covid challenge #3

1- 10 minute walk on long rein.

2- Trot and canter warm up with light contact.

3- Flat exercise for Thursday - Trot Halt Transitions. You will want to achieve a good working trot that is forward. These will be the aids for the transition. As you prepare you want to signal to the horse that you will be asking for the transition by a couple of half halts. Do not slow the trot, it should just be shortened into the halt.. When you are ready for the halt, sit the trot, stop the seat and close the leg. The hand should be in front of you by starting with the proper rein length and your eyes should be up and straight forward. The hand will stop the horse from going forward from the seat and leg but it does not pull back. When the horse responds there is to be a well timed release as for the halt not to be too abrupt. When the horse halts, breath and relax your body.
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Watch the video I have attached. I like her exercise on the circle with the "almost halts" and then go forward again until the horse stays in better balance for the transition. Use her method to start and when you feel it is right ask for the transition and if you loose the feel go forward again. Practice both directions evenly.

4- Repeat your pattern a couple times. After working on the elements of the pattern yesterday. Test your horse and see if you can put a nice pattern down on the first try. If not break it down again. Carry your flat exercise into the pattern with you as there are trot to halt transitions in the pattern.

5-Cavaletti: I will set a pole pattern in the ring. Trot the pattern as shown in the comments section of this post. Do the pattern once to become familiar. After that start trying to incorporate your trot/halt transition randomly. Get your horse really in tune with coming back and going forward and focused on the work.
5- 3 minute long trot.

6- Finish with walk around yard.
The act of good practice will improve you and your horse. Rome was not built in a day. Do not get discouraged if your work does not seem perfect, the act of trying will give you great rewards when you least expect it.