Whew

Well, It's probably obvious that because Maxwell is receiving a concentrated formula of calories and fat, that he would have more energy. That added with the fact that his belly is feeling much much better, and I have a fresh horse! The OTTB I expected to have, despite our initial meeting. He's not out of control, or crazy, or anything of that sort. He just moves so much more freely forward than ever before. It's really a GOOD thing, not a bad. To have that impulsion from behind helps us move more in harmony than we did the first few weeks I had him.

Two things.

Two things I've been really been working on since our lesson last Saturday are lateral movements and the right lead. Lateral movements have become non-existent for the most part, not that we ever had a perfect one to begin with since this is all foreign language to Maxwell. Max wants to make every attempt into a turn on the haunches, which he also 'learned' during our lesson. I can't wait for our next lesson this weekend. I also have a giraffe during the attempted lateral work. Head straight up, I mean nose pointed to the sun. Maxwell does not want to comply. He doesn't have an opinion about a lot, but that's one thing he does. If I had to guess? He doesn't understand. Of course when all else fails you stick your head up in the air and do a turn on the haunches like a prissy little ballerina... bahaha. I think it's more rider error than his fault. As I said, he doesn't know any better, and mommy (me) is a little rusty. Okay, a lot rusty.
The lead was an easy success the first ride after our lesson. I think because I was fresh, remembered word for word what my trainer had told me to perfectly execute that lead. The second day? Fail. try again. Fail. try again. Fail. Finally I called out to my riding friend, who rides in lessons with me, what the H-E-double hockey sticks I was doing differently to not achieve the lead?! My hands were apart, my reins had a good contact, my butt sitting deep. "SHOULDERS!" She shouted. And the reason she remembered/knew right away that this was my issue? Because I had spent the first half of our ride calling out her forward left shoulder while she rode as her fast paced horse rolled on and on at mach speed. Sure as $h!t I went back to a walk, took a deep deep breath, sat really deep, really let my weight into my heels, hands apart, exaggerated the shoulders back, committed to the cue, and blamo, right lead!.

In conclusion I have learned that Maxwell is willing to tattle on me about my position, and Maxwell, I appreciate it! :-P

Until nexxt time....