Friday - Joey Barley

Try and I were able to do a lesson with NC hunter trainer Joey Barley at Rollover.

Try and I both appreciated how much time Joey took getting to know Try. Also Try seemed to have fun and enjoy being given permission to turn loose.

I asked for help in being able for us to get a quality trot.

We started with the walk and Joey said it would help with Try's canter.

We walked with lateral flexion on the inside around the ring several times. Maintaining the flexion--not asking until Try softened. Then we began walking with a good energy--tap tap--and repeat asking for the lateral bend of her neck if she lifts her head/inverts. We were able to have a good, powerful walk. The test was how long could we sustain it. Then stretch and take a break. This is the new WARMUP.

Then repeat a good walk into the trot.
We played with lengthening the trot on the long side of the dressage ring and slowing on the short side. Joey asked me to cue that the lengthening is coming with taptaptap and slow with sitting deep and pressure of two legs.

He helped us to really push the lengthening as far as she could go--with a great powerful trot as opposed to a fast or "runny" trot

Stretch down and walk to take a break.

Canter lead changes. 1/2 eye glass pattern--if she doesn't get it and has a counter canter then bend her neck to the rail to fix it. Homework: take our time with this so Try can be relaxed.

For fun we finished with turn on the haunches and forehand. That was the first time I have done turn on the forehand away from the rail I think. Also Try backed up to Joey and synced with him.

We showed him a couple of our tricks: Try being my partner and getting into place at the mounting block and sideways away and toward on the ground.