Dusting off cobwebs...

RECAP:

I know I have been a bit MIA from blogging, but work and design work has really taken its toll on saddle time lately :( I have only sat on Tillie 3 times since shes been cleared to return into work which is NOT enough for my high energy powder keg. 

BUT luckily, fellow blogger Miseventer has kindly helped ride her as well. I am sincerely hoping she will consider taking over part of the ride on Tillie to help her stay in more consistent work and help me get more mileage. I really think at this point Tillie needs repetition and just more time under saddle to mentally settle in and accept the aids better. 

Anyway...I didnt realize my students were filming and discovered a few stills and a video from our ride.

Tillie having a nice uphill canter! 

CANTER WORK:

Her canter work right now is a bit of a struggle...poor Miseventer had the misfortune (lol alliteration?) of experiencing just how ride Tillie can get when she feels something is too difficult. Since coming back into work she really looks for me or her rider to "help" her more and attempts to really lean or hang on one rein or both depending on that moment in time.

My solution was to try to do some over exaggerated counter bending, inside bending and then riding straight. I found this allowed me to alleviate tension on one of my reins and I could soften without her leaning on it and fill up the outside rein more appropriately rather than hanging on the inside rein. 

So the below clip is my attempting it at the canter, which at the end asking her to go straight (which is when she goes out of the view) she breaks so I circled back to try again...she did do it, but unfortunately this is all my students shot.

GOAL:

My immediate goal is to get her canter trot canter transitions back to being smoother...especially canter-trot as she really has a hard time responding to my seat to come down to the trot. She will happily canter along in this itty bitty canter rather than come down to the trot. We were just ironing this out before our break so cant expect too much yet...

BIT SUGGESTIONS?

I have been toying with the idea of trying her in a slightly harsher bit for jumping since earlier this summer with her tendency to cross her jaw and race - right now she goes in a HS Shaped snaffle which shes been going really well in for dressage since this winter. 

I do think she would benefit from a few rides flatting in more bit right now too...so I am looking for suggestions! I was thinking a slow twist snaffle...anyone else have any recommendations?! 

Guess who's back in business!!

Hopefully without any more hiccups!  Tillie is back in work and we have had 2 rides under saddle so far. I rode in the PF jump saddle and so far realllllly LOVE IT! I may have to ask Emma write a guest blog on it since shes been borrowing it and riding in it much more then I have so far...

After the first ride back! 

First ride, we kept it simple and I really only expected basics. I re-pushed some buttons to make sure they are fully installed and not sticky or rusty ;) All was good and there was no sass or unnecessary excitement. 

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Just cuz shes cute! 

Second ride back we braved the canter...and it woke the beast a bit to say the least. She was perfectly fine and did exactly what I expected which was celebrate how fun going fast is!!! She did some head tossing, shoulder flinging and finally some dolphin diving/leaping to really express how much she enjoyed stepping up a gear. 

Clearly please with herself after the second ride...notice my stubben has slipped forward from the head-between-the-knees celebrations. 

Tillie really clearly enjoyed herself in our ride and was eager to work. A good friend who has seen Tille go a lot over the last two years remarked how even she looked and it looked like she was the most "sound" and comfortable ever!

One of my students taking Tillie out after our ride.

Tillie has gained quite the belly while out of work!