Centered Riding Update Clinic Day 4

June 17, 2010

Day 4 was the last day of the Update Clinic. With all the preparation work for the canter, today was canter day. Shaggy needs to be able to pick up the canter without trying to trot faster and faster, and falling into the lope.

We did cavelletti work. We walked and trotted over 3 logs laying on the ground from both directions. Then we raised the logs by sitting them on another log and placing them about 4 ½ feet apart. We trotted these logs, asking the horse first to extend the trot. Then the logs were put closer together, and we worked on going over the logs in a collective trot.

Building on the previous day, we worked on the walk to trot to walk transitions. The horses needed to move out to the trot on the first stride. Two logs were placed together on an angle on one of the corners. As the horses trotted up to the logs, we were to ask for the canter right before the horse took the stride to go over the log. Shaggy spooked as her neared the logs for the first time at the trot, so we walked up to and over them in both directions. We trotted the log first, then at the next trot time, we asked for the canter. We were successful in getting both canter leads.

I had Susan sign my Centered Riding book. She is a gifted artist. Along with signing my book, she drew a picture of me riding Shaggy. What a wonderful memory.

I spent Friday evening through Saturday noon with the 2 grandbabies. Jacob, Amber and Caden came out to visit while I was there. The 2 little ones hadn’t seen each other since Christmas. I had a fabulous time. Makenzie and Caden got to ride her “Pody”. I’ll post Pony and Play time photos soon.