Lyric's work today consisted of lots of in-hand conditioning and strenthening work. I put the surcingle on him, sidereins, and we attacked the cavelettis in style. He was handier lunging over them than last time, clearing the poles with his hindquarters pretty easily. He trotted and cantered them, and was better at his canter striding this time. He was shortening and lengthening his canter stride as necessary vs having to take off and JUMP the raised poles. I worked him in both directions, with a few walk breaks. I raised 2 of the poles to 1 foot high and took him around again. He tired quickly with that challenge and even with encouragement just didn't have the strength/endurance to really pick the hinds up to get over 1 foot poles. I put them back down to get his confidence back and let him have a couple more walk breaks.
Even though he was tired, I went ahead and asked for just a LITTLE more to see what he could do over the jumps. One technique I like to use is in-hand jumping with sidereins. It's a little unorthodox, but for horses like Lyric who need to really learn to "sit" on their hind and push off, plus need the added side-to-side support for balance, it's a great tool. The sidereins are somewhat loose so that the horse can reasonably stretch over a jump in a bascule and not get punished in the mouth, but at the same time maintain enough contact so they have to come up under an obstacle, half-halt and PUSH from the hind. I don't do this for long, but it gives amazing targeted conditioning work. He jumped the barrels, railroad ties, Cat Hazard jump, the evergreen gate, and couple other obstacles. He was willing to try being lunged over these jumps and was bold when set up properly for a nice centered take-off.
Lyric was one seriously tuckered boy when I was done with him, but did great conditioning work that will carry with him into the next lesson.
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