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| Into the Sunset -- all smiles |
In a series of unprecedented events, I was able to ride Riley 3 times in 4 days! I don't know if it's the new farm, the time off, the magnesium or what, but he feels better than I ever remember! Coming off the heels of our great (albeit short) ride on Tuesday I brought a friend out to meet the ponies and to help take some video of how he was looking under saddle on Friday. We decided to switch Riley to a hollow loose ring (single joint) because he's wayyy too backed off in the Dr. Bristol on the flat (which I already knew but my other bridle is tucked away somewhere from the move along with the bits)! I've never ridden him in a loose ring and was curious to how he would go in one. Historically, he can be a bit busy with his mouth (not in a gaping mouth kinda way) he just generates a LOT of foam but it's not necessarily because he's relaxed and enjoying/accepting contact 100%.
Long story short... he loved it. I decided to warm him up (w-t-c in both directions) before filming and now I wish I had actually gotten the warm up too, because it was the best he's ever felt! He gets a little deep here and there, but I think he was expecting to hit the same type of bit... when he realized he wasn't going to, he was soft and I could push him further into the bridle. This dressage isn't going to win us any ribbons, but I am so happy with him relaxation and tempo.
*Blogger is being a little bitch so I'll try uploading videos later (though if you are friends with me on FB you've already seen them)
Saturday was super hot and humid (perfect conditions to stimulate HS) and I thought it would be a great chance to see him go with Emily in the tack with the new bit in place.
Guys, my horse... I was all hearts-for-eyes emoji the whole time. It doesn't hurt that we were riding in the gorgeous late afternoon sunlight!
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| It's no wonder he pulls shoes off while riding! |
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| Who is that guy? Emily makes him look terrific! |
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| Right lead picked up EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. |
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| <3 td=""> |
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I hoped on and got the same soft, cadenced work out him. Picked up both leads without issue (though he did meet the persuasion stick, aka GETOFFMYRIGHTLEG). I was just swooning. Emily said it's the best he's ever felt and she was really impressed with his great attitude coming back into work. Looking back at how grumpy he was in late April reminds me that he was probably in more pain and discomfort than I could even imagine.
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| Just cantering around looking fly. *Also could I please for the love of God sit up straight? |
So we'll keep moving forward under tack. Our takeaway from the watchful eye of Emily was to incorporate in lots of transitions (especially trot-canter-trot) and to reintroduce some baby lateral work to help encourage him to bend around my leg and start looking for comfort in the outside rein. We'll hack around the soybeans to break up the monotony of the ring and hopefully, we can get him our on a hunter pace soon and maybe some xc schooling. I have a feeling he is going to be very enthusiastic!
*For those of you keeping track, he's still on the same amount of magnesium and Taurine twice a day. He has only shown HS symptoms once wince we moved and I am happy he's feeling much better physically.
So we'll keep moving forward under tack. Our takeaway from the watchful eye of Emily was to incorporate in lots of transitions (especially trot-canter-trot) and to reintroduce some baby lateral work to help encourage him to bend around my leg and start looking for comfort in the outside rein. We'll hack around the soybeans to break up the monotony of the ring and hopefully, we can get him our on a hunter pace soon and maybe some xc schooling. I have a feeling he is going to be very enthusiastic! 