Really Fun Ride

I had a great ride on Rogo today. It was quite windy, but sunny and warm and since Rogo doesn't mind wind it was perfect. It seems only yesterday that it felt like these days would never come.
Rogo was so good - I was able to get him to go forward on my own, the way I had with Joan. It was almost like he was waiting for me to ask and as soon as I did he surged forward. This wasn't one of those "I'm excited it's spring" days. He was as calm and quiet as could be, but when I asked for forward he gave it. YEAH! It's a break through. He powered down the long sides and across the diagonal. This is what I've been looking for for so long. He had it the summer I started him, but then it disappeared (coincidentally when Joan disappeared), but now it seems to be back.
It still needs lots of work of course. Partly he is just going more quickly, and of course that isn't what we're looking for, but he's using his hind quarters more too, and taking contact more and generally going more forward so I'll take it. It isn't completely consistent yet either, as in from the first step and perfect rhythm :), but I'm so happy that it's getting there. I think all the work we've done with free jumps and on the lunge has helped too.
We rode Training Level test 2. I'm thinking I'll do tests 2 and 3 in the show. Test 1 calls for a half canter circle and I really don't want him to get it into his head to stop cantering that quickly. I guess it shouldn't make any difference and maybe I'll do the three of them...

Comments

Rising Rainbow said…
WooHoo! That great news and it sounds like you have a solid plan for the show too. Very cool.
smazourek said…
I was thinking you should get a life-sized cardboard cutout of Joan, then you could stand it in your ring when you're having a off day. Seems you don't need it though :)
juliette said…
Good Rogo - good ride! Welcome spring and springy horse - not springy bad, but forward springy good.
Ro-go!!!

I've been thinking that when I really want forward, Val will give it to me. And when I'm consistent, he'll give me consistency. Somewhere in my blog wanderings lately someone was writing they didn't want to be dissonant when riding... to say one thing and do another. I'm taking that thought to heart. ♥
Achieve1dream said…
Yay! Sounds like so much fun! Congrats on the breakthrough. :)
Unknown said…
thank you very much for your comment :)
your blog is really nice too, please stay in touch!
Jan said…
Carol, Wonderful ride, and good Rogo! Isn't it great when things are in synch during your ride? From reading many blogs, it seems that progress is never a straight line from where we are now, but a bit of zigging and zagging. It's easy to forget that with our horses. You and Rogo are making wonderful progress!!