So I managed to win 2 lessons at Hilltop in a charity auction. I've ridden with Michael in clinics and have enjoyed the lessons so much. Having seen him work with young horses, I knew he would be fantastic to help me with Iggy.
Hani trekked the 5 hours to Hilltop in the freezing and snowy December weather with me. The main barn was full, so we stabled at the breeding barn. It's on top of a hill and there is a small bridle path down the hill to get to the main barn. With a fresh coating of snow, it was a beautiful walk. And the barn itself was beautiful and airy.
Iggy handled the slick walk and the giant, new arena with total aplomb. He walked in and I could feel that he was looking around, but he went right to work. My heart was bursting with pride.
In the first lesson, Michael watched me warm up a bit and then very quickly zeroed in on our issues. I was riding Iggy in a working trot with a fairly stretchy frame. The rhythm felt good and Iggy felt swingy, but I did not have him in my hand. Michael encouraged me to ask for more push in the trot until I had enough trot to form a connection back to front. This clicked. It does not require that Iggy give me his biggest trot, but it has to be enough to that he gives me some feeling in my hand. In the canter, I told Michael that I get some changes with Iggy. Michael encouraged me to get in and out of the canter before Iggy can lose his balance. Also, get him pushing to the hand and steady the outside hand and soften the inside hand. (One day I will learn to do this.) For the canter, Michael said he likes to have a spot that the horses associate with cantering. So on a 20 meter circle, on the open side, just past the centerline, that is the "canter spot." Iggy was to canter in that quarter, not before. We would then canter a circle and maybe a longside and diagonal. The key was not to keep cantering, but to maintain a quality canter and focus on the transitions. This is how I've been schooling it with Ryan, so this was a good confirmation. I was also to pick it up from posting trot instead of sitting. We played with a bit of legyield, allowing his shoulders to lead, but really asking him to push with the inside hind.
Finally, Michael asked me to show him what I've been doing in hand with Iggy. Without going into a lot of detail, I was so nervous that I was not really able to show Michael anything even though I've worked with him to pick up his inside hind from a touch of the whip.
Michael then proceeded to show me the in hand work that he uses to engage a young horse and teach them how to use their bodies. He first asks the horse to give its jaw to slight pressure and then to follow its head around to the side with some bend. Then he teaches the horse to step under and over with its inside hind from some "pressure" from body language and tap with the bamboo stick if necessary. Eventually, he moves to teaching the horse to lift and hold the left hind from a tap or cluck. Here is a clip:
The second day I had a better feel of the energy and balance that I needed. For the canter, Michael reminded me to ride from the outside rein and not too much inside. Really keeping his shoulders straight makes such a difference. He also said not to ride the biggest canter, even though its so fun. Make sure that I have him stepping up and under.
Also, when Iggy spooked at a tractor in the corner, Michael advised to take the pressure off near the spooky object. Trot a circle and then when directly beside the spooky object, walk for a few steps so the relaxation is near the spooky object. Genius!
Overall, Michael said that Iggy has a really nice way in using his hind end. He also said that he has a great brain and is reactive but not over-reactive. It was such music to my ears. These are certainly not things that I've ever heard about Gadget! It was a wonderful two days of lessons and great start to my winter of schooling and strengthening.
Hani trekked the 5 hours to Hilltop in the freezing and snowy December weather with me. The main barn was full, so we stabled at the breeding barn. It's on top of a hill and there is a small bridle path down the hill to get to the main barn. With a fresh coating of snow, it was a beautiful walk. And the barn itself was beautiful and airy.
Iggy handled the slick walk and the giant, new arena with total aplomb. He walked in and I could feel that he was looking around, but he went right to work. My heart was bursting with pride.
In the first lesson, Michael watched me warm up a bit and then very quickly zeroed in on our issues. I was riding Iggy in a working trot with a fairly stretchy frame. The rhythm felt good and Iggy felt swingy, but I did not have him in my hand. Michael encouraged me to ask for more push in the trot until I had enough trot to form a connection back to front. This clicked. It does not require that Iggy give me his biggest trot, but it has to be enough to that he gives me some feeling in my hand. In the canter, I told Michael that I get some changes with Iggy. Michael encouraged me to get in and out of the canter before Iggy can lose his balance. Also, get him pushing to the hand and steady the outside hand and soften the inside hand. (One day I will learn to do this.) For the canter, Michael said he likes to have a spot that the horses associate with cantering. So on a 20 meter circle, on the open side, just past the centerline, that is the "canter spot." Iggy was to canter in that quarter, not before. We would then canter a circle and maybe a longside and diagonal. The key was not to keep cantering, but to maintain a quality canter and focus on the transitions. This is how I've been schooling it with Ryan, so this was a good confirmation. I was also to pick it up from posting trot instead of sitting. We played with a bit of legyield, allowing his shoulders to lead, but really asking him to push with the inside hind.
Finally, Michael asked me to show him what I've been doing in hand with Iggy. Without going into a lot of detail, I was so nervous that I was not really able to show Michael anything even though I've worked with him to pick up his inside hind from a touch of the whip.
Michael then proceeded to show me the in hand work that he uses to engage a young horse and teach them how to use their bodies. He first asks the horse to give its jaw to slight pressure and then to follow its head around to the side with some bend. Then he teaches the horse to step under and over with its inside hind from some "pressure" from body language and tap with the bamboo stick if necessary. Eventually, he moves to teaching the horse to lift and hold the left hind from a tap or cluck. Here is a clip:
The second day I had a better feel of the energy and balance that I needed. For the canter, Michael reminded me to ride from the outside rein and not too much inside. Really keeping his shoulders straight makes such a difference. He also said not to ride the biggest canter, even though its so fun. Make sure that I have him stepping up and under.
Also, when Iggy spooked at a tractor in the corner, Michael advised to take the pressure off near the spooky object. Trot a circle and then when directly beside the spooky object, walk for a few steps so the relaxation is near the spooky object. Genius!
Overall, Michael said that Iggy has a really nice way in using his hind end. He also said that he has a great brain and is reactive but not over-reactive. It was such music to my ears. These are certainly not things that I've ever heard about Gadget! It was a wonderful two days of lessons and great start to my winter of schooling and strengthening.
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