Just a quick type up of lesson notes before I go to bed.

Arwen (3 year old, Training level ish): Remind myself that she's just a 3 year old, and not to nitpick on her. On lunge, sprial in then step forward and in front of her shoulder while asking for the canter transition. Send her back out to make it easier for her.

Careful in trot that she doesn't get short in the neck. (Always!) To get her quicker off the leg and not the voice, close the leg and use a little tap with the stick.

Do LOTS of voltes at walk...as small as 5 meters. Really bringing shoulder around. Do 6 or 7 of these in both directions. Almost no outside leg--only for supporting. INside leg keeps her moving forward and between the front legs with the inside hind.

Leg yield at walk was good.

Canter transitions still a little rough. Almost counter flex her for a stride or 2 before asking for the transition, really keeping track of the outside hind and that she doesn't crank the neck to the inside. Keep my chest up and keep her straight on the outside rein on the circle. Goals now are straight and going to the reins.


Bella (3rd level): Finally, a lesson where we keep all four legs on the ground! A little stiff in the warm -up, so doing lots of voltes and turn on the haunches to open her up. Good suppling exercise: Free walk across the diagonal, around X turn it into leg yield to the track. In turn on the haunches, if she sticks, bring shoulder MORE around. Practice this in the voltes first. Also need more practice in the half pass at the walk. (It's easier in the trot b/c she has momentum.)

For more uphill trot, use lots of half halts, but keep giving hand to lengthen neck when possible so she doesn't suck back. Keep seat a little more active. Can think almost of half step trot, then let it out a bit.

Most of the lesson was spent on canter. Warmed up big and free, then picked her up. Started 4 loop serpentine ( in the small arena, so each loop is 10 m). Keep her VERY straight from quarter line to quarter line. Simple changes on center line. Make sure she canters at least one stride straight before turning to next loop.

Evolved simple change exercise into flying changes. Mostly late behind. Ensure the FEEL of the next volte (bringing the shoulder around) before the change. Hold the outside rein/hind so that she can jump through to the new inside lead. Keep body BACK!!! Practice simple changes and a few flying changes on straight lines.

Can set up the 4 loop at home with POLES to help keep us straight instead of cones.


Chessie (1st level, starting to school 2nd): Started rein backs. Halt, lengthen the neck, lighten the seat, keep the connection, then just walk the seat back a few strides.

She is finally getting the feel of the legthenings. Same exercise of leg yield from corner to centerline, then 1/2 volte back into corner and lengthen down the long side. Needs little taps with the whip to keep her feet moving.

Shoulder in, then one step forward, then set her down and bring her back to the rail with outside rein. This helps lower the hocks and keep her off her forehand.

Most of trot is good today--stretching through back and really beginning to reach. Straight to canter exercises. New one to test her balance: Leg yield from the corner to the center line. Turn back for 3/4 volte, then straight across the center line (like the first loop of a 4 loop serpentine). Change bend to the 20m circle and canter. This was a really good exercise to get her moving with both hind legs and got some good transitions. Don't let her fall over the shoulder in the voltes.

Next exercise: With the cones set up for the 4 loop serpentine, change that exercise to 1/2 ten m circles down the center line. Each 1/2 volte must be round and not too big! Keep track of the 1/4 lines and where her outside hind leg is. Go up and down the centerline a few times, then do 2 of the 1/2 voltes from the end, then change bend to canter on the 20 m circle on the far end. Do this a few times, then change the 20 m to a 15 m. When that is good, change to a 10m, using the cones to guide. Really keep bringing the shoulder around for the 10m in canter. This got some really nice, balanced canter. Good preperation and set-up for voltes and the canter. Bobbie says DON'T do 10m canter on the wall yet, keep a good set up.