Tarrin Warren Clinic

HCWE's final show was Saturday and Sunday this past weekend. We did a clinic with Tarrin Warren the Friday before. Overall, I thought Ashke tried really hard for me and the exercises we rode were very good. I can't wait to use them on my own during arena rides or maybe even in my lessons.

Mostly white horse standing at the trailer in the morning sun.

Circle Star Arena in the rising sun.

Impatient boy

Sweet boy. Great eye. 

We started with an exercise where we would side pass over a pole, past the ends of the ground poles until we were even with the poles set perpendicular to the side pass poles, then you were to send your horse forward between them. The exercise was to show how straight your horse was when pushing from behind. We started at the walk. Ashke likes to throw his hips to one side or the other depending on which way we move.

Then we worked on it at the trot. I have some work to do to keep him a little straighter so we get good crossing of both front and back legs, while keeping the bend for the half pass position. And moving sideways then pushing forward into the trot is great for his haunches. 

And then we did it at the canter. This is very similar to one of the exercises Amanda and I have done during our lessons without the ground poles.  He did better as he understood the exercise, which is always the case with Ashke. 

This exercise was such a challenge. I want to work with Amanda on something similar to help reinforce riding off my seat. I knew he would struggle to hold himself together riding such a small circle. Although, I really think this was one of the best exercises we did.

In this exercise, we walked into the corridor, then backed three steps, then went forward into the leg yield until we were in a straight line with the second corridor. Once we were in a straight line with the corridor, we were to trot forward through the second set of poles. This was a very difficult exercise and I think it will be one we will work on during our arena rides until Ashke gets it. Understands what the question is. 

Then we did it at the canter. I didn't feel like either of us was ever really comfortable with the earlier exercise and that became obvious as we moved to the more advanced attempt. I think I would put a little more space between the first set of poles and the second set and start the leg yield at a walk first.  

 And then at the cante. I thought he handled it really well, considering. And it will be an exercise we come back to. 

Our final exercise was trying to collect and extend the trot along a set of poles. I think it would have worked better within the trot, but that is something Amanda has had us working on for awhile. It was a good exercise to be finished on.