Phase 1, is that you?

Maybe I use horesnality as an excuse, but I don't feel like we always have a solid phase 1. As we continue to work towards level 4, that has to change.

I didn't plan on doing much yesterday; just a little jumping then off for a trail ride. The jumps were already set up and my focus was to work on me and my position more than him. He wasn't super excited about jumping (which makes me sad; I need an LBE!) so I didn't do much. Just enough to get a good feel.

The best part from yesterday were our canter transitions. He was being super unmotivated and was barely inching forward, so I applied the snappiness from my lesson with Juli. Before I knew it, he was canter from a halt from only phase 1. It was probably one of the most awesome things I have ever experienced. We were sitting there at a halt, I bought my life up and he would canter. I didn't do anything with my body, but smile with all 4 cheeks. How cool!!!

I really didn't think it was possible for him to be tuned into my body that much. I always felt like he could never really feel my energy through the saddle. Yesterday proved to me that he definitely felt something! I don't think he has ever been very responsive at phase 1 for an upward transition (in the saddle or online), but now I know yes, he can do it. I just have to have the arrows in my quiver to get them out of him. I am looking forward to playing more with high expectations of phase 1! 

Yee-Haw!

Sonny and I had a fabulous ride today! Even though it was hot, he was surprisingly active.

We warmed up online and went sideways over the barrel twice. It was only his good direction, but it is a start!

I haven't rode in my saddle lately so I got on and walked around a bit to get adjusted. I really wanted to focus on transitions because his downward transitions have been really slacking lately. During my walk warm up I really monitored my breathing and energy and that seemed to help a lot.

Once I got into the trot he started getting a bit frisky and pulling his normal "I am going canter and dive into the middle of the area so you stop me". I always push him forward, but usually that behavior upsets me so much. Today, I didn't let it bother me at all. I put a smile on my face and YEE HAW off we went! I really pushed him and played a passenger lesson. Thankfully, I have a really good seat. I felt like we were bouncing off of walls and going all different directions but surprisingly, I enjoyed it. Normally I like to go back to my dressage background and hope for a collected canter along the rail and get upset when that isn't how it is. Today was the total opposite: we had cutting horse moves as he dashed to one side of the wall at the last second (sightly scary, with a touch of adrenaline). I think the fact that I was able to laugh it off and hang on made it not so fun anymore because it didn't take long for him to relax into this beautiful canter. Huh. How interesting!

After calming down we had some great trot circles using my only my carrot stick! Hopefully canter circles are in our future. I will be anxious to see how he is the next time I ride!

Such a happy face ;).