Last night Pepe was WONDERFUL. I really, really enjoy riding him. It's awesome exercise for me and him, and we both really enjoy one another. He had one "moment", which was a first for him.
To the right he pretty much doesn't steer whatsoever, so that's our weakness. He also doesn't collect. I had a short chat last night with Nadir, the man who was working on him for a polo prospect but Pepe didn't like polo :-) Nadir agreed that Pepe's issues are lack of steering to the one direction, no lead change that direction, and no collection whatsoever. HOORAY! I was on the right path exactly, and now I know what to work on - what I've been working on.
We were cantering a circle to the right and he locked his jaw every time it was time to cut across the arena. I started halting in the four "corners" of my circle and making him trot or canter off so he learned patience. If he was antsy, he trotted off. If he was quiet, he cantered. One corner after our halt he picked the canter up and threw a buck in there, just to make sure I knew he wasn't enjoying this exercise. I halted him (HARD) immediately, and backed him a step, then asked him to quietly walk for a few seconds. We trotted again, and continued our exercise at a trot, while he thought about what just happened. When I asked for the canter, he picked it up like a kitten, practically purring that he LOVES this exercise, and bent around all four "corners" like a made hunter. Need I say this again? I LOVE TEACHING.
Pepe finished by cantering down a triple combination (ground rails only, still) of a 1-2-1. He found his own spot in, kept his perfect cadence all the way through, and cantered right out of it. I.love.this.horse. He's truly a blessing for me right now. I can't WAIT to jump him, but I'm definitely going to wait. The longer we work on those collection, steering, and weakness issues, the more positive experience he will have over fences. Patience, patience, patience.
Jimmy paid for his play time. He came out a little stiff.....BUT NOT LAME!!!!! He trotted just like he had been laying on the couch too long. Little short stepped, but no definitive "lameness". I'd say we are on the road to recovery. He's going to hang in his limestone lot a few more weeks. Tim is scheduled to come Sept 13 and re-shoe him, so I'd like to see what his take is on Jimmy's feet: if they've improved/how much/ etc.
Going CAMPING this weekend!!! We'll be back Sunday, so I will hopefully get to go out and ride Pepe then and of course Monday is a holiday so I will be out at the farm, slaving away! I love my side job ;-)
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