I have been working on getting the riders to improve their steering and stopping and turning across the arena. They also have been trotting, I got them to do sitting trot,they worked very hard at relaxing into the saddle and sitting tall. One rider was trying so much that she forgot to keep breathing so I kept reminding her to breathe.
Last week I did an obstacle course with them. I set up a line of cones for them to weave through down one side,then they turned at A and walked to X in the middle of the arena and stopped between two cones that had trays on poles in,there were items on the tray,which they had to place an item from one tray to the other tray. Then they had to walk to C and turn the other way around the arena, walking to B then at B they had to do a half 10m circle around to X, stop and count to 5 before walking on a half 10m circle around to E which is opposite B. They did this a couple of times on the lead rein and then I got them to do the whole course off the lead rein,with someone walking beside them. They did really well and showed some very good stopping, steering and managing the reins while moving the item from one tray to the other.
One of my riders from the Wednesday ride, Zuzanna did a picture for the RDA Arts and Crafts Competition, it was entered for the regional competition which she won,it then went on to the RDA National Championships at Hartpury ,where her picture not only won the class it was also overall winner of the picture competition and she was awarded the Genevieve Raphael Trophy.
It was titled ' Nearly there'.
