Wed 1st May
Did some walking in the school over the weekend, yesterday a few circles in trot and today went for a hack. Hack lasted about 30mins and he felt full of it - no tripping, confident on his feet. Did a couple of mins of trotting. Let him trot a few strides on the road on the way back just very steadily and he felt level and happy. Went in the school for 15mins once we were back and did another couple of mins trotting. He was a bit heavy in my hand but he probably used up all his energy being a tit out on the hack as definitely lost muscle and fitness over last few weeks.
Thur 2nd May
lunging with draw reins and tail bandage round his bum:
Not tracking up in this photo as he is so lazy that as soon as I put hand on camera and off whip he went into super slow trot mode. Generally though he worked well. Didn't do too much as hard work for him. Approx 5mins trot work and 25mins in total. He popped himself into canter on both reins for a few strides with no fuss. I thought on the right rein he was still holding himself to the outside slightly so I took the draw reins off to check he didn't look unlevel but he looked fine. In the trot when working properly he was forwards, tracking up well, looked level. In walk he was scuffing all his toes but that's pretty normal for him.
Fri 3rd/Sat 4th May
Helen riding - 45mins in the school and approx 5mins trot. Helen thought he felt level and happy. Worked on square halts and quality lateral work.
Sun 5th May
I'm a day late writing this up but basically we did the same sort of stuff as on Mon 6th May.
Mon 6th May
Left rein trot work felt very nice - worked over series of 5 trotting poles 3 times keeping him stretching down and staying soft over his back. Did some trot-walk-trot transitions and trot-walk-halt-trot transitions. Lots of walk-halts as well. Worked out that if I stop the right fore first he never brings the left fore up square so I need to stop the left fore first as then more often than not he will level up with the right fore. Why on earth I find this so difficult I dont know but I naturally want to stop the right fore first. Something to work on.
On the right rein in trot I had my suspicions over his soundness. I can just about cover it up by working him up into the contact but there's a definite tendency to feel a bit unlevel in his head carriage. He came trotting over to me in the field today and looked dead sound and looked fine on the lunge - also feels fine in a straight line, it just shows up on a circle :( Did the same work in trot on the right rein. Interestingly I find more often that not he throws me off on the wrong diagonal in trot on this rein. He did the line of trotting poles very nicely every time and did some lovely transitions. Then let him stretch down in trot on both reins. Total of about 11mins although that included the halts and walk in the transitions. Hot today though so plenty enough for him. Did some walk LY and HP - need to think about my weight in the HP - I tend to want to sit to the outside. As soon as I shift my weight to the inside he moves across into it. Remember to start in SI and not to let the shoulders lead. Did some HP into walk piri then HP again - good exercise for him.
Tue 7th May
day off
Wed 8th May
Hurt my back on Monday so just lunged him in draw reins and tail bandage get up today. 30mins in total inc 5mins trotting on each rein and a few canter circles. Left rein very happy with him. Right rein had a feeling he just wasn't 100% level but took the draw reins off and he looked fine, no nodding. Still struggling to get him to bend to the inside on the right rein.
Thur 9th May
weather truly terrible - raining and blowing a gale so another day off
Fri 10th/Sat 11th May
Helen schooled him for approx 50mins with 15mins trot inc some pole work.
Sun 12th May
1hr20mins hack on Hankley Common inc 13mins trot/canter work. Had a couple of 30sec canters and he was raring to go (although that means nothing - he always is!) Couple of times I felt he didn't quite feel level in trot but not sure if imagining it. Stumbled a few times - first time he's worked on properly uneven ground with his new shoes on.
Mon 13th May
Helen schooled for 50mins with 15mins of trot and a little canter work.
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