First It's Difficult, Then It's Habit

Riding both boys (and when I'm extra patient, Spotlight too) everyday has made a world of difference. I'm much stronger in my core and it's showing. My back has these thick slabs of muscle on either side of my spine that have been under developed for a lot of years.

The boys are beefing up sporting some nice muscle of their own, even under Spotlight's extra thick padding you can see some slight definition coming out. Technical aspects we continue to improve on as goals that would have before taken me months, I can whittle away at in a week.

Bandon has youth and inexperience on his side, it doesn't take much forward progress for me to be thrilled with him.

In 2 weeks since going back to real arena work after 2 months off, we are riding canter laps around the entire arena and today I rode him in his first 18" 4 jump course. He's light in my hands and the easiest of the boys to steer and change pace on, unfortunately he's also hollowing his back and does anything faster than a walk with his nose touching the sky. At a canter he'll clear jumps most of the time, at a trot he doesn't put in the effort as much.

Czech has been my main focus and he's needed all of it. As you ask Czech to begin a task that's greater than just a simple trot, he works himself into a frenzy. His neck curls up as he brings his head behind the bit and tight to his chest while at the same time hitting the gas.

When his face is behind the bit, there's no horse in your hands. When you apply leg to push him up into the bridle, he happily goes faster without coming into your hands. We're working hard on this. Right now after I've asked for a canter or a jump, he will be so worked up he isn't thinking, I release the reins to the buckle and let him settle. When I pick up the reins again, sometimes I have a calmer thinking horse and sometimes we're right back to almost cantering in place.

If I could find a way to take all the pressure off that he places on himself, we'll be good as gold. His jumping is awesome when he's listening and responsive.

When he's not he goes into freight train mode and huge leaps land in a gallop.

Opening both Thoroughbreds up for huge loops around the arena at a canter is quickly becoming a drug I can't resist. If they are relaxed and responsive, I use it as a reward, just asking for a little more and then letting them stretch out on their own on a loose rein, what a ride.

“At first everything is hard, next it becomes easier, then habitual, and only now does it have a chance to become beautiful.” G Morris