Tuesday Lesson with Kathy

Fabulous Day with Try

From Kathy--post to Dan Thompson:

"Wow! Elizabeth and Try had a huge break through Tuesday. Try offered, several times, the most amazing trot with suspension she ever had. I had an Aha! moment. One of the things they have had trouble with is maintaining consistent contact through changes in rein.

So my Aha moment was to use the sideways circle game aka walking turn on forehand. I've run into folks who have trouble envisioning the TOFH at the walk, envisioning the turn like spokes on a wheel, the sideways circle game uses YOU as the wheel hub. I had EP use a barrel as the hub and kept Try's HQ coming around to create the spokes of the wheel. It built energy, really suppled the topline and engaged the HQ.

Try came off the exercise "straight" absolutely on the aides and between EP's seat, leg and hands. Try oozed through the changes of rein so effortlessly and correct. Elizabeth was amazed at the feeling of Try just flowing through her aides and through the changes of rein.

It was only a few weeks ago that I reintroduced the concept of straightness and balance and began to re-explain how steady tempo & rhythm was based on self carriage. When Try, like most horses, lose their rhythm it is because they are chasing their balance & falling onto the FH. So many folks think it is that the horse is being "bad", they don't feel where the horse is under them. We've been using small rebalancing half halts. Try was a star!"

My Note: AND Try was majorly in season!

My notes:

1. Sidepassing the barrel as homework

2. Loved HQ on change of direction/rein

3. For me by myself--staying with it is key

4. backing in sync not just FQ/HQ

5. outside leg to go forward and balance

6. maintain contact in outside rein

7. keep reins from slipping and Try going too low

8. rein length to motivate Try to seek the answer

9. my shoulder in turn--rather than looking too far out.