In the riding we have been playing with the tempo and canter. Its going good and feels like he is starting to balance up. Yesterday we played some on line with the opsticles. Cito was a bit unfocued beacuse we got new horses in the pasture next to him and Billy so we eneded the seassion when he was focusing on me. Got a bath afterwards. 

Cito and the barrel

Warm up before ride. Sideways towards

Last week update!

Been a busy week and we have got a lot done!

We have been riding freestyle and finesse in the arena. Been to Umatilla and went out on the trails there.

In the freestyle we have been working on the patterns and our responsibilities. Citos is: maintain gait, maintain direction and look where you are going. Cito is following the rail good now and starts to relax more and focus. This week we will start with question box in the freestyle. You can still ride the patterns but you place out a couple of cones so every time you go in that "box" something is going to happen.

In the finesse we have  been riding some circles for relaxation and roundness. Also done some stretching for lengthen.

We didnt go to the Parelli ranch, I misunderstood. But we did go to Umatilla, the place I was talking about before were they got a big indoor arena and nice trails. While Lauren was teaching me and Fabian went out with Cito and Saige. He was good! We trotted some and Cito seemed to enjoy it.

I also rasped Citos feet. Just took a little so they look nice. He was very good at standing still and keep his hoof still.

When we were gone Billy was fine. We put one of Laurens horses in the pasture next to him. He got a hay net to nubble on and was all good when we came back.

Cito and madress

Cito in his little stall.

Rainy day today so we played some online. Went to the madress, the last time we played with it Cito didnt want to put his hindfeet on. He just jumped over instead. This time he walked on with no problem! Think it was beacuse of the we spended by the little pool that have helped us along the way. Super! 

The feed is here! 

Cito and the pool

Grassing while we are doing the feet. 

Cito and the water.

Redo for some freestyle.

We did freestyle yesterday in the arena. We played some with corners, every time we pass a corner we do something. Backing up or an indrect rein to change direction. Cito had a hard time following the rail on a long rein, he was like soap and we did more floating around the place. Before we have been riding figure 8 around the trees and some circles to relax and sideways. Today we were ready for stright lines! So everytime he left the rail I just stopped him and swung the shoulders back to the rail. Funny thing was instead of going back to the rail he went the other direction. I added some porcupine with my leg and just waited, he was thinking about it so I gave him time instead of incrase the pressure. When he started to think of the right direction I rewarded him with a cookie. The it went fast and he figured it out. From there everytime he left the rail I just picked up my rein that was resting on his neck and he swung back to the rail. Stopped a couple of times to incrase the rewards. 

We did a lot of trotting and some canter on a circle. 

After our ride we went to the little pool on the play ground. We have just been checking it out before, just put our nose on it and Cito have been a bit skeptical about it.  This time I just waited and gave time, look what happend. So funny! 

Liberty

Short clip on our close circle. Its getting there! 

Was a really hot day today so we took the opportunity to play more online and liberty. 

On line is the most important tool for development and a lot of people forget that. Its where you can teach and guide them thro. Me and Cito did circling game, added friendly game. Played with some sidewayse in the circling. Transitions focus on staying out on the circle and not fall in with the shoulder (turn and face me). 

We finished up with some liberty in the round pen. The close circles is all about finding the balance in the energy. Think about how much energy you add in the send when you ask them to walk out on the circle, if its to much then they walk further out. We got some nice trott circles too, tought I was filming but turned out I wasnt. But got some at the walk =))