12/24/06
Nero Schooling at home

We're still working on forward, but it seems to
mainly be a test of the rider. Once I do a light cue and
then get after him about ignoring it, his response time improves.
He was worst about stopping at the photographer. Reminds me of Kasza.


 
He rides more like Bob did with stirrup length. I think I should have had them one hole longer than they ended up this time. My legs don't feel like they stick out, like they do on a wider horse.
 

 
He feels like a safe ride, but isn't that sensitive to leg and doesn't know about softening to the bit.
 
We did a lot of work today asking for bend to the left. He didn't mind turning to the right, but when I'd ask for left bend, he'd do the opposite.
 
 
Here's an example (funny, I cross my jaw, too, when I'm resisting). I'm asking him to move off my left leg (using leg and whip) and he's popping his shoulder and saying no.
 
Thankfully, I won that time. 
But, it was a test we faced over and over again.
 
 
It did get better as the ride went on.
 
On to the trot, which was very sluggish.
 
 
I tried to use light legs backed up with the whip.
 
I didn't get a more engaged trot by asking, but we got to the point where I didn't have to drive with my legs for us to keep the trot he was offering.
 
 
He did eventually blow through his nose and think about stretching. I praised him, but but it's not going to happen overnight.
 
A trot that I could ride without contorting and urging.
 
 
OK, a little urging to keep him going up the hill. I don't want him nervous forward, but sometimes he's like balky Emma.
 
Of course heading back to the photographer and his cat friend, he could get some engagement. I like when they can soften, but I think for him forward is more important.
 
 
His favorite speed. I sat on him for almost an hour one day watching a riding lesson. 
He was perfectly happy to snooze and not move.
Oh, and I suspect that fox hunting will teach forward, but I think I need to get forward and learn to control it, before experiencing it out there...