Falling

 Random canter picture

We almost had a rotational fall during my lesson last night. We were doing a shoulder in on a circle at the canter to help him straighten out his body (he's throwing his haunches in) and improve his bend. Plus, it helps strengthen the hind end, which is our PT right now. We had spiraled out to the rail and I asked for a downward transition. IDK if Ashke stubbed his toe (what the tracks looked like and what it felt like) but Amanda said both his front leg and back leg looked like they both slipped in the footing.

It's the closest we've come to falling since I started riding again.

I caught him on the bit and helped hold him up. Amanda said I did a good job and rode it correctly; kept my body back and tried to help him rebalance. He did every thing he could do to keep us upright and just managed not to go to his knees. Amanda was a little unsettled afterwards. I could hear it in her voice. I was a bit shook, but felt like Ashke had done his best to take care of us. I have no doubt that he would hurt himself trying to save us.

We did walk-trot-canter afterwards to make sure he was still sound (hadn't wrenched anything) and because if we hadn't I would have had a huge mental block about cantering again. Then we worked on half-pass at the walk and trot before calling it a night.

We worked on stretching his right hind hamstring (to help the hip) and he was much more stretchy last night. He even allowed me to move the leg under his belly without trying to snatch it back. Hopefully, it will continue to relax and become more flexible.