bareback riding

did a great job working with Ceasar this afternoon. She is learning the steps and exercises needed for her to communicate well with him. Ceasar seemed to be relaxed with it all too. I had other plans for him which would have lit up his world, but I think this is actually better for him. I have learned with exercising in myself that it is good to have a relaxed day of training. You are able to come back much better the next day. So today, Lisa, schooled him, under my tutelage of course, he he! She took him through all the exercises and worked on refining herself a little more. Then she got on him and rode him for a good 30 minutes or so just getting the feel of his movement under her. She worked on the disengagement and backup, as well as getting him soft and following his nose. She also worked on learning footfalls so that she could cue him at the right time when it is easiest for him to move a particular foot. Eg. If she was asking him to speed up she could ask the outside hind foot to speed up just when it is starting to be picked up and stretched forward. Or if she wanted to move his hip over she could again ask the inside hind foot to move over just as it is being picked up. It is kinda like you when you want to move your foot you have to take the weight off of it then move it. The same thing with the horse. So asking at the right time is crucial to communicating with the horse. Lisa is on her way to gaining that knowledge. Getting a horse to move like this is so much fun. When she was finished, he stood there about half asleep. Now that is relaxed.
Tomorrow, I suspect will be a different story.