TT Kitabars Kitten: Arena Work

FINALLY! Had the chance to ride Dakota in some decent footing. Hauled to Sara's house on sunday, and it was absolutely beautiful out and Dakota was fabulous. I thought she may be a little jumpy, but she was calm as could be. Tacked up great, stood at the trailer awesome. I first started out riding in the o-ring, not knowing if she would respect it or not at a new place (out of her comfort zone), but she was an angel. She responded to the lightest touch, stopped on a dime, etc. I trotted and loped circles in the o-ring, and trotted the barrel pattern once or twice in it, then I switched to the Hackamore because she seems to be more responsive in it.

So, I worked her in the hackamore at a walk trot lope, then trotted the pattern a couple more times. She felt great. She was stopping on her hind end, and felt like she was collecting herself for the most part. I worked her more than she is used to, so I think she may have felt a little sore towards the end of our ride, but overall she felt and did great. Towards the end of our ride I put Sara's new triple creek on her to see how it rode, and man was it NICE and fit Dakota like a glove.. I wanted to steal it. My next saddle will be a triple creek for sure!

I think the one thing that needs work is her ability to work the barrels. She seems as though she gets caught up around them, I think that may have been due to the fact she was not used to working in actual footing.. So she was getting a little caught up in it. But for her first time seeing the pattern in months I think she did great.

Videos and pictures:

This first video is from towards the end of our ride, I wanted to get one of her just loping. This is where I think she may look a little sore going to the right, I am not positive though. But she felt great, and I think looks great also.