Rider: This horse is like a roller coaster.
Trainer: He sure is.
For our last two lessons, Eli has been pretty calm and relaxed. While I think he was still pretty much relaxed — for him — this past lesson, he was not really calm. Which means he was a bit forward. Which means I was a bit handsy. Which means I had trouble steering, because Eli does not steer with reins, he steers with seat and leg. I’m putting this all very generously. I mentioned to my trainer during the lesson that I was having trouble steering, so her response was that then we will work on turns.
But first, please see forward Eli and handsy rider:
lines022016 from rennikka on Vimeo.
That four-stride was really tight, huh? Not bad really, because we won’t be moseying into the hunter ring anytime soon, which has always been the case. Some days we have no half-halt, and the leads are a crapshoot. Like this day.
So then I’ll just show you my slightly smarter riding working in a few turns …
rightturn022016 from rennikka on Vimeo.
“rollback” from rennikka on Vimeo.
A bit gappy at the oxer in the second video, with a late release, but it looks like I half-way caught up at the end.
Last, Eli has not gotten over this faux brick wall thing we’ve jumped a few times. It feels like all four hooves come off the ground at once. And he’s like “RAWR” on the other side.
he hates this wall from rennikka on Vimeo.
Ever thankful for sticky knee patches!
I feel like you should always have people stationed in the corners to take pictures, because I bet he’s making some phenomenally derpy faces in all of his celebrations.
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I do spend some time going frame by frame through the video to see the weirdest of his faces, kind of like Large Marge in PeeWee’s Big Adventure but equine.
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You guys look like you’re having so much fun!
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He is such a blast 🙂
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Eli likes what he likes! And he’s not afraid to let you know, haha ❤
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No he is not shy about wanting to canter big 4EVAR lol
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I agree- he likes what he likes! Fun to watch!
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I think he would like to leave out strides haha
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I feel your pain!
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Looks like you guys are having such a good time! Horses, man, always keeping us on our toes 🙂
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Yep, I definitely can’t zone out on this one
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Even when he’s naughty, I love watching him. What a cool horse!
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Aw, thanks! He really wasn’t being too naughty, just slightly 🙂
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ha it’s so funny watching him go bc esp the first couple strides of the first video i was thinking ‘huh he doesn’t seem *that* forward’ until i realized, ‘oh but damn he is covering some ground tho’ lol. you two look great!
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Yeah, he’s not really moving his legs any faster but he gets soooooo strung out. It’s tricky!
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“DunnLIKE the wall!”
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Noooooo solid fences baaaaadd
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I especially love that he’s like “opinion opinion opinion — OOH JUMPING I LOVE JUMPS — opinion opinion”.
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Pretty much exactly lol
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Well he looks like he is thoroughly enjoying himself!
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Lol yes, he plays a lot sometimes 🙂
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That sass is so great.
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If Eli had thumbs he’d mail you some 🙂
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