We started with the outside line to a single diagonal off the left. The line rode perfect but turning to the diagonal was a bit hairy. Peebs loves to over bend and drift way past our line in our left turns. A couple circles with lot of outside aids, and thinking about having a touch of counter bend fixed 95% of our problem. I just have to remember to do that every time and we'll be 100%! My trainer said that I'll know when I've forgotten because I won't be able to see a distance, but when I remember the distance is right there. And she was right.
We then tried to add a single diagonal off the right with a roll back to another single off the left on a short approach. This is where the wheels fell off. While our cantering to the right in general has gotten a lot better, we still have a lot of problems cantering fences to the right. Peebs just couldn't that night, and every attempt to turn right led to a run out. So we went back to the trot, which was no big deal. I tried to canter the pink plank, and it was ok the first few times, till Peebs got tired. Then we went back to trotting that till he realized we were landing right and decided to have a mini bolt up the rail. That freaked me out and we had a little walk break while I decided if I wanted to continue or not. Trainer took the pole down so it was just the baby plank and we trotted it again and stopped him by turning his head into the side of the barn. It wasn't fun or pretty, but after a few times he got it and stopped before the barn.
I was happy that I kept going and didn't let his bolt scare me off. I know the only way to get both of us over his issues going right is to just do it, but I'm half tempted to give my trainer the ride. Part of our issue is the both of us combined; me anticipating him being bad so I tense up, he's already tense then feels me get tense go he gets worse.....it's an awful cycle but I know we can break it.
You're making so much progress! My girl has a tougher time to the left as well, I feel your pain. We spent a lot of time with the circle of death exercise this winter :)
ReplyDeleteYou definitely can break the cycle!
ReplyDeleteThe good looks great tho!!
ReplyDeleteTo get something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done. Sometimes in riding you really have to dig deep within yourself to find the strength to get it done.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I also think there's no shame in getting help when you need it -- I did that last summer and it was the best decision I ever made.