Today I had a nice but rather plain session with Kai. I tacked him up and did my pre ride checks in the indoor arena. I let a D. ride him for a few laps around the arena to try out my treeless saddle and then gathered my things and headed to the outdoor. I mounted from the fence and we set off working on follow the rail at the walk. We worked on headset and transitions for a little while and did some cantering.
I then decided to try something just to see where we are at. I asked Kai to canter on a circle and the next time we were at X I asked Kai to trot and then canter the other direction on a new lead. We did this a few more times and then cooled out on the rail. Kai was very bracy when cantering but he got his leads correctly all but one time. I think we are closer than I thought to doing simple changes! Kai was very hot and tired by then. He is holding onto his thick winter coat despite the heat and he gets tired and sweaty faster than usual. I untacked him and set him loose to roll in the sand. Kai came back to me when he was done and I put him away and gave him an apple.
I then decided to try something just to see where we are at. I asked Kai to canter on a circle and the next time we were at X I asked Kai to trot and then canter the other direction on a new lead. We did this a few more times and then cooled out on the rail. Kai was very bracy when cantering but he got his leads correctly all but one time. I think we are closer than I thought to doing simple changes! Kai was very hot and tired by then. He is holding onto his thick winter coat despite the heat and he gets tired and sweaty faster than usual. I untacked him and set him loose to roll in the sand. Kai came back to me when he was done and I put him away and gave him an apple.