Trot Poles and Western Pleasure Jog

Here is what I did on Claire:

I had an absolutely fantastic day with her today. The 'clicker' training is working beautifully and I never have a fight with my horse. We are working as partners and every ride is very non stressful for Claire or me. Brian, my husband noticed a huge difference in the head set from yesterday to today. He thought she traveled around very nicely with her head low and working on a slow Western jog. Claire was very eager to keep her head down, and only occasionally dove down with her nose trying to pull the bit down. He was surprised in how much better she had gotten in just one day. I have learned that small steps in training and always ending on a good note is the way to go, because often the horse will come back the next day so much better than when you left on from the day before. We cantered a little, and she picked it right up, but didn't want to canter for too long. I kept her going with my legs past some resistance in wanting to stop, and then quit on that. I really want to do some shoulder in and shoulder out exercises with her and some sidepassing before I really do some serious canter work, and I want to be easy on her joints.

Here is a quick recap:

1. Worked on correct headset and starting off slow in the trot. I 'clicked' everytime she carried her head correctly and when she started off with a slow departure and coming into the bridle.

2. She trotted over 2 sets of trot poles (I painted them yesterday) and did them beautifully without breaking cadence or hitting a single pole. I had 3 trot poles approx. 4 feet apart and two sets of them.

3. Serpentines crossing a line of trot poles. I put cones in between the poles set up in a long vertical line. We practiced jogging in and out of the cones and poles. I put the ends of the poles too close together so the turns were kinda of tight. I might move them further apart tomorrow.

4. Cantered about 2 lengths of the arena.

5. Lots of flexing, and moving hindquarters over.

6. I began work on moving the shoulder over. Very small steps over and then 'clicking' for that.


I will make a 30 day video clip and post it on Monday. I want to work on her Western Pleasure jog a little more tomorrow.

I am really pleased with her attitude and her willingness and eagerness to ride everyday. I think the 'clicker training' has made the difference.