Pacha - august 16, 2010

Pacha was quite hot, because of having had little exercise over the last two days. The indoor arena was fairly busy,with a boiling TB being lunged in a corner and several horses at wotk. In addition a large portion of the arena wall board had been removed for repair. In short, a fair potential for possible excess energy outbursts!
Firts good surprise, the missing board section did not cause problem. Pacha went easily to it, reins free on the neck, sniffed a little on the ground around, stared through the holes for a few times and decided it was not worth worrying any longer.
His excitement showed in his usual way of flapping his lower lip with a typical noise. We had a long session at walk, with shoulder-ins and leg yields. Many halts with reining back, which is now quite correct: straight, round, slow. In this way, it is beneficial to Pacha attitude, head carriage and hind engagement. This is a new and satisfying good mark. Similar work at trot with lot of transition to walk, halt with or without rein back.
Compared with what would have likely happened some months ago, Pacha performed all these exercises correctly, without disorder despite his steam and the surrounding agitation. The only sign was the lower lip flapping. This steam needed to get out, so we went outside to the small outdoor arena which was empty. And we went straight into sitting canter for several rounds both leads. Neat strike offs and round, energetic canter without attempt to hollow the back nor any other disorder. Then, good rest with reins on the neck, walking and at halt. The lip flapping had gone. We resumed canter work on smaller (6m) circles and I could notice improvement in cadence specially on the stiff right side. This work on bending at canter will become my next objective, now that sitting canter is well confirmed.