Slow down Annie!

Posted by Ali on December 13, 2011

I’m working with Annie on the straightness training. Our current exercises include the LFS (lateral bending, forward down, and stepping under) at a walk on a circle, short bursts of LFS on a line, and the shoulder-in.

One of the problems I have been having with Annie was her walking to fast. All of this work is done at the walk, in hand, so me on the ground with her. It’s amazing to realize how much attention horses pay to their handlers. Well, while Annie was walking too fast, thus us not doing our LFS on the circle very well, I had my trusty boyfriend watch me and ask him if he saw anything that would set this off, and what I might be doing to encourage this speed.

Interestingly enough, he noticed that Annie tries to match my steps. If my steps become quicker, so do hers and she seems to strive to have her steps match mine. He also noticed that my when she sped up, my shoulders were facing Annie’s body more than where we were going. So there I am with Annie, in the area, thinking about what feels like a million things (my posture, speed of walk, length of steps, where are my shoulders facing, keeping a good inner picture, etc.) and it worked! I was very excited and thankful I have someone to watch and tell me what I’m doing wrong!

Just goes to show how in tune Annie is to me. Doing this in hand work is like learning to ride all over again. When I ride, I don’t have to think about what I’m doing or feeling, I just do. I hope this ground work will continue to improve so it becomes second nature as well