Tucker's First Lesson

Forgive our failure to update Tucker's blog this week!  You know how it goes trying to pack 31 hours of stuff into a 24 hour period....

Last Friday Erin and Tucker got their first lesson with Jordan, the head trainer at our barn.  Check out her accomplishments at:  http://www.jordanlinstedteventing.com/wordpress.  For the better part of an hour we worked in a 20-meter "circle" at the "safe" end of the outdoor arena.  I use the term circle loosely since the poor fella isn't down with such exact shapes yet; he's rather like riding a 2x4 board -- straight and zig-zaggy!  (Which is perfect for the awesome trail horse that he is, no doubt!).  And Erin's known among the horsey set for her own distinct inability to get a horse to walk, trot or canter in an actual circle....

But despite the shape challenges and the fact that each time they neared the "other" end of the arena, all hell was on the verge of breaking loose (his field is down there, and he figures if he manages to unseat his rider he'll get to head home sooner -- more on that later), the lesson went rather well.  Jordan helped us learn about how to push his body off the leg and free up his shoulder using a slightly wider rein.  We're teaching him to bend in the ribcage toward the inside of the "circle", which he's only strong enough yet to hold for a few strides.  He's getting there.  With the regular work and the fact that he's amping himself up more and more all the time, he'll be Mr. Muscles in no time!

Jordan said he was well put together, nicely proportioned, and has a quick mind.  :)  So quick, that, the following day Tucker and Shanna had a little "excursion" from the scary side of the arena where all manner of naughty behavior tends to occur.  He'd decided he was done with her stupid circle-like patterns and done with moving around on the bit and done with whatever other nonsense might be asked of him.  So he left.  With Shanna trying fruitlessly to stop him! 

Thankfully no one was hurt and she won in the end, but I'll admit to having a rapidly beating heart as I stood there helpless to prevent the rapid exit. And while Tucker still appears to have Shanna's number from time to time, she's definitely gaining the upper hand with each passing day.  He still tests us both, which is part of what we love about the handsome fella, but we do also love those days where he settles into the work and drops the Wild Arabian Stallion act.  ;)