Final January Update on Ground Work

Final January Update on Ground Work

Alas, I have gotten lazy. In the last week or so, I haven’t done much ground work. After I ride for a while in the arena, I am taking him right outside to ride in the snow—and skipping the ground work. The weather is going to get very cold, again, so I don’t think that will be happening anytime soon. I will get back on the program.

The shoulder-in on the ground hasn’t progressed that much, but he has certainly improved in the saddle. I can’t believe how well he is doing. I don't know if I got the angle right, but I can adjust it more or less with ease. We can now do the whole long side of the arena. Sometimes, when we get to the corner, I let him just stay on the bend he has from the shoulder-in to do the corner—and then I click him. He can also do a shoulder-in on a circle, but I’m not encouraging him with that, right now. I want to keep my circles proper. He does it at the walk and the trot.

I’ve been considering how to teach the Piaffe. I understand how the dressage people do it, but since I am not going into the dressage arena, I think it will teach it like a dance step. He seems very open to learning like that.

He likes to follow me feet at a walk. I will click him for following my feet at the trot and gradually shorten my steps. I’ll see how that goes. If he gets it, eventually, he may either just mimic me, or I may need to restrain him a little with the reins to keep him in one spot. Instead of doing it after my ride, I may have better results before the ride when he is feeling energetic. It really might take some time, so don’t hold your breath!