Final Ride + Sindri Update

 Happy Thanksgiving!!

Well... today I had my final ride with Brooks, he has come so far from where he was in his training last year when I started, and I definitely learned a lot from him and had a lot of fun with him. I'm really sad to let him go, but I'm also excited to work with Sindri. It's a bit hard for me to think about right now - never being able to ride Brooks again, so I'm going to keep this part short.

very good pony <3

Sindri got his shoe back on yesterday, so I was able to ride him today! He has had a bit of time off, but when I got on, I could tell he had his thinking brain on. we warmed up, walked, trot, and did a couple of trot-to-walk and walk-to-trot transitions because he's learned that after we trot both ways, we walk for a minute, and then we canter, so I just worked on resetting his brain that we don't have to canter after we trot.

He's SO cute!!

Trotting!

We cantered left lead first, and he was really good. we picked up the canter on a circle and then settled onto the rail, and he was perfect! I was actually able to sit his canter really well and I'm super happy about how stable my leg was - I guess all my exercises are paying off!

left lead

Cantering right lead was a bit more of a struggle - it's his harder lead anyway, but I'm guessing having a couple of weeks off didn't help. It took quite a few tries to be able to get his lead, but we got it eventually, and we actually got a pretty nice canter! I'm hoping that when I start riding him consistently, and he's in work more consistently, it will help with his lead.

right lead

After we cantered both ways and had a bit of a walk break, I trotted over one of the poles set up in the ring he got a bit strong coming in to it but after trotting it couple more times he came in a lot softer coming out of the pole he would be strong so I incorporated a halt straight after the pole and that seemed to get his brain to focus a bit more after the pole

After we had trotted the pole really nicely, I thought I would try cantering the pole, and he was very good, and he really enjoyed it!

he says, " Look it's a jump!"

ack- a long spot

After we rode, he got his after-ride alfalfa pellets and an apple for being such a good boy! he also got his blanket back on and went out to the pasture, and decided to roll. I'm super excited for our lesson on Monday and for our lease to officially start!

pretty boyyy