Why It's Good To Change Riding Locations

I've been working all over the place this week (Digby, Lunenburg, Truro), but met Doug at the barn today for a ride. 

Rogo's been impressing me so much lately, so maybe it was time for a reality check :) We rode in the outdoor ring, after riding inside for the past couple of weeks (rain) and I had difficulty getting Rogo to focus on the work. He's been so bendale and responsive lately though, and it just wasn't there today. He didn't want to move off my leg, to the extent he even ignored it or moved against it at times. Our leg yield was non existent! He'd do shoulder in a bit, but I was careful only to ask for a few steps since it seemed like I should be careful not to over do it.

I tried for some canter lengthening (he was starting to respond well at home, lengthening and shortening again, while holding the gait), but he didn't lengthen. He may have become a bit more 'impulsed' :) but not longer in the stride. I wanted to work on this outside because the indoor isn't a full size ring and it will be harder for him to lengthen there. Soon enough we won't be able to go outside. Here's a clip of the canter taken with my phone. Not our best effort - I'll have to get another, and try harder.

Boy, do I ever need to focus on our contact and roundness. His  head is still high and out.
I found myself tiring quickly, so rather than try to ride when I was tired and Rogo wasn't having the best day, I just rode for about 45 minutes and ended on a positive note. 

If Rogo can't maintain a consistent performance from home to Cheryl's and indoor to outdoor he sure won't at a show, so all in all this is good for him. It was fun despite the reduced performance.

Doug and Savanah had a good ride. I think he is going to write goals as I do, so I'll post them.

Rogo and Savanah have been cantering / galloping in the turn out a lot, so they're self conditioning. I guess they've been running up and down the hill a lot - love it!