Off to foreign lands

Today I was scheduled for a lesson at noon at the local dressage barn about 15 minutes away from where Hampton lives.

Turns out the instructor had to take a horse to the vet, so we mostly ended up just riding around. She did give us a little bit of homework in a short, 15-minute lesson or so. I wasn't upset - it was frankly just great to get Hampton off the farm and ride in an indoor with great footing! I miss that!

Hampton was a piece of cake to load, haul and unload. It's fantastic that the entire process I can do by myself. He was awesome at the new barn, too. Perhaps a little looky at certain things, and a little bit talkative, but very obedient, quiet but forward and lively. He was a BLASTY BLAST to ride. He clearly loved the footing as we got the best trot lengthenings we have ever done. This barn has mirrors, too, so I was loving watching us glide across the ring. We worked a tiny bit on leg yield, few steps of shoulder in ... but mostly just transitions. Walk-canter transitions were spot on. I think we both had a good time with the change in scenery.

The instructor gave us a good exercise to help with his tendency to bulge his shoulder out when working to the left. Instead of riding through .. "Oh hey, he's bulging .. crap ... ok it's over ..." , we are to walk before the turn where he bulges, move his shoulders left, then trot on. This helped a lot and after a few rounds with that, I could skip the walk transition all together and just counterflex a bit and move his shoulders over at the trot. Otherwise, she said he was lovely and going quite well. All of our issues are 100% normal for a horse of his age. She said not to worry about his canter issues as it is totally a growth and development thing.

Overall a fun and productive day. Um, except when I went to put the trailer ramp up my breeches caught on something and now there is a giant hole ripped in them. They were my best full-seat breeches, too. FAIL.