Hello again Dear Humans! I promised I would be back to tell you about the work I have been doing with Coach Belinda while Ma Leueen is recovering from her surgery. And I bet you are wondering about the title of this post. What does it mean….Even Olympians do it! Do what you are asking . Well, I’ll tell you. They practice riding with no stirrups. This is a big deal with humans, this riding with no stirrups thing. Ma Leueen had to do it during the summer and one day this week Coach Belinda rode without stirrups. And she is an Olympian. In fact she’s been to the Olympics twice! This is a very big deal.
So how does it feel for we horses when we are ridden by stirrup less riders? When Ma Leueen does it I can feel her lower leg on me very clearly and when she wants me to put more weight on my hind legs and push off more I can tell that is what she wants. When Coach Belinda rides with no stirrups it is pretty much the same . She always has her lower leg steady on my side. Anyway I asked Ma Leueen to take some video for you to see. Here is Coach Belinda, Olympian, riding with no stirrups. Oh, and check out my cool blue leg wraps! I’m getting ready for Florida with those!
We did quite a lot of work on the canter half pass. I have no idea why humans call it a half pass. and not a whole pass. I guess it is because we go across the arena at an angle instead of going directly sideways. Let me describe for you what it is like for we horses to do this. We are turned onto the diagonal and our heads keep looking toward the other side of the arena. Then we are asked to bend our bodies like a banana and be crossing our legs with each stride while we keep looking straight to the other side of the arena. Let me tell you it is not easy. So my answer has always been to ask for help. I’ve asked Ma Leueen or Coach Belinda to carry my shoulders and my neck and my head. Well it turns out that is NOT OK. So coach Belinda has worked on letting me know that I have to carry my own shoulders and my own head and my own neck and bend like a banana and look across the arena and do it all like it was easy peasy! Well……. I got it. TA DA!! And Coach Belinda was very happy with me. Here is the video proof.
And just to finish off I’d like to show you some of my fabulous trot work from another day this week. I think you will be impressed with this trot and the shoulder in. I know I am!!
That is all for now Dear Humans. Till next time……Happy Trails!
Leave a Reply to almeidadepauloCancel reply