Well Dear Humans I had so much fun last week. Ma Leueen got me tacked up and the first thing I noticed was that she put on boots instead of my usual leg wraps. We use boots when we go out to the forest trails. So I thought that was what we were going to do. But then we went into the arena and Ma Leueen started our usual warm up. Then Assistant Lynsey came in. I thought, oh dear, she’s not going to give us a lesson is she? The last lesson I had with her was soooo tough. Coach Belinda is away so Assistant Lynsey has been filling in . But then I saw she was putting poles on the ground. Then she brought out the plastic jump standards. AhHa! We were going to do something different.
First we just trotted over some poles. Then Assistant Lynsey put up the jump standards and put two poles on the ground in between them. So then we cantered over the poles and also over the two poles on the ground. And Assistant Lynsey wanted us to ‘book it’ and only take five strides between the two sets of poles. Here we are striding out!
Then Assistant Lynsey put the poles in an X between the standards. YIPPEE! I was going to do a bit of jumping. Just a small X mind you. Nothing to really tax my jumping ability.And I have to remember that Ma Leueen is too advanced in age to be doing too much big jumping. Anyway…take a look.
We did that pretty well I think. Then Assistant Lynsey had us go the other way and canter over the little X and then on an angle (Humans call this a “broken line”) to a pole. We had to do it in five strides , then six strides and then in seven strides. That is quite technical you know! Here is a video.
I think I did pretty well don’t you? Not every dressage horse can do this. To be honest it was a piece of cake. I know Ma Leueen’s signals so well from the dressage work we do I know exactly when she is asking me to take a longer stride or a shorter stride. I know that stuff. I did well so Ma Leueen gave me a nice treat! She as little pouch attached to her saddle that she keeps small treats in. They are quite yummy.
This week we came back to Dressage again. I though that was pretty boring but Ma Leueen has promised a gallop in the forest loop. And it seems we are going to rehearse our Freestyle with the music at then end of the week. I’m looking forward to that. Dancing!!
Till next time Dear Humans!
HorseAddict 
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