Prince: Having Fun!

November 1 2010

Well it is November 1st already! Can you believe it!?! Times really does fly when you are having fun! 

Today Prince and I played in the fields on the 45ft line again. We did 3 laps each direction at the canter with rhythm, relaxation and connection!! It was really amazing. We both had a lot of fun and Prince did so well. Then we played with some changes of directions. Prince still leaned on the halter a bit before he changed direction but we got some nice ones in the end. Up next was spirals at the trot! Prince did really well and was very light even when the circles got smaller and smaller. 

After all that we went over to the one corner of the field where the big hills are and I backed Prince up the hill and to the end of the 45ft line and then after a short rest I asked him to come trotting to me down the hill. Then we played with maintaining gait and directions while going over some other hills. Prince did really well and only broke into the canter once going down the hill but after that he maintained the trot. We also did that at the canter which he did really well with. 

We then head back to the arena and rode! We tested out indirect rein with out reins and Prince was even better than yesterday! We got two pivots this time with out any leg pressure! The next thing was the Clover Leaf pattern. Going to the left we did it with my reins at support if I needed them and that went so well that I decided to try it with two carrot sticks when we went to the right. Prince was incredible! There was a couple times that I had to use one stick to support what I asked in my body but most of the time Prince responded with out them! It was such a cool feeling! 

Here is a short video showing the first complete Cloverleaf, of which we did two...

After that we went over to the gate, opened it and then headed over to the middle of the field and rode the Bullseye pattern! Going to the left was better than to the right but in the end we got both going fairly well. I have to make sure that I balance stopping in the middle and stopping on the outside of the circle. If I stop in the middle more than on the outside Prince will put a lot of effort into going into the center while we are riding the next circle. So it is interesting! 

Here is short video of us riding the Bullseye pattern... 

We didn't do any cantering today because it was muddy in the arena but we still had a lot of fun! Hopefully tomorrow we shall be able to play with our simple lead changes! 

Naturally,

~Keri