Thankfully the weather has let up and Rob has done a lovely job plowing all the snow from the driveway and parking log.

This week in lessons will carry forward  from last week: we will again work on some haunches in, but this week we will work on it at the canter. Remember that this exercise will help the horse keep balanced in the corners and to not drop its shoulder. It helps if you can enter your corner with your outside leg holding the haunch in so that the horse balances on its hind legs rather than falling on its forehand which is what causes the falling in on its shoulder and cutting its corner. This will also help the horse be positioned to get its lead changes!

Next we will try some flying changes over a pole. Similar to doing it over a fence, but the rider needs to create more jump in their canter to get the suspension to do the lead change over the pole. Remember to keep it simple by keeping your body straight over the horse, but looking in the new direction. Over doing the change in direction  by leaning into the turn or pulling the head to the new direction can pull the horse onto its forehand and will result in the front lead changing only. Instead balance with the outside rein, move your (new) outside leg back, and new inside leg at the girth to keep then from falling in.

For jumping we will do a slow and controlled hunter type course working on good, balanced corners and lead changes.

Karen