january 9, 2022

Yesterday was frigid and I chose to give us both the day off. Today was much warmer, I wanted to do groundwork though to bring our minds and bodies back together, since snow started falling off the arena roof I was happy with my decision. He started very spooky because of it. One of his paddock mates was being ridden as well, so this was another distraction. I led him up in just the cavesson (I’ve been using the halter/chain) and it went smoothly, I kept my energy level calm and focused and his attention with me. I stayed this way going into the arena and he settled quickly after his spooks.

I started in forward down, walking backwards in front of him. He wasn’t very pushy, but very mouthy and head-shaky. I kept on until he had some balanced connected moments both ways. Then I transitioned to his side to start trot work, he was very resistant and emotional going left to start. Once we worked through it, he was finding great balance and relaxation. I rewarded 3 moments of correct self-carriage. He didn’t give too much fuss to the right, and I had influence of the right shoulder pretty quickly in about 3 requests that he move it around me, with little emotion. He had balanced moments this way as well. Then back to walking backwards, and he was much more in sync with me, and had little mouthiness. I practiced changing direction like this, and then also on the side of him. He still gets stuck in that draw, so I stopped at the first fluid change. Then when Impy left the arena I was able to keep his focus and help him find balanced forward down at the trot.