trotted 3 sides of the field, and cantered the other. Only walked the down hill section. He was sooo good. Canter is waiting for me (but apart from push up to plate, dunno what am doing to acheive it!) trot was, even when he'd really rather have cantered. And I could control the walk down the hill perfectly.

I only really cantered cos my legs were too feeble to trot the whole way!

So back to a day off tomorrow, then RC lesson on Tues.... cue MUCHO more trotting!!