Group Lesson (1) 

Yesterday WallE and I joined a group lesson. WallE had a lot of trouble focusing at the horse show during the warm up. So much so, I was uncomfortable riding him. We deduced the problem to lack of stimulation at home in the arena. And after yesterday, I think we are correct. WallE was most certainly 'up.' He wanted to run after the lesson horses and was not happy with standing still when the lesson paused for explanation. I think this is a crucial and important item that needs to be added to our weekly training. 

The lesson horses all do this on a regular basis. They practice stopping, listening and resting. They all regularly trot and canter together. It is not a big deal for another horse to trot past them. For WallE, all of those items are exciting. I am very hopeful that incorporating group lessons/rides into our weekly routine will improve our abilities at the horse shows.