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I noticed recently that I was only using my hands with Leo in vertical flexion, so I’ve been working on using my legs as well and it was pretty frustrating for a while. Here’s the trouble I’m having at times. Say he’s at a trot and I want him to yield to the bit and drop his head. But when I bump with my legs and “jiggle” the bit, he thinks I mean to speed up and yield to the bit. So then I’d go back to just the bit.

I like that slow jog of his, but it virtually disappears into a bone jarring speed trot when I use my legs. I was about to throw in the towel, but the last few rides I’ve noticed that if I bump just a little with my legs he drops his head and keeps his slow pace. It doesn’t work all the time, but I think we’re getting the hang of it.

I got to ride on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday we rode in the rain but today was just beautiful out. The spurs are really making a difference with his responsiveness on his left side. I actually went and picked up a pair of my own. I’ll post a picture sometime this week. They have a really flat clover rowel on them, which is probably best for a couple of beginners like us.

This weekend the equine dentist is coming to check out Leo’s teeth. I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t mentioned it to Leo. No need to make him stress all week about the consequences of cavities.

Al, I don’t think I deserve that pat on the back now. And Amanda, I’m not longer feeling snafflerific. What seemed so great yesterday, fell apart today. I’m trying to remind myself that there were a lot of negative factors: Leo loaths puddles and the arena was full of them; Leo wanted to go to his “magnet corner” since we were next door to home; and he had a new bit in for only the second day.

BUT, Les makes everything look so easy! I did a lot of reading in his workbook last night and got frustrated with myself because it’s all right there and I don’t remember it all when I’m riding. For instance, I haven’t been using hands AND legs consistently when working on vertical flexion. I get absorbed in just ONE element and forget all of the other stuff I should be doing. So, tonight I was really concentrating on the hands and legs and vertical flexion. I thought since Sunday went so great, I’d really be able to focus on vertical flexion and collection. Here’s what happened.

He was not yielding. He was ok when we were walking away, but if we were headed toward his magnet corner of the arena he would ignore my requests until I was almost pulling on him to stop. I think he did so well yesterday because he was in a new place and wasn’t focused on going home. With the shank bit, he’s soooo good at doing a counter arc. But he was either confused or was just flat out refusing to do it today. Also he started tossing his head again. He doesn’t toss his head in the Billy Allen bit, but he seems to do it in a snaffle. Is it possible that he just isn’t comfortable in a snaffle? Or maybe he was just irritated and confused.

I’m going to call the barn owner tomorrow and see if she’ll help me. She’s an incredible English riding instructor. I suppose, if you’re going to talk about snaffles, who better to go to than an English riding instructor? She knows a lot about horses, so I’m hoping she’ll take a peek at him.

Something really great did happen today though. Guess what…he did almost a half circle of turn around the forehand. I almost jumped off and danced a jig. He’s getting it!

Les Vogt’s first lesson is to teach the horse how to flex its neck with a soft request and to teach the rider how to teach the horse. Sounded easy enough.

The exercise: walk the horse in about a 10 foot circle asking him to bend his nose toward the inside, which flex’s his neck (flexion).

Rules for the horse: (1) ears remain level (the horse’s) as he flex’s, meaning he can’t just tip up his nose, (2) should respond to the lightest request, (3) should bend his body as well as he walks the circle

Rules for the rider: (1) no pulling on the bit and holding (request, release, request, release), (2) no touching the outside shoulder with the outside rein , (3) use inside leg to request the horse to bend his body

So there I am again, the big weirdo in the center of the arena with one arm stiff and stuck out so I don’t touch the outside shoulder, the other arm asking Leo to be bendy, and English riders circling me in perfect posting formation.

The outcome: Well, I’m pretty sure that I still don’t have control of my body. I think I was actually riding with a bend in it, the same bend I was hoping Leo would make. He would give in to bending his neck pretty easily, but then he would break out of the circle by just giving to my inside leg as well and doing a lovely two track. So then I’d try a little outside leg, which made him think I wanted him to do turn-arounds. Ugh! I know it’s all me. We’re getting better at it, but still have some weeks to go I think.

Questions: I’m not sure how far his neck should flex. I don’t see how he could trot and canter with the same kind of flexion he has at a walk. And how big should the circle be at a canter? Not 10 feet surely?

I realized recently, and this is the neatest thing, that Leo, the angry horse, has started to listen. He seems less intent on getting rid of me and getting done, and more intent on listening. A friend of mine rode him the other day and remarked on it, “he’s sure listening.”