Teddy was stepping away from the mounting block again on Saturday so I left him saddled, took off his bridle, haltered him up and did a good lungeing session with him. This was our first real lungeing session as the only other time I have done that kind of work with his was during the Parelli partnership program and that's not really lungeing at all, more sending and yielding work.
This time he was warmed up and went through all three paces on the lunge twice, then I took him for a ride for a good 45 minutes. It was probably the best ride I have had with him as we completed some circle work, I worked on my balance at Teddy's quicker pace and we worked on diagonals.
At first I tested him with leg aids on the ground by rubbing the stirrup irons over his stomach back and forth to see if he was actually as responsive to leg aids as the trainer claimed or he was being unaccepting and forward. I don't know why but I just needed to be sure. It works out he is perfectly fine and is just particular good at leg aids. The rubbing with the stirrup irons caused no movement whatsoever so it was a good indication that when I ask him to move on, trot, canter etc he is responding directly to the message and not being forward.
He may not be as forward as I think he is, it may well be me being a chicken. But I'm telling you horse riding is an extreme sport so I need to be cautious! Taking corners at the trot has never been my strong point with Teddy because he is quick but I think I have now got that covered too so my confidence is growing. I was still a little forward in my seat position, particularly when going from a seated trot to a rising trot but the improvement was noticeable. I've probably at level 4 with all I have learned so far.
Interestingly, even after the lungeing and the riding Teddy tossed his head more than he has done in ages. I was using a full cheek snaffle as I was getting paranoid about the Pee Wee bit, but I might have to see how we go and maybe go back to the Pee Wee. I may also call the Australian Bit Bank for some advise.
I've decided that the lungeing did him some good so I will continue to do it before a ride and I will also start to make some video tapes of our rides - for one it will show any potential buyers that he's actually a pretty good horse and it will also help me with my riding skills.
I've had a few enquiries from people wanting to buy Teddy and I have been open and honest with them all. One will come and see him this week, another thought he would be too forward after I described my experiences, and the third I thought the 16 year old girl was too green to take Teddy on as she had never actually owned or cared for a horse before, just ridden for many years. This is ok, I really want the best for all involved. The woman who thought he would be too forward was really happy with my honesty commenting that it's a rare thing with horse sales. All I know is I am not going to do to someone else what was done to me. Besides, as you will see from future videos of Teddy, he has come a long way and is a bloody good punk horse!
I'm more concerned about how my bum is going to look in these videos!
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