Brandi Ride

Rode Brandi on Monday. She was overall quite good, though it becomes even more obvious that she really prefers the left lead. We had one right-lead canter in the whole hour we rode (and we stopped on that note as a walk/stop break is a big reward for her). Left lead, though, she picked up right away every time.

We worked on sustaining gait. She has a million and twenty-nine evasions but they're all mostly variations on a theme (I will bob my head! I will throw my head around like a ninny! I will wiggle around like a worm! I will bob my head, throw my head around like a ninny, wiggle, and dive into the center ALL at the same time!), and not too bad to ride. I just brought the jumping crop this time but next time I think I'll bring the dressage whip and really work on moving off fairly light cues. Right now I have to kick pretty good from time to time to get/keep her going, and I don't like that. I do think she will make a great kids' horse someday--she has just that touch of stubborn and smart I like to see for kids, and she's not very spooky even though she's so young and inexperienced--so I don't want to get her too sharp off the leg, but she's got to be better than she is.

Funny girl has already learned where the gate is, and that center = stop (not in my book, but when she's been ridden by others), and after I stopped once to get a drink, she offered to stand at my water bottle every time we passed it on the rail! Haha goose.

But we did get a nice sustained left-lead canter, and that one right-lead canter for a few strides. I think groundwork is in order to teach her to move off the leg, so I can make it easier for her to figure out what lead to take. As soon as I get out of school I want to set aside all Friday afternoon as "groundwork day" for everyone. I'll ride after work on the other days, but that way everybody will get the groundwork they need!