One of the things that T works on with all the horses is patterns around objects - barrels, cones, ground poles, even small jumps. It helps with balance and flexibility and with the gymkhana horses, it teaches them to pay attention to the rider rather than the pattern of the barrels or cones. She does basic schooling - walk, trot and canter - but also does some sort of pattern work. Usually they are not the same patterns over and over but something that she makes up on the spot. The gymkhanas that we participate in use patterns other than clover leaf and it's very helpful with training for her to switch it up.
Rounding a barrel - the barrel managed to stay up
Different angle
Coming out of a barrel
Leaning into the turn
Cooling down
One of the coolest things about riding Zip is how consistent his gaits are. Whatever speed you ask him for, he maintains without a bobble. It makes for a very smooth, ground eating stride. And he's extremely handy. For such a big horse (almost 15.2 hands), he can turn on a dime. We are really looking forward to see what he can do in the first gymkhana.
4 comments:
what a pro rider! she will be even better when she is older.
Very cool, my niece would love to watch her ride, she is horse crazy but only gets to ride every couple of weeks..:-)
I'm with Ed, my neice would love to watch and scream girly screams to ride...
:)
Zip looks really well muscled and powerful.
Thanks! Zip is certainly living up to his name - Moose.
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