DAY 22 - GROUNDWORK REVIEW

DAY 22 GROUNDWORK REVIEW: Today was a groundwork review day. The footing at home is still pretty bad so riding was out of the question. Reviewing the exercises we have learned over the last three weeks seemed like a good idea, especially with the really wet/cold/snowy weather we have coming in. Improvement in performance was the goal. We began in the round pen. Still having a little issue with getting two eyes when she is going to the right but her direction changes both ways have progressed with energy and a nice use of her hind end. Thinking this issue is of our own creation. Will continue to do on this in the round pen and evaluate our body language via video. On the lead line the same energy is there and we get two eyes going to the right easier. Her lateral flex is nice both with the line and with the bridle. Yielding the HQ Stage 1 and 2 are solid. Now it is time to increase the energy in those steps to build more muscle and confidence. Yielding the FQ is good and we’ll continue to refine this so it is really smooth and will translate easily to under saddle work. Backing is getting much smoother and with more control in all four methods. We have begun backing through smaller spaces and in a serpentine pattern as well. Sending is nice most of the time. She gets a little lazy with the hind end so we’ll be more black and white in the days ahead. Circle Driving is okay and we just need to do it more. We have worked on exercises like Turn and Go and some of the more subtle groundwork exercises. She is learning them very quickly and is understanding what is expected of her without over doing it or over reacting. We quit after playing on some of the trail obstacles and playing with the concept of side passing along the fence. Lots of rubs and scratches today. As soon as we quit and got her blanket on the rain began to fall. Sigh. Timing is everything.

            From this point forward we know the progress will be incremental in nature. We may work on the same things for several days before going on to something new. We also will be working on overall conditioning so she gains muscle and fitness. Since this is the nature of the program we will make weekly entries into this journal on Nike’s progress. Stay tuned for those updates!