Pan pictures, and ponderings
Mary Healey
better but still not up to even incidental rocks), I paid partcular
attention to what (and how) I asked him to do. We walked in straight lines
and leg yields, we halted and backed, we walked forward with greater
energy, we leg yielded some more. We did big cloverleaf patterns, trying
for arcs in the corners and straight lines across the middle. We did small
turns around the inside hind leg (not a turn on the haunches, but moving
toward that idea). We trotted nicely balanced around the outside, crossed
the diagonal, trotted more in the other direction. We walked again. We
halted, I opened the outside gate, and we walked around on the grass for a
few minutes to cool down. Then we were done.
For these figures and changes of gait and direction, the rein pressure
never changed. I picked up the reins at the start of the ride, found a
place where they were neither dropped nor pulling (neutral, I'd call it),
and tried to keep a following hand for the rest of the ride. Pan's slowly
finding the "live" rein, but we've had to work through both the ex-racer's
tendency to lean and the "drop behind the bit" evasion he picked up from
somewhere.
Everything from the seat and leg - even a really nice walk-trot transition
from the seatbones alone, so sweet. Line up legs, seat, shoulders and go
straight. Offset anything and go crooked (intentionally or otherwise!).
Got a mega-major gorgeous free walk, just a huge marching stride with
lovely relaxation. My leg fits Pan better than it did Regis, so I'm better
able to separate thigh and calf pressures. That makes a difference in
Pan's response, with thigh influencing the shoulder and calf influencing
the ribcage.
No canter yet. I think he's probably strong enough now, so it's more a
matter of finding the right place at the right time and making it easy for
him (and me!)
Peechurs! All very casual, post-ride stuff. He's sure not the same horse
he was 10 months ago.
http://pets.webshots.com/album/573371500AxhrVv
--
Mary H. and the restored Ames National Zoo:
The Right Reverand Sir Edgar "Lucky" Pan-Waffles;
U-CD ANZ Babylon Ranger, CD, RE; ANZ Pas de Duke, RN;
Caris and rotund Rhia
Tamara in TN
>
> For these figures and changes of gait and direction, the rein pressure
> never changed. I picked up the reins at the start of the ride, found a
> place where they were neither dropped nor pulling (neutral, I'd call it),
> and tried to keep a following hand for the rest of the ride. Pan's slowly
> finding the "live" rein, but we've had to work through both the ex-racer's
> tendency to lean and the "drop behind the bit" evasion he picked up from
> somewhere.
I'm glad to hear good news on the riding front...esp about the
seat...I'm all about the
seat.... :>
best
Tamara in TN
betsey
what a cool schooling report! and he is looking great!!!
betsey
Judie
Pan is looking very filled out. He is so handsome, I love his
coloring. He sounds sensitive to you. I think it is good that you are
keeping it simple with regards to the rein. Are you lessoning with
him?
Well, I have to confess that for the first time (it feels like the
first time... but I have probably done this many times before just
long time ago on different horses) I am understanding inside leg to
outside rein. I did not believe that I could have Axl turning from my
inside leg while the outside rein has pressure. I was sure that it
should just push Axl toward the rail and then putting pressure on the
outside rein would just make him want to turn his head out ward. But
he doesn't. Instead I apply both the inside leg at the girth and put
pressure on the outside rein and he brings his chin more to the
vertical, and I feel his back shorten and his neck come up and he
feels straight and connected. We can circle doing this and it is good
going both directions. I just love it - it feels like a miracle. I
could just ride like this all day and be fulfilled.
It is so weird I have heard the mantra inside leg, outside rein or
rather ride from the inside leg to the outside rein and it just didn't
happen for me. Until now. Maybe someone can explain it better. To me
it seemed like a leap of faith that somehow came through.
Judie
Mary McHugh
>
> I'm glad to hear good news on the riding front...esp about the
> seat...I'm all about the
> seat.... :>
>
> best
> Tamara in TN
Do you have a video of that? >:-)
Mary
Mary Healey
> Pan is looking very filled out.
You're being kind. In a few years, unless I really work his abs, he's
going to have that whole "pregnant with twins" thing going like Regis
did. Only with that huge Storm Cat butt.
> He is so handsome, I love his
> coloring. He sounds sensitive to you.
He really is a sweetie. I originally took him because I couldn't leave
him where he was, more moral obligation than affection. He's certainly
endeared himself to me since, though.
He's sensitive without being overreactive. I'm doing a lot of playing
around with leg and seat and combinations, and getting little baby
versions of all sorts of cool stuff - sidepass and halfpass and such.
And his attitude is "okay, boss, what'll it be today?" which is a major
step up from the "oh, geez, not YOU again" I dread. He even nickers
when he sees me come into the barn (that's the cookies, of course).
> I think it is good that you are
> keeping it simple with regards to the rein. Are you lessoning with
> him?
We're just now at the point where the extra input from lessons would be
beneficial. Unfortunately, no one at the barn I'm at is taking lessons
on a regular basis, and I don't have the resources to trailer out. As
straightforward as Pan's been to work with, we'll probably reach the
outer limits of my previous experience by the end of the year. Then the
need for an instructor will become more critical.
> ...I did not believe that I could have Axl turning from my
> inside leg while the outside rein has pressure.
It only works if he's straight and connected. Pretty cool, eh?
I was sure that it
> should just push Axl toward the rail and then putting pressure on the
> outside rein would just make him want to turn his head out ward. But
> he doesn't. Instead I apply both the inside leg at the girth and put
> pressure on the outside rein and he brings his chin more to the
> vertical, and I feel his back shorten and his neck come up and he
> feels straight and connected. We can circle doing this and it is good
> going both directions. I just love it - it feels like a miracle. I
> could just ride like this all day and be fulfilled.
>
> It is so weird I have heard the mantra inside leg, outside rein or
> rather ride from the inside leg to the outside rein and it just didn't
> happen for me. Until now. Maybe someone can explain it better. To me
> it seemed like a leap of faith that somehow came through.
>
> Judie
--