A day well spent.......

We finally got above freezing yesterday and the sun was out, NO WIND, clear blue skies. I finally got to do what I had wanted for the entire week, RIDE AND WORK WITH THE HORSES! I decided that since I had accomplished so much with Betty already and had spent so much time with her, that I would focus some more on "Big Ben" . I focused more on slowing him down at a transition and taking the time to make him realize that I was not going to get on his back and race off into the sunset. That I was there to accomplish so many goals with him as well as love on him and be thankful that he is in my life. I rode him with a saddle instead because my usual routine with him is strictly bareback, but since I had not ridden him in a while and he was quite full of himself for the first couple of weeks that he had been off, I did not want to take a chance with him! Not that he would do anything because I have to put my trust in him, but just because he sometimes likes to take of and run through the field to fell the wind in his hair. I practiced slowing him down and making him do some collected movements. First, I focused on a nice slow walk, some stretching exercises and some nice clover-leaf and figure eight patterns. I also practiced with him on a transition to the trot but instead of a choppy and fast trot I did some stuff with him on a nice collected trot slow. I finally got him to go far and beyond and accomplish the jogging trot. I stretched him out really well warmed him up really nicely, did some pole work. When he was finally warmed up enough I did a couple canter laps around the arena and he was simply amazing! I was so happy that he finally was able to slow down. He is always the kind of horse that likes to start off really fast. A little background information on why he likes to start off really fast. His previous owner used him as a roping horse, so that should tell you a little something. Meaning they hold them in a chute with the cow next to them, they sound the bell/timer and they take off from the shoot at an astounding pace the rider gets off the horse and ropes the cow as fast as he can! I always like to take it nice and slow with him because of his pace to go really fast. I figure that I can take things nice and slow with him because we have our entire life together that I can accomplish certain things with him! :) :) Read back as I'm positing all the time! :)