Hot Finishes His Week with an Impressive Trail Mate

At 7:45am on Saturday, the final day of our Gifted Fund training week, I was on Hot, confident in the quality of our warm-up and ready for our last lesson. The warm up is now characterized by:

• Free walk through the topline and out of the withers, stretching and overtracking, respectful of the aids.
• The trot is not rushed, not chasing him around trying to get more energy that dissipates, but methodically pushing into the bridle for firm, even, elastic contact. I'm thinking about disciplined figures, checking suppleness to both sides.
• The canter transition is through the bridle from the first stride, markedly in front of the leg and IMMEDIATELY through the neck. Two tracks on the right lead (straight) will feel like haunches in. Two tracks on the left lead will feel almost like counter bend. 

His fifth straight day of work, our goal today was to touch on all the concepts we've established:

• Activation of the hind end through trot/walk/trot transition.
• High expectation of response to the lightest aid. Leg off.
• Immediate soften and reward for the half halt and increased engagement
• Establishing marked jump in the canter. Ability to add energy without lengthening frame.
• Light aid asking for the change when the canter feels correct (got an easy, lovely change right to left on the first try, and on the second attempt left to right.
• Finish the movement, then stop to reward and praise.

My homework is to firmly establish that canter. Patti says that I should feel free to ask for a change if I know I've got the canter, but promised that even if I don't work the changes but work with focus on the canter quality (straight to both sides, jumping through and engaged, forward off the leg), that will be excellent progress. He will not forget the change and will be better prepared for it.

As our lesson concluded, Freedom was brought in for Patti, who joined me for a hack on the inviting grass lanes around the Fireside Farm paddocks. It was a gorgeous spring morning, and the horses marched on happy and relaxed with the sun blazing off their coats. I looked over at Freedom's beautifully developed musculature and thought of Podhasky's quote that the increasing beauty of the horse is the truest indication of correct progression in the training. In that moment, I felt that I not only achieved my training goals this week, but that I was about to leave Fireside deeply inspired by our sport, and by what systematic methods, dedication and consistency can achieve.

A tiny part of the large trophy hall at Fireside Farm honoring the achievements of horses, past and present.

Hot and Jean (left) and Patti and Freedom (right) head out for a final hack at Fireside.

What a great way to cap off  the week.