Not really pointless, but probably in JJ's eyes it is. He was waiting for me at the gate when I got to the paddock :) and very relaxed to tack up etc. Then I hopped on and he headed off up the track without any napping, I thought "wow a nap-free ride!" How wrong I was.
Anyway we went down into the 100 x 100m arena and did some work in walk-trot. He was good, he's definitely improved since I had his teeth done, he's taking the contact much better now and not chewing on the bit all the time. He is still nappy, especially on the right rein because my left leg is weaker than my right and that's apparently evident to him. So our right rein circles bulged way more than our left ones. Curse my crooked self.
Most of the steering problems however went away as I rode better - I'd been having trouble when he was napping with him drifting away and just turning his head back the direction I wanted to go. This came from using too much inside rein to steer and not enough outside leg. Also once I sat up and looked around where I wanted to go, which is riding 101, he was heaps better. Same goes for trying to trot straight lines - unless I'm looking up and far ahead of myself, the line goes incredibly wonky. Eyes up, line straight. (Well, straighter.)
Then we went down into the park and jumped the creek a few times before going for a canter. The first canter up to the far end by the showjumps was very crooked, as JJ just wanted to go back to the XC and his whole body was bent in that direction the whole time. But we made it to the far end and settled down and had a lovely canter back down the park. Then we did a couple of circles on each rein which were very bulgy but when I remembered to watch my line and keep my outside hand down and give-release the inside rein instead of being suckered into holding it against him...it improved.
I need lessons.
All in all though he's a snugglebunny and I do love him dearly, he's such a good boy :)
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