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...