Above: I do my Pilates stretches most days and today did them before the ride; Columbus spotted a polo next to my booklet and I had fun watching him investigating. Believe it or not he did not manage to scoop the polo off my bag, I had to actually serve it to him!
Our today's session was very successful and I must say I am impressed with his improvement. He is not the most clever of horses (ehmm) and you do have to explain things to him quite a few times and then again and then repeat ;)
I rode with some classical music in my ears today (plus 'garden State' and 'Lost' soundtracks to keep me calm and patient!) and it worked wonders. I seem to focus more when riding with music. It's almost as if the creative/feeling part of my brain gets switched off with double power.
Above: The Big Man tired after all the hard work.
The biggest problem Columbus have is stiffness in his body and most of my work is aimed at suppling him and making him more athletic. He is reasonably responsive and can get 'hot' and spooky at times which is actually good as I can use that surge of energy and channel it in the right direction.
I worked him a little longer today as he is getting marginally fitter so he was a tired chap afterwards. He needs it though as he is due some substantial weight loss!
2 comments
I love him, so big and solid, just my type of horse. Interesting that music helps you focus, I find it really distracting and end up singing along or riding out of time with the horse to ride in time with the music. It's messy.
I think it depends what sort of music I guess. Interestingly, I can't jump with music in my ears, I only seem to benefit riding with it on the flat.
Columbus is rather massive indeed :)
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