NO WHOA WITHOUT A GO

So my teacher has come up with an approach to making Ernie a little more "off the leg".  And first blush it is showing promise.

"No whoa without a go" loosely translates to don't worry about stopping  if you're not going forward.  So kiss goodbye to those you love and put your personal affairs in order.  The approach originates from within the french classical riding school I'm advised, typical, just showing off I say!

In practice, reins in one hand, crop in the other, offer hands and relinquish contact (in novice rider world, the brakes....); then drive forward with legs, supporting with crop as required.  Hope you're pointing in the right direction!  Not to be undertaken in a busy school.  Anyway the big E picked this up quite nicely, with only one or two uses of crop and we were off and only one buck, he does try very hard really.  Personally I found this faux western style much more straight-forward and I'd say E responded in kind.

This relatively non-confrontational training approach really appeals the aspiring natural horseman in me.  So am going to take my life in hand this weekend and try it up in the woods and see if we can release the canter potential which has been lying a little dorment over last week or so (or at least hiding behind some very signifcant bucks).

Lovely knowing y'all!