It was absolutely blowing a gale today (Sat 30/11-12)! But I am so impressed at Jazzy, despite the wind and that she hasn't seen me since Monday she was AMAZING!
This is the first time I have ever worked her like this without a halter. A big thanks to Deb Prately of Acuvet Ltd as I feel much of our success is from the treatment she gave Jazzy on Monday!
On Monday Deb came out to help loosen Jazzy's back end. Prior to this Jazzy found cantering extremely difficult and when going to the right, she would always go on the wrong lead. Well today she taught herself how to do a flying change to make cantering a circle more comfortable!
We started off just getting her to check in, back up, sideways and hind quarter yields, just to make sure she understood the concept of moving with only the rope around her neck and stopping with only the rope around her neck. Once I had this established I asked her out on a circle.
She went out easily and throughout the session only put pressure on the rope twice. She moved out fluidly at a walk and trot, so I asked for the canter. To the left she was hesitant, but found her flow and went around on the correct lead, maintaining the canter until I asked her to stop. Then to the left she was so cute, she tried really hard to canter, but could only manage a little hop in the front. I did not continue asking her for the canter. Instead I just asked her twice at the same point on the circle each time, if she didn't get it I just left her alone and asked her again when she got to the same point again- thus conditioning her that she needed to make a change at that point.
She tried about 5 times like this, then she managed to pick up and maintain a canter, but on the wrong lead. I brought her back in and rewarded her for trying. Then the next time she went out she went on the wrong leg and then did a flying lead change!!!! She knew instantly that she was amazing and flew into me for a reward pat, which she received wholeheartedly!
I tested this 3 more times and each time she did a lead change to make the canter circle more comfortable for herself!!
Love, love, love this pony! She is teaching me so much, especially the importance of wait time!!
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