Breakthrough!!

I actually didn't plan on posting today, but I decided I just HAD to, because we had a great workout session this afternoon!

As I mentioned in my last post, I was going to try longing* Teco today. Now, I've been a little leery about longing him; he really doesn't respect me on the longe, and every time I've tried to longe him, it hasn't gone so well. As my instructor asked me once in a lesson where I was longing Teco - "Exactly who is longing WHOM?" 

So the first part of our longing session was pretty much like usual: him flying around, really not paying much attention to me at all. Then, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head: I recalled how my trainer Paul had longed him (and Teco was perfect for him, I might add) and I mimicked that.

LO AND BEHOLD, IT WORKED!!!!

Yeah, who would've thought, huh?

As soon as I held my ground, and started making HIM work around ME, he worked like an angel: quiet and forward, even promptly picking up his canters when I asked him!

Another hurdle cleared for our partnership this spring; I can't tell you how excited that makes me!! 

Well, till next time -

Christie

*In case you were wondering what "longing" is (no, not longing as in "I'm longing to go home"; it's pronounced LUNGE-ING), it is a form of work where the horse moves around the handler at the end of about a 60-foot rope. It is beneficial because it works the horse's balance and strength of his hindquarters without the hampering of a rider on his back.