Marquis de Matcho -working piaffe
The weather was spectacular-finally a break in the cold snap! Donna learned to long line Charlie and Gift and then rode each after the long line work. This work is so important to supple all the muscles in the horses top line and bending through the neck and poll.
Martha learned piaffe and passage on Dancer, after riding her own Icaro XXIV who is just 5 and has not learned this yet.
Jill rode her own Susquehanna and we worked on the tempos for the new musical freestyle and the music that was selected for the 11 yr old Hannoverian mare.
Alexia rode Karona who is working all third level work (half-passes and counter canter and wald-canter transitions) and she is still confirming that the mare is in front of the leg in all movements. Alexia warmed up Dancer for Martha and was a great help in getting all the horses ready for work.
Jill also rode Marquis de Matcho (pictured above) and we worked on transitioning from collected trot to Piaffe and out. It was fun to watch the trot change after this work and get livelier and more animated. I also explained how this work puts the horse in the stress zone for moments and it is important when to know to go back to the comfort zone to calm the nerves of the horse who now has his adrenaline up.
Everyone worked very hard and I think all were exhausted but entertained.
Thanks to Jillian and Terry for the wonderful photos!
My sister was having some trouble with her horse 'Florian's' desire to go forward in the 'big giant sandbox' at her facility in Wellington so Kismo and I joined her for some Pas de Deux fun. At first Florian was a little wary of this horse keeping pace with him but it is evident in this photo that he joined right in the dance!
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