Monday, January 31, 2011

Prince: Trail ride!

January 27 2011
Since I didn't have to go to work today Mom and I decided to go for a trail ride. Prince came over to meet me at the gate when I got there which was really neat! He was in a deep sleep in the sun but when he saw me he woke up and came over. Then I brushed, saddled and bridled Prince. We definitely need to play more with bridling and lots of friendly game with the bit. After bridling and un-bridling a couple times Prince was accepting it a little bit better but we are still going to need to play a lot with that :)

We then headed up to the riding ring and played. We played on the 12ft line the whole session which was fun because it gave us a chance to see how good our porcupine game is in regards to how well Prince kept slack in the rope. Prince did so well. We did some really cool stick to me transitions on a circle. We would canter for about 4 strides and then stop, back up four steps and then canter off again. Prince was really good at going into the canter from the halt and was pretty good at stopping but he would take a couple steps forward so we played with that and at the end we were getting snappy departures and graceful transitions. It was pretty cool!!

Then we played with backing by the tail. Prince was light, put a lot of speed into it and we got the distance! It was great!

I then mounted up and we did some follow the rail and transitions. We haven't cantered up in the riding ring since before the Ron Pyne clinic which was in October. I just didn't want to deal with it because it is really hard for Prince to get the correct leads in there. So we have just been cantering on the trails, and when ever we ride out.

Once Mom and Knightly were ready we headed out. Prince and I rode down the hill (which was so much fun. I love doing that!!) and then we walked the horses through town Online. Then mounted up once we got through town. Prince was great the whole ride. He was relaxed and didn't speed walk the whole way ;) On the way out we just walked because we weren't sure how the footing was. It was good though and Prince and I had fun.

We got our chance to meet with some snowmobiles. Fortunately we were able to hear them coming before we saw them and Mom and I had already determined that if we met with any we were going to get off. So almost in perfect synchronization we both dismounted at the same moment and were prepared for the snowmobiles when they came by us. Prince did well for the most part and only spooked a little bit when they were on both sides of us. But he had a big lick and chew afterward and we mounted up again and carried on riding.

On the way back Prince and I cantered lots. It was so much fun. Prince even offered a left lead one time! Which is his hard lead. It was amazing! We did need to play with our downward transitions a bit because Prince wasn't as responsive as I wanted so we played with those and they got better.

It was so nice just to go and not have to stop because of fences or anything. Prince was so light on our upward transitions into the canter. I just had to tip my one shoulder back and ask for the lead and we were off.

We met with two other groups of snowmobiles and each time the horses did better and better. It was really nice to have the chance to use my emergency dismounts even though it wasn't really an emergency but it was the same idea. I guess all that mounting and dismounting from the walk, trot and canter that we did at the Ron Pyne clinic payed off ;)

On our way back through town we got off and walked the horses through again which was good because there was a big dog that was out and Prince was okay with it until the dog jumped up at the end of it's leash and barked, growled etc. Prince spooked a little bit but wasn't so bad.

It was fun and just really nice to get out and ride. Plus it was so warm (well compared to what it was last week) so we stayed nice and warm :)

Naturally,
~Keri

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