A cob that does dressage... well sort of

Once again I've been massively lazy when it's come to updating here. In fact I haven't really updated anywhere else either.

After reading through my last post I realise that I've actually achieved both goals with Magic. He's both much more forward in the school and canter really seems to have clicked in the last week, so much so that he's doing simple changes with trot in the middle of the school and getting the lead right every time until he gets a little tired and walk to canter is coming along nicely too.

He carries himself consistently in walk and trot now but as canter is new to him he still needs a little help. I've been using loose draw reins on him for canter work so that when he comes completely above the bit they come into effect and he drops into a lovely outline, he's not forced there, he's offering a nice relaxed outline with the draw reins loose. He also seems to have grown up a little lately and is letting me use a schooling whip without bucking. I'm no longer using the spurs for now. After the first session of carrying a whip he no longer tries to break canter and now I'm only carrying it to improve his reactions in transitions especially halt to trot and walk to canter. I'm hoping that once he masters walk to canter I can start on halt to canter. I'm also trying for a bit of collection in the canter in corners which is coming along nicely. All in all I'm very prod of the boy this week.