Andy and I were taking lessons twice a week (sometimes three times) and the improvement was incredible! He was able to go somewhat straight and was starting to get the idea of balancing himself, slowing down and flexing to the inside through the corners. It was amazing to ride him and remember what he had been like only 3 months before! We started jumping (single fences, one strides and little mini courses) and he was jumping like a dream. The first few lessons over fences he was climbing over them - not really jumping. We switched saddles to something that stayed out of the way of his shoulder and all of a sudden he could JUMP!
We also worked on trotting poles and cantering poles. He really seemed to enjoy those. I think he enjoys little challenges and likes working on something new. Every time we would try something new, he would be all enthusiastic about it.
My last lesson we did a little 4 fence course. I trotted all of the fences (let him canter away, bring him back to a trot and then jump the next one) and he was a superstar! We jumped the
flowerbox and he was looking at it the whole way in. He wanted to leave to the left but I kept that leg on and pushed him forward. When we got to the fence, he just jumped it. He looks at the new jumps as he jumps over though and he jumps them really big.Unfortunately the coach I was riding with has moved...south and west. Reeeally west! So I'm in the market for a new coach. Not taking regular lessons leaves me with little motivation to continue working on things. I did ride last night after a two week hiatus (thanks to a failing car) and he was a very good boy! Other than being tight and having a hard time bending, you would never know he was off for two weeks. In all honesty, he seemed happy to have someone pay attention to him again. :)
