Beating the boredom!

[drummersmum]

Livvi is doing really well, we have walk and trot transitions established although downward transitions are a work in progress, sometimes she listens and stops off my seat, other times we just keep marching on like I did nothing!!

Anway, I think some of this is down to losing concentration through boredom, she is quite happy to listen when it suits her but we seem to go out and repeat the same old exercises.

So I wanted some ideas on what to do next and incoporate into my sessions to keep things a bit more interesting for her!? Do you think pole work with me on is a bit much just yet?

[olivia]

I don't think so. I'd lead her over them a couple of times if she's not seen them before, but I can't see it doing any harm. I personally wouldn't do series of trot poles yet just in case her striding isn't quite even, but single poles are still fun. You don't even have to go over them - you can build corridors that get narrower and narrower (tests how your steering is and how straight you are!) then progress on to bends and even mazes (and if you crack them please do please let me know ). You can also practice halting over single poles - again helps with accuracy.

If you keep it all very light and fun then I think Livvi would have a ball as well as you

Olivia

[drummersmum]

;D Thanks Olivia, I would have to make a very wide coridoor, steerings not quite up to scratch yet!

She has done poles on the lunge and trots over a series of 3.

[shell]

Poles are a great idea, you can also place them in a fan shape and that gives you a variation in strides over them the nearer the narrow end the shorter the stride, i'd only do them at a walk with a baby but helps with concentration and awareness of their feet! How about weaving between cones/buckets etc great for streering too LOL!

[greydales]

How about setting up some 'handy pony' type things, she was really good with those here. I had set up an arena full of stuff for Saturn and took Livvy through it all on longlines, she didn't bat an eyelid at anything lol. Can't wait to come over! ;D

[drummersmum]

Its kind of what I did yesterday but as you saw, it doidn't go quite as expected!!!

Actually, what we did do, she was great at, we did some weaving through barrels, over poles and through tunnels of poles, halting in the middle.

[drummersmum]

Heather, that helps massively, I am with you with the spiders and I just don't look

I could actually kick myself totally because I know what she is like but she has been so good I have let it slip. I knew something wasn't right and you have flicked the switch that has brought everything back into perspective. Thank you! I also need to appologise to Livvi!

I love playing too and am going to get some plastic sheet out and stuff so that we don't just focus on riding! I want to make a bridge anda see saw too but I am worried about them not being strong enough!