Finding Harmony

I have been enjoying my training with Jack lately and have been concentrating on the quality of work for every stride and transition. Its tough! Jack is being helpful and working hard to produce the extra cadence in his paces which will earn the top marks. I am learning to trust him and to not be phased by all the extra power he turns on when ridden forwards into a supple contact. We have come along way in the last few weeks and are now able to work together to link exercises such as canter half pass, counter canter, flying change on my aids rather than when Jack thinks its appropriate. I was very pleased that it my last lesson I was able to ride a three loop serpentine with changes and to hear the magic words " That time you looked like you knew what you were doing!" Jack gave me a great feel of suppleness and lightness and because I was able to concentrate on riding the shape correctly the changes were true and effortless- now I need to perfect them on straight lines!

I felt we needed some down time so I took Jack hacking to Aspley Heath. Jack is fun to hack but he hadn't been out since last Summer and found a lot of monsters. These days though spooks become piaffe but at least he doesn't spin now.

Hacking an ex eventer is always a challenge but he is a dream to ride on varrying terrain and his good education shines through. It is a pleasure to ride him through the woods and to feel his stride lengthen and see his ears on full alert as he looks for things to jump. Jack believes he is invincible too and will often lock on to things that make me feel faint. There is one down hill track that has a five bar gate at the bottom which he is desperate to pop over- it was a near miss for me yesterday when he used some noisy chickens as an excuse to bunch into a ball.

We had a fantastic canter along the sandy gallops- I gave a slight aid and took a light seat and he floated into a gentle hand canter which was to die for and as I softened my contact on the reins and allowed him forward he just opened his stride- I let him have a few metres of half pace and then wary of the going and his new found fitness I asked him to come back to me by sitting up a bit and wow what a horse straigt back to hand canter!

I am under no illusions with Jack though- one adrenalin surge and we would have been away. However with the sun shining and no pressure we returned to our gentle walk and headed home. I am looking forward to more hacking in the coming weeks and will build up to more canter work to improve our partnership- its very useful to canter out of the arena on good going where I can allow him to eat up the ground- this is my excuse and I'm sticking to it. I wish I'd been able to ride Jack in his younger days and take him hunting- What a horse!!