Yesterday did some lunging with 2 reins for the first time. Worked quite well for getting him forwards and into quite a nice outline - now why cant I get that on board??
Got on and did 10mins getting forwards no matter what. Felt he worked quite well. Ridiculously hot so went off for a half hour hack to cool down. Has been on oats since Wed but was a good boy.
Simon lesson today - explained the recent problems. So, we started on a loose contact establishing forwards, pinging off my leg and then maintaining his own forwardness - must not nag! Must make him super reactive as his build is not conducive to me being able to contact his sides with my lower leg so I need him to be taking himself forwards not relying on me. Did some walk to canter and he responded really quickly - Simon says that is because I use my seat in the canter trans but only my legs in the trot transition and he's not responsive to the legs. Tried to use my seat more in the walk to trot transition and then once in the trot to really think about swinging hips forwards to create forwardness.
Once we had him pinging forward we did some work on the 10m circle - head to the middle, quarters out, really asking for the inside hind to step under. Obviously much easier on the left rein as he loves to banana and fall out through the right shoulder. Much much harder on the right rein. Tended to either get flexion or sideways but very difficult to get both. Each time after getting a few steps pinged him forwards to trot on the 20m circle. Slowly working on picking up the contact, moving him on and back. Must not get too much neck bend on the left rein - real, ongoing problem with both of us. Did some work on shortening the walk almost to piaffe and then on into trot. Same with the trot - bring him back almost to a walk and then ping him forwards. Every now and then stretch the trot to the floor. Main problem we have created is getting him stuck/blocked and not able to lower the neck when asked - need to free him up.
With the FWLR must start to pick him up much earlier and more gradually so he doesn't hollow on the pick up.
Finally did a bit of canter which felt super, not really anything to do to it - it was soft and round and forwards.
Suggested warmup regime - canter off his back to get him forwards. Bit of work on long rein getting forwards reaction. Walk lat work - if possible use above exercise but if getting silly then can just do some leg yield. Into trot, forwards from the seat, pick the neck up and put it down again and then in. If necessary sacrifice this weekend's test to establish forwards and relaxation.
Watching vids from today he looks nice and loose and swingy, but not connected enough, just need to keep a slightly better contact. What felt like very long and strung out doesn't look it - dont ask for too much!
Big things to think of - swinging forwards from the hips and forwards reaction from him.
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