Lucy Lessons & Jimmy Rehabs

Yesterday we got a LOT of rain in the early morning hours and the farm got 5 inches! It actually worked out in our favor though because the rocks kind of sunk down into the sand and the arena was squishy enough I could teach in it.

Lucy rode Smiley & the temperature was wonderful. He is such a good teaching horse, he's very forgiving and understanding, but puts up enough of a fight that Lucy learns what to do and how to really RIDE. We practiced forward motion and steering at the same time on the lunge line, so she got comfortable squeezing/kicking while steering with her eyes and hands. He definitely put up a good fight about this in her weaker direction and then she got so tough and determined she straightened him right out :-)

She also has learned the terminology "working" when I want her to kick the pace up a notch and "half halt" when it's time to step it down. We continued to practice "Sit Down, Lean Back, & Pull Back" for asking Smiley to halt also. He loves to pull through this one, which I appreciate because it keeps her determined and riding through the whole halt. The theme of our lesson yesterday was "You don't stop riding until you get off the horse." By the end of the ride she was off the line, in the big ring, walking and trotting all on her own, steering all the way. It was a very proud moment for both of us I think :-) Here are some photos:

I love that Smiley has his tongue out in this one :-P

After Lucy's lesson we got Jimmy and brushed him up (Lucy brushed, I tidied up my stuff) and got him ready. I went for a ride in the outdoor with him as well and tried to see how the soundness was. I let him pick up the trot in a corner - terrible idea. He was lame...lamer....and lamest while I let him trot all the way around the arena...just getting worse and worse. So I stopped, let him walk for a while...and thought. Why was he sound Thursday and lame today. What can I do? So I decided to try the old "Straight sides only" rehabilitation trotting. Worked! He trotted MUCH more sound when I only let him trot on the straight sides. I plan on doing this as long as it takes for him to build back up. I will also be trial riding him across the street at a walk just to let him stretch his legs with some different scenery. I'm going to trail ride him in his fly sheet and fly mask so it's not SO buggy on him :-) I just ride him bareback anyway.
Before the barn I stopped at Barrington Saddlery for their tent sale & picked up two new pairs of bell boots for $5 each :-) Gotta love a horse with tiny feet. Always stuff on the cheap!! Enjoy your Sunday, I'll update again later with how Jimmy does today!