I watched Leading Behind again. We practiced it at a walk. The trot wasn’t happening for us.
Soooooo, I took that as a starting point and we practiced LB at the walk for two days.
To get the trot, Clinton Anderson says to move their feet in a circle then just turn and start jogging and let him come out of the circle behind your jog while his feet are still moving.
We walked with LB then I leaned forward and jogged – no trot from Max , so I spun around and moved him off into a lunge then changed directions, then changed directions again – then while his feet were moving I jogged off. He stopped.
Right away I moved him into a lunge, changed directions, then changed directions again. While his feet were still moving I turned and jogged off and lo and behold he trotted right behind me! Hallelujah! I kept trotting so he would get the idea that this is what I wanted then we stopped and rested. (I more than he.)
We rubbed and Good Boyed!
Then, we did it again – Hallelujah! He trotted behind me. We kept it up. Whenever I led him around we practiced first walking then trotting.
WE GOT IT!
Just let me tell you right now – If you weren’t in shape before you started teaching this exercise, you’ll be in shape after a few days of the LB exercise. It is definitely exercise.
I rode for an hour. We trotted and posted lots, and cantered several times. He got a little snarky and tried to get all crazy and show me he was ready to stop. So I ORS-ed him and then turned him in circles one way then the other –then rode for 15 more minutes. It was the best ride I’ve had since the new year!! GID-DEE-UP!!
Have a good ride,
Greenhorn
