Trailer Practice!

Trailer practice, means practice loading on and off a trailer.

Today we played with the trailer.  Before I went away, he was willingly putting two feet into the trailer and moving forward bringing in one back leg. It has been over a month and we are at it again.

I spent a long time playing the circling game and showing him the opening of the trailer.  He would sometimes put one or two feet. in.

It then tried leading him to the trailer and using the yo-yo game asked him to come in the trailer.  Again, I was only getting two feet in.

I also tried trotting him to the trailer and asking him to come in verbally keeping a light hand on the rope.  Again, Dancer only put two feet in.

One of the visitors to the barn came over and suggested I take a broom to him.  I laughed and said no.  I wanted him to like getting in the trailer.

Once I was on my own again I trotted him to the trailer.  He stopped.  I went in and kept asking him to come forward.  He did, and he came fully in, all four feet.  He relaxed for a few moments and I gave him a peppermint treat. Then I a asked him to back out.  He did it quietly without rushing.  I sent him to eat the grass as I was very satisfied.

Next time we I hope to get Dancer in the trailer sooner and for a longer length of time!

This is what Dancer would prefer to be doing!

Dressage Lessons!

Dancer and I had a great time this week. We have been practicing all of the lessons from Todd. Dancer is very responsive to the sideways game when I face him and have him go across the arena to the pylons.

We had our first dressage lesson with Melanie Thomson. I met her at the RR Horse camp. Dancer is loving it and so am I. I can't believe the difference in his gait and the suppleness that has developed, just from a few lessons. I hope to ride some dressage tests next year with Melanie!

Things I need to remember from Melanie's lesson:
1. keep hands closed and still.
2. Always give a bit of pressure with inside leg as Dancer's inside leg goes forward.
3. Push on the trot to a big warmblood trot.
4. If Dancer breaks into a canter, sit back, ride in a smll circle and work the canter, before pushing him into a trot. He will prefer the trot as he won't want the canter work as much.
5. Do lots of walk trot transitions to develop his muscles.
6. Make sure he is doing a good working walk when you make the transitions.
7. When transitioning to the canter sit back to prevent him from pulling you forward. This also causes him to use his hind quarters.
8. Use the dressage whip to move him on, first on the shoulder, then on the rump, and yes it reaches.
9. When it feels like a buck, it is Dancer figuring out where his feet are.
10. Use a third of the arena, the whole arena will put him to sleep!
11. Half halt to prevent slipping from circle.
12. There are three stages to the half halt, squeeze outside rein, then move to a small pull back of about 4-6 inches, finally a full pull back.
Remember with the half halt, use the first one, if it does not work escalate immediately to the next stage and so in.
13. Always sit leaning back at the canter, it really improves the ride.
14. Hold the reins between the second and third nub from the bit.

I had such a great lesson, we practiced it yesterday with great success. Next lesson is tomorrow!