April 6, 2022

With Karl feeling off I let him have a day of rest - Bill comes tomorrow to do the hoof test to check for bruise or abscess.

This gave me the chance to have a lesson with lesson. Nell, also known as Mama, is Meg’s 22yo Hanoverian who foaled both Renfrew and Hwin on the property. She is in the stall next to Karl and is the matriarch of the herd. Meg started her at 3 and with her older methods of pressure and release training. She hasn’t been ridden in about 2 years and only done a handful of groundwork. She is very forward thinking and has a tendency to fall over the chest off her center of mass, so my job in both groundwork and riding is to help her shift her weight back. She helped me get a good feel for haunches-in on the ground where I mostly need to use my energetic aids and shaping the flexion both horizontal and vertical.

Something about my seat electrifies hotter horses and it did with Nell. Worked on finding my center an asking her to meet me there, paired with half halts on the bit to control the tempo. I struggle to find the balance between following the motion and softly influencing it with pressure and intention from my seat without tensing up. She took off into a canter when I asked for the trot and I was so proud of myself for totally being able to sit and stay with her in the bareback pad. We tried again and it went much better - can’t wait for the next one.

Percy and Wyatt ready for night chores