Helmet Cam

So, for the holidays I got a super pack of GoPro accessories. There were a bunch of helmet mounts, a selfie stick, a floating stick, a gorilla stand with the flexible prongs, a chest mount, a head mount, a mount for the car dashboard, a clip mount, and a bunch of other connectors I have no idea what you are supposed to do with. During my lesson on Monday, I outfitted Amanda with the head mount which set nicely over her winter hat. This set up worked very well. I got lots of good, useable video of our last lesson. I edited out the parts where we were standing around admiring Ashke or chatting. Her commentary is great, so turn up the volume.

We usually start with Serpentines at the walk and trot, working off our seat.

Then some shoulder in to loosen up his hind end.

Leg yield at the walk. 

This is the moment from the Novice B test that we are practicing.

Leg yield at the trot.

Beginning our canter work

More canter work and some issues with the right lead canter.

He did not want to right lead canter. 
Sorry about the length of the video.

Square corners at the trot.

Square corners at the canter

At the end of the video, Ashke trips. It was significant enough that I thought we were going down, but in watching the video, it wasn't as close as it felt like. Amanda thought he had stepped on his right front bell boot with his right hind. But in slowing down the video, his right hind leg didn't stick in the ground and flew out behind him. It wasn't a kick out, but rather a "miss" with that right hind. I think that the earlier resistance to cantering on the right lead might also have caused this issue. The real question is why. And that I still do not have an answer for . . . . He didn't feel stiff and his walk and trot work was good, so I'm not sure why that right hind was so sticky.

Slowed down the video so you can see.

We finished up the lesson with a figure eight canter. The Novice B test has a simple change at X so this is good practice for us.

I've been wondering if equine kinesiology taping would help with our right hind hamstring weakness issue. I've seen human and equine athletes taped up and wondered if it could help with his issues. He is fit and his top line is solid, and watching him move doesn't pin point any real glaring issues, but that right hamstring is still weak. Thoughts?