This week in lessons

It looks like we are back to more normal winter temperatures for most of the week. Unfortunately it cooled off before the sun could finish melting the snow, so now we are left with a winter wonderland of ice. I find myself wishing for more snow just to have some traction outside! It must be frustrating for the horses too, to have to think so carefully about their footing, so be prepared for some peppy ponies.

This week in lessons we are again going to work on a course, starting again with a low course or trot poles to get the pattern down, and then progressing to a normal sized course. The focus is going to be challenging turns to diagonal singles or lines.

Last  week, the turn across the diagonal that required rider's to go down the quarter line to make the turn caused more than its share of difficulties, so I need to continue to work on helping rider's find the perpendicular turn regardless of what other obstacles are in the way. Being perpendicular, or even a little past that turn is the only way to allow the horse to get a clear view of the jump, and to allow them to find a good take off spot.

We are also going to revisit the turn down centerline, and then leg yield to the quarterline to see if last week's exercise helped riders at all.

Karen