Last Night's Ride

We rode in the morning yesterday, but since the weather was lovely, I took him out again in the evening.

When I drove in the lane there were five new baby bunnies, two older babies and three adult bunnies running around. The new babies are so sweet, two black and three black and white.

Dancer and I practiced our lessons then headed for the new pasture. Rosie and Rod were heading out to put in post holes, so Rosie walked with Dancer and I over the bridge. I was glad she was there to assure both him and me.

Dancer was quite excited and remained so for the entire ride. We walked the fields, trotted a bit and had a wee canter. He was just too excited to settle down. I still rode with the bitless bridle and was able to handle him acting skitterish about the dogs, the other horses, his shadow...

The dogs were leaping through the long grass hunting for mice while Rosie and Rod worked on the post holes. The pasture sure is taking shape.

Our Third Lesson

Yesterday was our third lesson. Dancer lunged beautifully. Laura had shown me how to use the whip with greater success. Dancer had no trouble changing gaites for me today... but he did have trouble stopping!

Our lesson went well. Laura added some interesting ideas. We rode down the centre line walking, trotting, stopping and backing up. She placed the poles down and I was to stop before them as one of the exercises. Dancer loved this. He was very receptive to my every movement.

I am still riding with the bitless bridle. Laura suggested that I tighten it up one hole, and lower it one hole on each side, closer to his nose. I will change that for our next ride. I was very pleased with how Dancer and I progressed through the transitions. He remained sluggish at the trot until we shook things up. I am no longer just asking for a walk, sometimes it is a halt then back up then right to a trot. What fun we had.

I am away for the next week and will not have a lesson until the 22 of June. I am sure Dancer will be fine with that as he will be in the new field by then.

Stevie, My Sister's Horse

Joan's horse Stevie is a thoroughbred. His has a lovely bay colour.

Joan has recently started riding Stevie with a western saddle.

The kittens at Joan's barn are so sweet. Here they are sunning themselves as they nap.

Dancer Bowing

Today I caught Dancer laying down in the field. He is so cute. Little does he know, but he is going to be wormed today!

The other day I found out that Dancer knows more than ever. I knew that he could bow, but I didn't know how to ask him. Laura showed me how to ask him. He has improved since taking this picture.

After every ride dancer heads for the water...perhaps the wormer needed rinsing down!

Riding Lessons

I decided to start riding lessons. Laura, my instructor, is great. She has watched me ride and is starting with transitional work. Both Dancer and I need this.

We are working from a halt to a walk, then trot and back down to a walk. To encourage him we have been asking him to walk the moment he is sluggish. It seems to be working. Suddenly when I ask for the trot, he is eager.

Now to move to a walk, I am to take a deep breath, bringing my enerby up then as I expell the breath I am using my pelvis and legs to ask for the walk. Also, I am imagining that we are going forward. I use the same exercise to move to the trot.

To move back to the halt, I take the same breath and drop my pelvis. Also, I am turning my outside hand upwards.

To back up, I am relaxing my legs, tilting my pelvis then I squeese the top fingers, thinking backwards, then the second fingers, through to the third fingers,holding the squeeze. Then as soon as he is moving backwards, Irelease the pressure.

Flexion exercises and emergency stop. I am to grab the rein with one hand half way down and at the same time, I take a large breath then push down on the pommel releasing the breath and also pulling the rein to bring Dancer's nose to my foot. Boy does this work well, we were able to ride up and around the garbage cans the other day. Each time he got the notion to be scared, I did this exercise. It certianly distracted him and calmed him down.

We are also using a side pull bridle, or bitless bridle. I had a friend sew it for me. Dancer is responding to it very well. I saw this at Kate Hewlitt's farm in New Zealand and loved how it worked.

Rosie's Kitty

This little cat does not come to visit the barn. It is often found just outside the front door of the house.What a pretty little calico cat!