Into the swing of things

I'm pretty much working on what I learned last week, while Peggy is away. Karen is around for a couple of hours each day, so I can ask her if I need any help.

My daily tasks look something like this:

Get to barn
Give rems
Turn horses out into long grass
Groom and work Sully and Fonteyn
Groom, work and ride Chico
Give rems
Muck out
Move horses to short grass
Write summary in diary
Check feeds are mixed
Go home

All in all, 4.5-5 hours, if I don't dawdle!

My focus during groundwork and riding is a clear out, to a clear in, to a clear forwards (aka, push from HQs). I also want to sharpen up my application of the leg yielding exercise (either down the wall or in the open), which turns into EITHER a rein back then walk/trot, OR a trot.

The backing gets them to "sit" which develops impulsion.
The upwards transition is possible when they have let their inside shoulder go and activated both hind legs in turn.
Both are like butter, if *I* get it right!

Today:
Sully got some "manners, please!" groundwork on the way down to the field. He was being particularly insistent that he goes straight out into the field thankyouverymuch, so he had to deal with me until he softened!!
Fonteyn was really quite lovely, aside from some head tossing. I am  better at remembering to talk to her and use voice commands. She got some groundwork including yielding both directions, then some time out on the lunge, then some more groundwork to finish.
Chico was super soft to work and ride today, so he was done in an hour. Under saddle, I played with leg yielding on a circle (spiralling in and out) as well as down the wall, and changes of rein while maintaining his head in a good place and bringing his hind legs along for good measure ;)

Tomorrow, Lana is going to ride with Jenny, so I will need to fit my work with Chico in around her. I may end up at the barn early (possibly walking, as the bike is in the tack shed - oops!). I prefer early starts so I can finish all my chores done before it gets excessively hot. If I walk, I'll be there at least an hour before Lana (plus, she will groom and tack Chico) so should be able to work both the other horses, do feeds and some mucking out before finishing up with an easy half hour of work with Chico.