Kristen Vanderpool Equine

I got to visit with one of the herd managers from North Fork on the weekend. She was at Spruce Meadows for a competition and it was so much fun watching North Fork Cash jump. He did reasonably well for such a busy show. I picked up a stool from her, so I could teach Aslan how to step up onto it . He loves to paw at the thing so far, and he will hold his foot on it, but that is all. I rewarded him twice for trying to step up when I encouraged him, but he is hesitant to rep

Horses have moods. Aslan wasn't in a good one tonight. He was very fussy and nappy and just not in good spirits. Everything I asked him to do was meh or unenthusiastic; more "no" than"okiedokie!" I wish I could read his mind sometimes. Did someone steal the best piece of hay from you? Is your leg sore? Do you have a headache? Seriously, what kind of 1st world horse problems could he have? This made riding weird because he would just stop. He has done this to me three

Worked on general things this week like straightness, turns, the six buttons. Not in the planning was a couple of one rein stops. Aslan gets very reactive if another horse in the arena gets too close or he thinks they are riding up behind him too fast. One horse was being backed quickly and she turned her butt toward him (about 8 feet away) and started hustling backwards. Aslan had a heart attack and spun around, so I KEPT him in a one rein stop and moving around and then

So about that dressage instructor? It went great and she didn't mind that I had to click treat. It took her a bit off guard; Aslan will slam on the brakes in a very un-dressage like way if he he hears the click. He stops like a cow horse lol I might have to work on that. You will still get your treat buddy, no need to toss me off the front. Anyway we did a short lesson, mostly at the trot, and she gave me advice on my seat, my core, and then on how Aslan needs to move an

Nobody was at the stable so I focused on groundwork. Circle game: I upped the criteria and have started asking for self carriage. It was cute to watch him understand that I was clicking for his head movement and he kept trying! Adorable. Lunging isn't like it used to be! I circled by the scary door on the side of the arena just to get him desensitized. He did pretty well and responds to the trot and walk cue like second nature. Being nervous does make him a bit "weavy"

I recently had a lesson and I don't think Aslan was too happy and really, I wasn't either. I wanted some help on the "go straight" issue and asked for some assistance. I was very grateful for the help and it was done all for free. Unfortunately our difference in training philosophies really didn't work out. Because the person who gave the lesson was very much a -R teacher, I wasn't able to click and reinforce very much and this person just thought that C/T was a waste of t