The Magic Sauce is Consistency

All I can say is ‘he’s getting it!’

Almost two weeks of consistent work with Factor has brought us to a point where he is really starting to show progress in leaps. We have spent some time on the lunge and under saddle, so far everything showing good results, or offering some fantastic opportunities to communicate better with one another. We have been able to consistently remember voice commands, and are gaining so much confidence in the bridle with our new bit.

The biggest change, though, come from Factor’s urge to bolt off the minute I pick up the lunge. It’s not a habit under saddle until we get to the trot, but when we’ve worked in a circle (lunge or round pen), Factor has been under the self-imposed impression that he needs to rush off and do his walk, trot, canter so he can be done (or so I suspect). There has been a lot of bit chewing during this, but also a lot of back stiffness, like he’s bracing for something.

With the notes from our MagnaWave session and an upcoming chiropractic next week, I’ve been paying special attention to where he’s been getting stiff during our works. There seems to be a point, usually after the canter to the right, that he comes back to a [rushed] trot, and there is something he is stiff about every few strides. Based on the MagnaWave findings, I’ve started stretching him before a work, specifically making sure to try and open his hips underneath himself. Now that his exercise is both consistent but also asking him to really use himself from behind, it’s no wonder that he’s feeling some muscle tenderness and growth in his hind end.

Well, yesterday proved that these exercises have been paying off!

When we stretched, he was receptive and worked with me through some of the sticky stretch spots.

When we started working, he didn’t feel the need to speed off in an uneven trot or canter.

When using voice cues, he listened and came back at each ask. Downward transitions in particular were quite good!

When we cantered right, he did come back to a somewhat sticky trot, but he kept listening to the contact, yielding to the inside, and swinging the right leg underneath with his step. When he didn’t feel the resistance in his own body, he got more confident, and did it again, testing his own discovery.

This last one, this one is huge for me to see. Instead of feeling sticky, Factor thought about it. He took what I have been teaching him, and tried to apply it. Instead of putting his head up, or bracing in his back, he stepped under and stretched down through his topline, and moved so beautifully forward. The steps were not consistent, but I didn’t demand them to be - all I wanted him to do was believe me when I asked him to use his body to create comfort in his carriage. With each attempt, I showered him in praise, and with each ask, he wanted to try again more confidently. Seeing the change in his motion through the course of the exercise was, frankly, eye-watering to a sentimental like me.

We are starting to speak a language together.