Looking for ideas for walk work with Amigo please :)

[Naiad]

I can only do ridden walk work with Amigo for a few weeks while we ensure the splint stabilizes, and the vet says no tight circles etc. Mainly we want to avoid concussion during trotting, so no trot etc. In addition to basic walk stuff, the vet said some walk lateral work is ok (well, we only do leg yield so far anyhow), and Amigo is allowed to collect up at walk (not that I really can do that yet...).

So I have a few ideas for walk exercises.
- Basic patterns - bit of leg yield and large circles added in now and again
- Longitudinal suppling - long, low contact to more normal contact, changing at every letter
- Wee bit of leg yield
- Alternating between medium walk and free walk etc. at different letters
- I could choreograph a walk routine with RI (she used to do choreography for demonstrations etc.).

I find that while Amigo has a gorgeous walk, it can at times be a bit tad "ploddy". Any riding tips/aids or specific exercies anyone can recommend to get a tad more "energy" at walk??

What else can anyone think of that might keep the walk work interesting, and provide us with a few new challenges??

[Larri DB]

Is Amigo allowed to walk over poles? You can have fantasic fun with them and I have LOADS of pole exercises!

[Naiad]

Is Amigo allowed to walk over poles? You can have fantasic fun with them and I have LOADS of pole exercises!

I was wondering that same thing - if pole work would be okay? Maybe I should put in a message to the vet to ask? I cannot see it being an issue, unless something about the lifting action could irritate the splint but I should ask. Then again, I could make railroad tracks with poles for us to walk between etc as that would involve no lifting...

[Larri DB]

If you can't go over you can make mazes, L shapes, weave lanes, all will keep him supple and thinking about where he's moving his feet. I also like to teach a full / side pass along poles too, but that might be too much for him just yet.

In the walk work you have below - all of which sounds great btw  don't forget halt  / walk / halt transitions and if you are allowed rein back and  1/4 / 1/2 pirouettes too

This is all something Bally will be doing an awful lot of if and when she's allowed back to work, so keep us posted on your progress 

[Naiad]

If you can't go over you can make mazes, L shapes, weave lanes, all will keep him supple and thinking about where he's moving his feet. I also like to teach a full / side pass along poles too, but that might be too much for him just yet.

In the walk work you have below - all of which sounds great btw  don't forget halt  / walk / halt transitions and if you are allowed rein back and  1/4 / 1/2 pirouettes too

This is all something Bally will be doing an awful lot of if and when she's allowed back to work, so keep us posted on your progress 

I will, I can't wait to go and ride Amigo today! Honestly, there is so much fun stuff to do at walk, I could happily do walk work for ages and ages. And I find it so relaxing and low key overall.

Let's hope it's a *when* and not *if* for Bally. You would have to do a blog of her comeback to work, as everyone would be so happy for you both.