Hands Forward

The last few weeks have been some good steps forward for Axel and I.

As we reach near to the end of our second month together, I feel like the relationship continues to build. The best times have been when we have headed out of the arena and started to have some experiences under our belt.

His ulcers seem to be improving all the time, and although I don't think he is totally clear yet, the boy is definitely telling me he is feeling more comfortable. He has now started living out 24/7 and is happy about this turn of events. I had always planned to stall him at night but he just didn't really want to come in! He is way, way happier just staying with his turnout buddies and not having to come inside at all! Axel is one of those confident types and totally runs the geldings turnout pen with a quiet but firm insistence on being the boss!

We had a brilliant time last week, when my long time riding buddy Angela, came and picked us both up to head off to Cherry Creek state park. We went armed with two Friesian crossbreeds and a trail map app, we were pretty excited to go! They both load and travel well and were relatively chill when we arrived. I can honestly say we had a blast, we rode over a lot of bridges, one was particularly long and spooky, they make funny noises as the horses walk over them so could possibly have been trouble, but Axel held it together even when he got a little nervous at times. We also rode through some high whippy type brush and a marshy water crossing. He followed, led and just behaved like an absolute diamond of a horse. I was so proud of him! Angelas horse Spot was also amazingly brilliant! He is a Frapaloosa (Friesian x Appaloosa) and is just as safe and opinionated as Axel is!

Lessons are going well too. I feel like our trot work is improving all the time but I still need to work on my seat a lot more in sitting trot and canter. I override it and end up tensing my lower back and getting tight through my seat. I have got to remind myself to relax my thigh and lower back and keep my upper body back a little more. He also falls behind the contact very easily so we have been working hard on bringing his nose up and forward and getting him to actually take the contact forwards, we have started to get moments of his whole body moving and him actually starting to push into the bridle more which feels wonderful! I do have to make sure my hands are forwards and gentle as as soon as I take a tweak or pull he tends to back off! Today we rode in the outdoor arena for the first time with perfect behaviour from Axel (of course). After this we went for his first solo hack around the farm and we even had a little canter up the hayfield, he enjoyed himself and didn't get excited or strong at all, in fact he was more bothered about stopping for his grass snack reward afterwards haha! He's an absolute diamond.

Ready for a trail ride at the farm. Goose, Axel and Jack

Axel and Spot tied and waiting to head out!

Friesian Boys hit the trails!




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