HP Blog Hop: Favorite Exercises

I have different favorite exercises to school for each of the boys, since they are so different in their way of going. Phoenix used to be your typical TB; quick, sensative, nervous while Buddy is lazy and slow. 

For Phoenix I love schooling lateral work, with lots of changes of direction and bend.  Leg yields, figure 8s, and circles used to be our best friends.  For a while I couldn't take him down the long side (especially in the canter) without it feeling like he was going to take off. He also used to be pretty heavy on my right leg and rein, so we did a lot to get him to pick up his shoulder and move off of my right aids.  Once he was more schooled, whenever he would get worked up and felt hot, a few minutes of leg yielding and figure 8s would calm him back down.  It was pressing a reset button.  I've been working with Anna on this, and she's just starting to figure it out.


For Buddy, I really like an exercise my old trainer from high school had us do.  She called it the momentum pattern and its basically a hunter course without jumps.  You start by trotting across the diagonal the pick up the canter and go down the long side.  Come back to the trot along the short wall and trot the diagonal.  Pick up the canter again and repete.  It helps build impulsion and momentum in both the trot and canter, plus it's a good exercise for working on transitions. It really seems to help build a nice flow and rhythm for us.

My last favorite exercise is more for me than the horses.  Its also from my old trainer.  Instead of posting up-down, you post up-up-down.  It works your balance as well as strengthening your two point muscles.  I've been doing this when I ride Bud for the two point challenge.  Today we hit 4:09!

Better and Better

Buddy's dressagy, lateral work just keep getting better and better. Our ride yesterday was great.  He was fairly forward and willing to work which is always a plus!  We schooled leg yield, and for the first time I felt him really step and cross over and move off of my left leg. It felt great, like a really dressage horse! He wasn't quite as good moving off my right leg, but now I know he can do it so its only a matter of time.

We also schooled counter canter again, and its slowly getting better.  He also gave me lead changes from the correct lead to counter canter in both directions.  He gets grumpy going left to right, but did it.  It's so much fun!

Good ponies get kisses!!

Stepping it up

This past week had been a whirlwind!  My hours at work have been upped (good for the wallet, bad for pony time) and I've had dinners/parties to go to all weekend. I had a couple easy hacks with Buddy in which he was pretty good.  Worked on his lateral work. Since I've been riding Phoenix I've realized that Bud's lateral work is seriously lacking.  Phoenix has pretty decent leg yields, half passes, counter canter, and lead changes.  When I was riding him all the time and showing, I didn't pay attention and realize just what nice lateral work he had.  I've decided that there's no reason that Buddy can't have it too...or at least be better than he currently is.

One of things I loved to do with Phoenix was doing a flying change from the correct lead to counter canter.  I once actually got him to do a three tempi change!  It wasn't anything that would score in the dressage ring, but it was pretty fun.  I was working on counter canter with Bud on Thursday and for fun asked him to switch from the correct lead to counter canter and HE DID IT!! I was shocked considering it was from right to left, which is usually his harder direction.  I had him do a couple strides in counter canter than patted him and told him he was such a good boy. Now that I know he can do it, I'll start working on it more.

Saturday I set up a few fences in the outdoor, including a new pallet/brush box thing.  We had some equipment deliveries at work, and they came on half pallets that to me looked like perfect jump filler.  I drove my truck down to work and loaded one up.  I plan to paint or stain it once the weather warms up so it will hold up better to the rain. I measured and it's right at 2'6".

 Right when I was going to get on Saturday the sky opened up and poured so we moved inside.  I brought the brush box in.  I had it set next to a jump while we warmed up, and Buddy didn't so much as twitch an ear at it.  We schooled over a vertical at first then added the box.  Buddy jumped it no problem.  I love that I can take him over new things and he doesn't care!  We have a lesson with Jen on Thursday and the box will make an appearance there.