Gia - sessions 1088, 1089 - jump school and flat work

 I worked with Gia on her jumping and her flatwork last week.  

On Wednesday, I took her out in the field.  I warmed her up with some work keeping her poll up at the walk and trot, as well as asking her to flex left and right.  She was not resistant or fussy at all.  I started pointing her at a variety of jumps, and she was very willing and obedient all around!  I even got her to walk and trot over the "mattress" jump!  She was anxious about it at first, so I just had her stand in front of it, and check it out, but with no pressure to go forward.  She just wasn't allowed to go around it.  Eventually, she got brave enough to go over it, and once she went over it the first time, the successive times were easier!

On Friday I worked with Gia on her flatwork in the arena.  I asked for a lot of transitions between halt, walk and trot.  I also asked for a lot of changes in bend, and I worked with her on her straightness.  The straightness was the hardest part because it only takes tiny changes to get it correct, or to overcorrect it and mess it all up again!

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