Everything Equine : 12/17/12

So far we've completed 6 - 2 hour lesson's (12 hours total). These have been split between Ella and Eli but the last two, two hour, Training Sessions have been specifically geared towards working exclusively with Ella. We will continue to go this route for the time being with the intention of bringing Ella up to speed so that Jesse and I, or our Trainer Robyn and myself can combine lessons/training to include Eli.

Ella is doing really well under saddle, she's really getting a handle on backing-up, stopping, leg yields. She's doing well with standing and moving her head in to knee/stir-up without turning her entire body.

Saturday's main focus was to strengthen these areas: stop, leg yield, back up, stand as well as to establish balance in her trot. We decided as she has two gaits in the trot, walking run and the standard trot, (sorry, I am not entirely familiar with the terminology) it best to pick and focus on one. I am thinking the running walk will be easier for her (come more naturally) and as I am such a green rider that perhaps later down the road, if I am better able and interested in the trot at that point, we can revisit.

I will have to look into whether this will cause more work and confusion and if maybe it would be better to just focus on the trot now as I have a feeling it may be difficult to work around running walk after having established it with her. Either way, not a big deal - pleasure riding should be pretty laid back and straight forward.

Following Ella's training I brought Eli in for some lunging and horsing around, he had fun. I have to say that I have noticed already a change in his joints, they haven't been making that loud cracking noise as they were in the past and if they do it's not nearly as often, or as loud - the Glucosamine must be working and I am glad as he doesn't seem nearly as stiff.

Something else I have discovered researching the breed is that they were (supposedly) disciplined if they transitioned into a canter or lope. It doesn't seem as though Ella is against it, so maybe it's not a major issue - but I did learn that the more you free lunge the better they become in terms of transitioning and balance and this helps reinforce that you want a canter/lope if asked.

I have included a video of the training as well as a video from a previous week (that was missed by mistake - lounging with tack on, canter/lope) and a link showing the running walk of a Standardbred Mare

I also have to say that the drive out to the stable Saturday morning was breath taking - everything was covered in frost. I haven't quite seen anything like it - the frost particles were so large that they cast the sun off trees and fields as though everything were covered in diamonds. First picture at the top of the bull rush stems reminded me of those sugar sticks you can buy for coffee. I wasn't able to capture the sparkling effect, or the fog that was present and low to the road (odd) - but I did get some nice shots with the sun present.