Another ride, and we cantered!

Had another ride last night, was only going to jump on for 15 min but D stayed in the barn to give me a hand with getting on Lucas (hes still backing up a step when I put my mounting block next to him, something were working on) Anyways D and C stayed and gave me an mini lesson for 1/2 an hour.

I was just walking off when he was pulling his 'lock and stop' move, and I was being too cautious about making him move on. I tend to nag, with both my hands and legs, more than fix and move on. He tried stopping a couple of times but didn't do anything once I bumped him with my spurs, I was really at a disadvantage using only my English spurs. My western ones are blunt ended rowels and give me more options about reactions from my legs, they also roll better instead of getting stuck like my English spurs do.

We really worked at getting him forward and up in his shoulders. We worked on figure 8's and spiraling out on circles from a 10m to a 20m. And we cantered for the first time since the September show!!! We had held off due to my health issues, then his health issues, so its been a while. (D has been cantering him some, just not me) Have I ever told all of you how much I love his canter? *sigh* and the lifting of his shoulders was a big help, even in his bad direction I had way more impulsion and lift than I thought I would get.

I really just had to turn off my emotions, and just ride. I stopped worrying about how he felt, or if he was going to like me at the end of it, and just rode for results, and what his feed back was telling me (light in one circle, change direction, keep a smaller circle until he lightens up...) It was good, it was how I should ride.

C and D were very happy with how he was going, they said that our canter was much better with as little work as we done this year, than how it looked in the middle of last summer. I think that because I am going to more of the shows that they will be at, they want me and Lucas showing at our best potential, and this year I asked for help. I wanted to do it on my own (mostly) last year but I've made my point that I can, but we can be even better with help, and that's what we want to do this year. Call me stubborn but it takes me alot to reach out for help.... but I did, and I'm glad that I did. C and D said they didn't want anything extra money from me, just an extra hand at chores on the weekend, or if they go away, which I really appreciate.

Now tonight I'm off to make cookies for D and C. They wont take any money but they will take food!