Gia - session 729 - lesson with Suzin

 I started my lesson with Suzin with Gia on a long rein, stretching at the walk.  She was a bit tight at first, but then relaxed and really got into a good stretch with a good overstep.  I picked her up to medium walk, and did several transitions to halt.  If her halt was good, I asked for rein back.  If it was not good, I walked on and tried again.  Then I asked for a trot transition from one of the good rein backs.  She moved forward nicely, with a good push from behind.

As we were moving around the arena at the trot, changing bend and direction, Gia started to feel a bit tight, and tense.  At times, she would resist going forward, but then rush into the canter.  I would bring her back, but then she would get tight again.  Suzin had me allow her to canter, so she could get her tension out.  She was fairly well behaved, once I let her canter.  She only bucked if she was on the wrong lead, and it was just to switch the leads since she knew she was incorrect.  After a few laps in each direction at the canter, she was a little tired, and didn't really try to break into canter or get upset or tight.  We were able to go back and work on our trot work.  Suzin had us work on lengthening and collecting the trot.  The lengthening was very good, but I had to work on collecting Gia more with my core, and in more of a pulsing rhythm, rather than a steady, consistent rhythm.  We were able to get one good one in each direction.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gia - session 955 - lesson at CDP

 I had a lesson with Hayley today at CDP.  Gia felt great today!  We started with a nice, crisp walk, and then moved right into a forward trot.  We worked all over the ring with changes of direction and in a good, steady tempo, we also worked on lengthening and collecting the trot.  Gia was nicely obedient to everything I asked her to do.  When I first asked for the canter, I forgot to keep my arms soft, so it didn't last more than a few steps.  But the second time, I remembered, and stayed a little off her back as well.  It started awkward, and counterbent, but as I stayed soft and following with my seat and arms, she eventually figured out what to do with her body, and started to come nicely around my inside leg.  We did the same thing in the other direction (which is usually her bad direction), but it went really well!  We decided to quite while we were ahead after that!  Hopefully, this ride will carry into this weekend for the show! 
Read more

Gia - session 956 and 957 - War Horse schooling and show

 I took Gia to the War Horse schooling and show this weekend at the Carolina Horse Park.  When I got on Saturday morning, she started out quite tense - wanting to go up in the front, and up in the back as well, but not really wanting to go forward.  I finally did get her forward, eventually, and slowly, and we made it to the stadium warm up.  After warming up with some trot, and over a few jumps, we schooled the stadium course.  She was a bit nervous, but did OK otherwise.  So, on to cross country schooling.  She felt fairly the same on cross country - a little nervous, but at least by that time, she was moving forward.  She was a bit nervous about a couple of the jumps, and some of the soggy ground.  We "discussed" it, and then she was able to get over/through it.  She felt a lot more confident by the end. On Sunday, she felt fine when I got on for dressage.  I warmed her up in the grass, near the barns, first, where she could stay calmer.  She was fairly responsive and rela
Read more

Gia - session 947 - lesson at CDP

 I took Gia to CDP for a lesson today.  She was very good with her shipping boots this morning - no drama at all!.  She was also pretty good for getting on the trailer, with me on the off side.  She did get her head a little stuck on the wrong side of the divider, but I quickly got it unstuck, and she was good to go. I warmed Gia up deep and low at the walk and trot with lots of changes of bend and direction, all over the ring.  She was a bit spooky and resistant, but we worked through it, and she started to settle down, relax, and stretch her neck out a little.  I added canter transitions, and those went fairly well.   Susan worked with us today.  She had me focus on Gia's rhythm and the timing of her footfalls at all gaits.  She also had me focus on my straightness in the saddle and my alignment with Gia, as well as Gia's straightness on the circle, and through changes of direction.  We worked through transitions between the gaits, and they gradually improved, and I felt Gia
Read more