What a Fun Ride

I met Doug at Cheryl's today and we both rode. We used the indoor since it was raining out. It was so much fun. Rogo hadn't seen me in a couple of days and was very affectionate and sweet, but at the same time he wanted to go, go, go. It seems crazy now that I was worried about his energy level as recently as the end of Sept. It must have been the summer heat that had him so lacking in forwardness, but he didn't have any forwardness last winter either. Now he is just a bundle of good energy and it is wonderful. 

He is very bendable and he does become round on and off, but he still needs to be rounding and taking contact more consistently. It's much better though. Today we practiced walking leg yield, should in, trotting figure eights, as well as canter departs (I need to help him engage before giving the aid) and 15 m canter circles (he is just starting these but can manage them well most of the time). I also did a little bit of sitting trot and this is getting easier to work on now that he is getting more forward and round.

He wanted to canter all the time, and once he was cantering he didn't want to stop. It wasn't scary or over the top though - just energetic. He worked fine in the other gaits.

I'm impressed because after I rode I ran into Cheryl and she said he cantered and galloped so much in his turn out that she thought about bringing him in. I guess he cantered for 15 minutes non stop at one point. I showed up to ride shortly after this (he was inside by then) and he wanted to canter all through our ride. I hope this continues, and continues to be manageable :)

Doug rode Savanah and they did very well. He has very nice quiet hands and his seat is getting better all the time. Savanah is looking great and is enjoying the cooler weather as well.