Monty - lesson and schooling

Simon lesson on Sunday afternoon.

Started with getting forwards and stretching in the trot.  Then picked him up in the walk and worked on a different lateral work on a circle exercise this week.  This time it involved spiralling into the smaller circle then asking for inside flexion and pushing the quarters out - he seemed to find this quite hard work but it really encouraged him to soften and accept the contact.  Then moved straight out of the small circle and into trot on the 20m circle and we had some fab trot going on.

Also did work on trot, walk 4 strides (not steps) trot, then 3 strides, 2 strides, 1 stride, getting good forward reaction into trot and also not letting him drop the front end in the downwards transition - he tends to just stop the front end without bringing the back end under and through which almost pushes me out of the saddle so had to keep the hindlegs coming through which kept the forehand lighter during the transition.

Then we did some canter work - worked on straightening the neck so riding inside leg to outside hand almost outside flexion (remember to keep him forwards as he tends to collect automatically as soon as you straighten).  Once straight, then ask for inside flexion and forwards and we got some really lovely canter.   Then worked on bringing the canter back a little using seat and leg before pushing on again and then getting nice forwards engaged transitions to trot and suddenly the trot he produced was amazing - pinging, pushing, soft, fabulous - definitely a 9 sort of trot.  The canter work really helped the trot.  Really good session :)

Monday he got to go on the hunt fun ride which he loved - far too excited to jump half the jumps as too busy bouncing around like a tigger but nice to see him having lots of fun.  The brush fences we jumped he cleared full height - he was just showing off!

Day off yesterday then schooling tonight and he was great.  Tried to follow a similar pattern to the lesson on Sunday - got some lovely trot stretch to start with.  Then did the walk exercise followed by the trot-walk-trot exercise and then some canter work.  Got our best canter to walks so far - felt like he was flowing forwards much better and not nose diving.  Still need him more off my leg esp in walk to canter but in general concentrated on not nagging him with the leg and getting him to maintain his own forwardness.  Did some good trot-halt and some rein back and also have started introducing some counter canter on a circle so been doing some canter figures of 8 which he is getting quite good at.  We had some good pingy trot again and he finished with a really lovely trot stretch on both reins.  Tomorrow must remember to work on some centre lines as they're a bit of a weak point and also need to try and do some lateral work in trot to help his suppleness.  Really pleased with him at the moment :)