I practiced Cole Train’s dance moves on Friday, and he was getting very consistent with higher steps.  I wanted to show my sister when she came out on Saturday.  She was very impressed, and of course he made her laugh.  Sunday, he started doing it when I led him into the indoor arena!  Yes, Cole likes this game.  I did some clicking with him for the dancing, then mounted to ride.  My sister was there, again, and to stay warm, she suggested she walk with us as we warmed up at the walk.  Even though she stood on his right side (all my training has been from the left) he went into his dance right away.  We weren’t expecting that, so of course, we laughed.  We clicked him a few times, and then I decided it was time to do some trotting.  She went to sit down.

 

When we trotted, right away, he went into his lovely trot with more suspension than he usually gives me at the beginning of the ride.  He couldn’t have gotten more rhythmic or consistent.  Throughout the whole ride, he trotted like this, except for one time when he got above the bit.  My main project was to clarify our aids and precision on the corners, so much of the ride was walking, but when we did trot, it was lovely.  I had my sister video it on her phone so I could see it, and he looked great.

 

I had read that the Spanish walk can be used to loosen up a horse’s shoulders, but I figured it was a way to justify teaching them a useless exercise.  Cole is extending his legs as far as a typical Spanish walk, just not near as high.  I could be that it did help him with his warm up.  I will try again, tonight, before I start to ride.  Maybe it isn’t a useless exercise.

 

He was trialing his silly walk while I was riding him, but I didn’t click him for it.  I don’t really want him doing it during my ride.  The woman who owns the mule saw, and she was amazed.  I told her how we are teaching him to dance, and said she could walk beside him to dance with him.  I was still in the saddle.  She came over, and I told her to lift her feet high when she walks.  Cole matched her steps and did his moves.  She was just thrilled.  I am so glad he is putting smiles on people’s faces.

 

This was all with just 3 training sessions.  Clicker training is amazing.  Oh, and it did help me with our corners, too.

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Comment by Jackie Cochran on January 16, 2012 at 11:44am

I like your comment about the shoulder mobility, it seems that between the Spanish Walk and the controlled kick (Saumur croupade) that those Baroque dressage riders knew something about the development of the horses' movements. 

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