October Ryan Clinic

Last weekend I had another clinic with Ryan, and I rode all three days for the first time. Friday, Gadget felt forward, light and happy. Even Ryan remarked how he was happy in the contact and working well. It was a bit of an ordeal to make it to a 6:45 ride time aftr work, but totally worth it. We did forward and back in the trot, but later moved into a new exercise to get him softer in his back. At the trot or canter, take Gadget deeper and rounder. Half halt him back on the outside rein to try to sit on his haunches, then send him very forward and then half halt back again. This doesn't sound earth-shattering or new, but because Gadget is lower and rounder, it really helps get his back swinging. Ryan said he would use this exercise about 3/4 through the ride when Gadget starts to get a bit stuck. Here's a clip of this exercise from the end of our ride:

Saturday was a cold, wet day and neither Gadget and I put in our best performances. I don't have any video of the ride, but Gadget felt behind the leg most of the ride. We worked on forward and back for most of the ride.

On Sunday, Gadget was a bit sticky again, but we worked through it and got some nice work. I have made improvements in not clamping on the left rein, but I now need to steady and improve the contact on the right rein. I also need to go back to getting Gadget more reactive off of the leg. He is beginning to collect while maintaining a nice canter rhythm, but I need to kick him up to the right rein when tracking left. Here are a couple clips from my ride on Sunday:

A bit of shoulder-in, haunches-in, and halfpass in trot:

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