Terrie Comes to Visit

Today was the day that the horses were going to get their feet trimmed and also I was going to have a lesson with Terrie. Actually, it was scheduled for yesterday, but it rained, so we rescheduled. The trimming went well. It is so funny how Woody knows that his old mom is here, and he will go up to her and rub his face on her. Anyways, After both the horses were trimmed, I told Terrie I wanted to start to work with him on cantering from the ground (eventually from his back). She said before I can start cantering him, I need to make sure I have a good, relaxed, trot. So, we worked at liberty in the Circling Game (#5). Woody is getting really good at Liberty work, and it's really exciting because he pays attention to me and doesn't get as distracted as he used to get by the grass. So, we worked on trotting and at first he was trotting around really hollow and worried (head up, asking LOTS of questions, requiring constant support), but then he offered a really nice, slower, rounder trot and I didn't have to keep reminding him to circle. So, I brought him in, gave him a cookie, and let him rest a bit. Then I practiced one of his worst Liberty tasks: Back up with the Driving Game (#3). He usually anticipates me sending him on a circle and leaves without backing up. But this time I asked him for a step at a time, and he stayed with me! After I sent him again and he got a nice relaxed trot, I asked him to canter. He would do short little bursts of the canter, and he would often cross-canter, but at least he cantered. Once he cantered solidly once, I brought him in, let him rest, and then sent him the opposite direction. This is when he gave me the most engaged, rounded, beautiful canter and he was staying really close to me, circling right around me. I was so happy, so I gave him a cookie. After that we just kept switching directions, going from trotting to cantering, until at the end, he gave me another gorgeous trot, so I ended the session.
After that I got on his back just to chill out, and we just did a little point to point. We then opened the gate (from his back!), and after a little time, went out the gate calmly.
So all in all I think we had a great session and I think he really enjoyed it (especially because he got treats! Haha).
~Eden