Isn't It Amazing?

What a difference being soft and relaxed at the front can do for the whole body picture?

B had a very hard lesson last night, asking Pinto to come soft and round. Although he is 12, his schooling is probably less than a 4yos, compounded by the fact he has been allowed to slop around in whatever fashion just hacking for the 7 years previous to when I bought him.

He finds schooling very hard, though he does try his hardest, bless him.

Last night he was so much better than two weeks ago.

Both C and I noted that as soon as he relaxes his jaw and comes round, immediately he steps though with his hind legs more, and immediately he stops 'stomping' - Pinto has a reputation (well deserved) for being the noisiest horse around. You can tell when he is in the manege because he stomps every where, slamming he feet down, especially in trot.

Plus he looks sooooooo pretty (probably not what HE wants to hear).

By the end of the trotting phase, B could ask him round, and he would stay there for 3 markers, even on his 'hard' rein, where he was very resistant (chiropracter coming out at the end of next month).

Canter is a different matter altogether though :( Pinto still has one canter speed, very fast, and it was immediately apparant that he became very tense and locked his neck (he did perform 2 beautiful flying changes though as he made a shallow loop off the long side to avoid another person!)

However with time, and more practice I'm positive he will get there - we just have 7 years of no schooling to overcome.

No photos this time, I'm afraid. It's getting too dark on a night, and I cant use a flash.