First day with Peggy

Peggy got back from Montana late last night and today was the first chance she had to work with me.

I walked to the barn (approx 45 mins) then hung out with Karen (who was grooming Bracken) while waiting for Peggy to arrive. They called to say they were stuck in traffic so I went to get Fonteyn; we got back to the tie-up area at the same time.

Peggy showed me some particular things she likes done while grooming as I got Fon ready. During groundwork we focused on really, really getting her head and neck released (both standing and one-foot-at-a-time). She really drops her shoulder in and barges through you when you put her out on 1 line: to counteract that, I need to get her to move off from her hindquarters rather than lead with her head with hindquarters trailing.
Fon is quite in tune with the CR work so it's very easy to play with her. I need to work on fast/slow trot with good rythym, getting her to bend and lift, and release of her neck during trot and walk/trot transitions. Fon was a very willing teacher of shoulder lifts.

Quick bite to eat and on to Sully! He's got nice movement and is coming along well. With him, out/in/on needs to be happening the whole time. He needs lots of work on his rythym, especially in trot, and learning the voice command "slow" to help him with that. He tends to bug out and get mincey in his movement. To help him, on the 'in', lift the line & eke it out as I am stepping backwards, then comb for the 'on'. Also, quick (one step) out/in/out/in. He needs tons and tons of stationery work on his right side and both of his shoulders.

Tomorrow, early start as the farrier is due at 9am and Sully's feet need to be photographed before the farrier arrives.

Reminders for me: sunblock! Back my hips up to find neutral (as opposed to doing anything with my shoulders); eke on the line while stepping backwards; use rotation as I step around (forward and backwards) when 'lunging' (helps me stay in the middle of the circle, giving the horse something 'solid' at the centre, and helps them regulate their circle as it's not constantly changing); oscillation when the horse is stuck; when they are stuck or jammed, go back to out/in, and/or oscillation (from rotation) of my body.