Pico

Gracie is avoiding work by bruising a front foot.  Even so we had a very nice lesson at the walk last week.  Lots of work on position (mine) and bend and ended with fabulous piaffe.  With Frances there tapping her haunches she really gets elevation.  It's really fun to see it in the mirrors!

Today Pico had a chance at a lesson. :^)  We worked on freeing up his shoulders so he could come through with his hind feet.  I had to manage to sit and keep my hands still while pushing him forward.  No fussing with my hands.  I can't say that often enough ...  both Rochelle and Frances comment on it regularly.  So ...  put my hands on his neck, leave them still and let him figure out how to give.  I have a hard time with that.  And I have to not drop him as soon as he gives..  a release, sure, but not a complete drop.

When Pico really opens his shoulders he feels like he is trying to Spanish Walk. He started out just managing to use the outside shoulder, but by the end of the hour could do a few steps that were more even.  He drops his head and raises his back - can't do it at all with his head where I want it.  When he gets a few steps in a row he looks really nice, but it is clearly challenging for him.  

We finished his lesson with piaffe also ---  well, with Frances standing beside us asking him to raise alternating hind feet without going backwards.  He was much better than expected at that. He definitely prefers to work on it in the middle of the arena, not against the wall.

PS:  Demi is gone.  Very weird.  The other two are slightly stressed about it, but not crying for her.  Just hanging out right beside each other.  She went to a nice home though.  I notice the manure build-up in the barn has decreased by far more than 1/3. The other two poop in the pasture more.