Leslie's Lesson Journal

3/15/2006 - Wednesday, 10 am

• Worked in outdoor arena, western saddle and bridle

• Has been doing an excellent job western, jogging beautifully and slowly, steering well, and gaining confidence

• Walked and trotted and jogged, stretched, and tacked horse up well. 

2/7/2006 - Tuesday, 12pM

• Rode in outdoor arena

• Rode without a martingale; tacked up without help

• Refreshed "show etiquette" memory

• Walked and worked on turning towards the fence

• Trotted up and down one side of the ring, the dry, level side

• Posted to the trot and worked on maintaining control while trotting

• Stretched lower back and legs for better balance

1/19/2006 - Thursday, 12 PM

• Rode in outdoor arena for first time (weather conditions have been really bad); English saddle and bridle

• Walked around on the fence, taking care to sit right and sit tall and straight

• Learned to look about two fence lengths ahead in order to keep eyes up

• Learned about the different aids/cues and the difference

• Had trouble keeping Priss next to the fence on one end; learned the psychology of making your ideas the horse's ideas; using reverse psychology to get the horse to do what you want it to do

• Worked on walking over poles and using the crop/voice/legs to cue the horse to go over instead of stopping

• Learned about focusing where you want to go, and keeping your eyes ahead/over the poles, and how where you're looking is a key to balance and center of gravity

• Did a good job overall....confidence increasing daily...keep up the good work!