Then Cody and Susanne are back together. They have had a longer involuntary break, but despite that, they had not forgotten anything.

In this lesson, we talked a lot about contact. Often we unconsciously use the reins incorrectly or too much. This typically results in the horses stiffening, leaning, becoming unconcentrated or perhaps starting to make trouble. This is the horse's way of expressing his discomfort.

This is the 3rd Lesson with Spirit. At the bottom of this post, you can see the video from this lesson. Spirit will be 5 years here in 2020. He is broken in, but Merja has then prioritized building up Spirit's musculature from the ground. 

Spirit is a gaited Curly horse, so in addition to walk, trot and canter, he can also do Toelt.

There are many things a young horse should learn beyond basic handling. I would almost say that the least of it is getting on the back of the horse. In addition, the young horse should have built up a fair amount of muscle before we start riding it.

This is the first lesson with Tirs and Sabrine.

It was super nice for me to see Sabrine again, because it's really long overdue. We used to see each other almost every day. We have been training together and have had the ups and downs with our horses.

Here are Cody and Susanne

Susanne and Cody are on a journey together. When I first saw them 6 months ago, Susanne hadn't ridden Cody for some time. Cody had become reluctant and reacted violently. Susanne was afraid there was something physically wrong with Cody.

Oh we are many who are tired of this rainy autumn. The lanes are so wet at times that they become impossible to use. Susanne has kept Cody going by riding him a little on the road and then training on the track the days when it has been possible. But it is clear that it becomes less exercise when the weather is like this and you do not have a riding house. Many people get a little frustrated that they can't get trained so much and so am I. But maybe we shouldn't be so upset.

This was the first lesson with Kristina and Lappe.

Kristina said that she had had many problems with Lappe. It was about health, exercise and saddle. Kristina has tried pretty much everything, but nothing has made Lappe work optimally. Kristina also said that Lappe has never really wanted to stretch.