One a day, plus iron

The point of canter sets, at least in my world, is to develop balance, strength, and steadiness in canter for the Bird and for me. Also more fitness. Better two-point. Better cantering. So, we can't just level off at the "three circuits of the copse" thing once it's easy.

( Time to level up )

Today's canter set efforts went thusly: 15 minute march down into the holler and back out. This is for warming up and it's not a problem, ever. We do the holler and back out every day, damn near, and it's old hat. Then up to the copse of trees.

Counterclockwise: 1 walk loop, 1 trot loop, 1 canter loop, 1 walk loop, 2 canter loops. (The loop is just about 350 meters per loop.)

Reverse direction.

1 walk loop, 1 trot loop, 1 canter loop, 1 walk loop, 2 canter loops.

Walk home, strip tack, spend half an hour holding da Bird out on the long grass.

He was only lightly damp when we were done, but he's also been shedding out very well and doing under-saddle work about five days a week. He relaxed into stretchy canter for sections of the work and offered a leisurely effort that held in canter but wasn't speedy or frantic. (The goal here is not speedy. The goal is relaxed, steady canter, so yay!)

My two-point held together fairly well until the end of the second set, the back-to-back canter loops at which point my hip flexors were pretty much LOLNope. I was sweating. It's hard work to be in two point and not sucky. Practice makes perfect, though, so...

I think we'll stay at this level for the next week before upping the difficulty. I like how he's working and his relaxed enthusiasm. Go Bird!

Tomorrow we see the saddle fitter and get his saddle reflocked.