Wizard Ride 156: A Little Green Slab of Clay

Friday, 7/9/10

We have not gotten rain yet, so I rode Wizard in the indoor arena again. A beginner was getting a riding lesson, so it became a good opportunity to work on riding with other horses, passing, etc. We also served as a good exercise for the rider as well- she learned the beginnings of navigating an arena with other horses in it.

We had a nice long walking warmup, followed by an equally nice trotting warmup. Wizard was content to stretch really long and low. There were poles set up in a serpentine pattern so we trotted over them and worked on changes of direction and bend.

We practiced some circles and figure 8s, focusing on the bend and riding all the way out to the wall. I asked for one turn on the forehand in each direction at the walk. The turn to the right went well, but the turn to the left was lacking impulsion so he ended up looking like a pretzel with his nose touching my foot. I need to work doubly hard on enforcing my leg aids during the exercise in the future.

I created a pattern in my mind and we rode it a few times, including a leg yield in each direction, 20 meter circles, a forward trot, and a walk transition. It was really fun to put the pattern together and feel him respond to each command. The leg yields were good, but he got tense and ended up above the bit and trotting his little sewing-machine trot. I had not felt that trot in quite some time and it reminded me just how far he has come. He rode in an entirely different shape just a few months ago and now his outline is round and relaxed most of the time.

We did just a little canter work and then finished up with circles to the left and right on a loose rein to relax and stretch his topline. I like to end rides like this. I cooled him off, hosed him down, and put Gumby Horse to bed.

He was once a little green slab of clay. Gumby!
You should see what Gumby can do today. Gumby!
He can walk into any book, with his pony pal Pokey, too.
If you’ve got a heart then Gumby’s a part of you.