Thursday 2/7 - Lesson with Kari - Magnum was a terror, nothing worse than he was for the start of the week but not willing to go round; he wanted to piaffe if forced to stand or walk round and was then asked to go forward. Overall frame was too low, he was able to pull me forward but I couldn't get him into anything higher. Lost patience with him towards the end and rode in side reins, he was still resistant and did not want to go forward. Morning ride.
Friday 2/8 Bruce rode him - back to round Magnum, sound and forward. Bruce said he felt tight in his back, possibly from bracing against the gadgets he's been living in for the past few months. Possibly time to have a chiropractor look at him. Morning ride
Saturday 2/9 Magnum was great in a very busy weekend arena - round and rideable although still heavy, after the past few weeks it was lovely to be able to ride him at all. Midmorning ride.
Sunday 2/10 Lesson with Bruce - Bruce warmed him up and finished on him. I need to stop pulling and holding, my hands have gotten very static. I was more successful to the left than to the right, eventually getting him very soft and round at the trot and had trouble getting an upward transition from such a light trot. Morning ride.
Monday 2/11 Magnum did not want to participate in a good ride. However, we were down at the scary end of the arena with jumps. We cantered round on a 10m and called it a day. Afternoon ride.
Tuesday 2/12 No ride - stretched in the AM
Wednesday 2/13 Magnum was magical tonight, busy arena and riding next to rails. He was extremely light in the bridle, both reins were slack and almost in an LDR position at times. Very conscious of keeping my leg loose - I felt like I was Mugwump with air between my leg and my horse. I also dropped my stirrups almost back to where they were before FL shortened them 7 holes, it's going to take a few more rides before I get them all the way back down. I think I ride with a lighter leg in Bruce's saddle so when I do use my leg it's more effective; my saddle doesn't help as much since it's not built out. I also only took a hold of my left rein a few times and made sure to give my right rein forward until it draped in an effort to keep it playful and not snatch at his mouth or get into a steady hold. We did halfpass trot and canter and a few changes across the diagonal. Also did a few walk to canter's, which felt lazy but I was hesitant to push as him since he was so nice to me, his canter/walks were perfect - I think I found the open up feeling to sink into my downwards. Evening ride. 30 degrees.
