Keeping It Callisto

I started Pretty; Keeping It Callisto, under saddle on November 30 and rode her 7 days before it got nasty cold and snowy here. I was able to get back on her for four days in a row in mid-January and was pleasantly surprised by the fact that she simply picked up where we left off. I think that it is very important to put that groundwork foundation on colts (well, any horse, for that matter) Boy! Does it ever pay big dividends when you start them under saddle. She has never bucked under saddle; neither while doing the ground work or being ridden.

The weather lightened up again on February 5 so I started riding all of the horses again, Pretty, being one. For a couple of days, we just rode out and through the cattle to simply get the feel of me on her back again, and then on Thursday and Friday went into the arena. Monday, the 11th, some folks came to see Pretty. Rode her in the arena, ride #16. She did fairly well, especially since it was a Monday! (I work weekend nights 96 miles away from home) I didn't realize till just now, when I was counting up days in my day book, exactly how many rides this young horse has on her. She is doing EXTREMELY well! Tuesday she rode even better and you could tell that she was thinking and picking up on her cues more easily and far lighter on the bit. This morning I am starting this blog and will begin with yesterday's training.

Rode Pretty yesterday afternoon. It was the first real nice day for a long time, only a light breeze and around 59 degrees. Took Pretty into the arena and started her off with yeilding her hindquarters to lateral flexion. She moved off of very light pressure from my boot and felt very soft on the bit. We then worked on follow-the-fence, both directions, at the walk, trot and canter. She did very well at the walk and trot but wanted to speed up at the canter when going to the right. After a couple of one-rein stops, though, she moved out at a nice slow canter and did quite well. We also worked on small circles into a bending exercise. Pretty has always been very good at lateral flexion, her body is very soft, and picked these exercises up with no difficulty after only her first couple of rides. Finally, in the arena, we worked on backing by yielding the hindquarter and then into a back up. She was very light and was giving me from 5-12 very light steps back (on Tuesday she was giving me 5 steps). I flexed her laterally for a while and then went for about a 40 minute ride out through the pasture. "Long rides, wet saddle blankets and concentrated training"! Gotta love it.