Prince: Trail riding fun and learning

April 19, 2011

First Prince and I played on the 12ft line and played with circles at the trot and jumping a single barrel, the same as we played with yesterday with Twosox. Getting Prince lined up and square, teaching him that being there is where the comfort is before asking him to jump the barrel. It worked really well and Prince caught on really quickly resulting in a beautiful jump from the stand still on a yo-yo (drawing towards me). Prince had a big lick and chew over it afterward.

After I saddled we did some zone 5 driving with two 12ft lines. This went really well and we played with walk - trot transitions, sideways and Figure eights at the trot which went very  well. Prince was a million times lighter than last day and I really felt that he "got" it. It was really an amazing feeling.

Then we played with cantering on the circle, changing directions every time Prince broke gait. This worked so well that pretty soon we got 6 laps each direction NO corrections!! It was mind blowing!! Prince put so much effort into it and his mind was definitely engaged!!

I didn't bridle today but rode in my hackamore. This went very well and Prince and I hurried up and did nothing, something of which Prince is very fond :) I was helping Mom with some something with Knightly so Prince got a nice nap in the mean time.

Then we rode down the hill, out the gate and headed out for our trail ride!!

We actually did a lot on this trail ride as right now this is the main place that Prince and I canter so we played with that a lot.  We also played with lead changes, cantering at different speeds, canter-halt transitions, leg yields at walk and trot, sideways, and towards the end (when going up hills and such) lead changes for fatigue purposes because we cantered a long way none stop and going up the hill at the end Prince was started to get fatigued so we switched leads and cantered the rest of the way to the top.

It was a great ride but towards the end I could tell that Prince was a bit tired. I think the next trail ride we go on will be for purely relaxing, enjoyment purposes and we won't focus on lead changes or anything... just have a fun, relaxing ride :)

We dismounted in a parking lot and I played with the man hole of which Prince is still scared. It took a while but in the end Prince was able to stand beside it calmly. We basically did squeeze games back and forth gradually making the gap smaller and smaller until Prince was okay with going between myself and the grate.


It was a great play session and ride for sure and the weather was beautiful!!

Naturally,
~Keri