Sharin' in the Weekapaug Groove ...

NOTE: To view these videos, click on them and go to youtube as for some reason my blog format cuts them off so you can't see everything that is supposed to be in the screen. **

Here's a video shot today toward the middle of our lesson. I am really starting to enjoy editing videos - although I am a rank novice at it. It may be something in the future I pursue in a career because it's really fun to splice up sections of video, add music, etc. etc. My instructor was trying to video and teach at the same time ... so I cut out the sections where the camera was super wobbly or focused on the ground. I did manage to keep the tiny segment where Hampton spooked. It was super minor, but I think it's so funny when he has baby moments. I make a correction if needed but most of the time I laugh it off and keep going. You'll see he's trotting along and then "Whoa! A standard is there ..." (then something rustles off in the trees) ... "SHIT! ... oh."  He rarely even spooks that much, mostly gives things the hairy eyeball. But anyway, today's lesson was just about as good as you get with a 3 year old. He did everything I asked without any fuss. He remained happy with soft ears and a chewing mouth. He was quick off my leg and respectful of the restraining aids. Yes, you will see he ducks behind the vertical at times. This is primarily because 1) I don't put my leg on at all when I halt yet, as I feel he is still green enough that reins have to mean whoa and legs only mean go. And 2) he will get BTV when he starts to get behind my leg. I'm not too worried about it. It's normal and will get better in time. I watch the video and of course I pick out 1000 things that could be better. But ya know, he's only 3 years old. Yes he was started lightly in the fall, but I've only really been riding him on a schedule since .. I dunno, mid-March?
Unfortunately, we didn't get any canter on video but the transitions were sharp, reliable and smooth (no bucking or otherwise naughty behavior). Leg yielding is still coming along, but I would not say it is confirmed yet. I'll post a video from Feb. 14, 2010, too. This I think was the first ride back on him since giving him the winter off. It's so funny to look back on that. We were still on the lunge line for crying out loud. HA! If you would have told me on that day that in 2 months we'd be walk, trot, canter and leg yielding I would have laughed in your face.