YAHOOO

 Had a lesson with Kelly Eaton... hoping for help on how to best ride her/rehab. VERY glad I did. 

loaded up with only a little encouragement. tacked up and did in hand pillar work and then in hand lunging to warm up. just a quick bit because she was good. Then got on and hacked to xc. walked a few logs (jumped one because she's silly) and then trotted two laps each way water treadmill. it was deep after all that rain. And pretty blue from their show. ;)

then hacked to the covered. she power trotted up the hill - her choice. then had a great lesson. 

started with walk... inside leg to outside rein connection... connecting my inside leg to her inside hind. did long leg yields... quarter line to rail but take the entire lenght of the arena to get there. she wants to lead with her shoulders one way and her haunches the other, so keep her mostly straight. then leg yielded on the rail... 3-4 tracks.. she can have a little bend to start but ultimately we want her straight. 

then picked up trot and it was lovely! But keep the even connection. she lifted her back and felt great! then did leg yield on rail, straighten, the trot 20 meter circle. reminder about leg aids... regular bending aid at girth, then slightly back for lateral work, then farther back for canter. duh... isolate the buttons holly. Then did canter... she lumbered into it each way but... also, my aids weren't super crisp. and... it's okay. let her lumber for now. also, try leg yielding into and out of canter... 

fabulous ride. Kelly thought she looked great and no reason to not ride. I agree. that's the best she's felt in awhile and she seemed very happy!

hacked back home, hosed off, and headed home. Snuggly tonight



















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