Getting Ready to Ride

Now that you have been handling your horse for a few days, Softening his face and moving his shoulder and hip from the ground you are ready to do a little lounging. I always saddle up and do some of the walk, stop, turn exercises before I turn them loose to free lounge. I think this helps to get them loosened up and thinking, I DO Not want him to just take off Bucking and Running, I want him to think what I am thinking, so I ask him to walk,first always and work up slowly to the lope, still stopping and relaxing alot. I trot him more than Lope.
When I know he is thinking and doing just what I ask, I get on and cool him off at the Walk, stopping and turning, backing and moving hips and shoulders. I try to just use my legs and body to ask for these transitions only using my hands to put him in the correct position. Very Soft hands, very light leg cues.
The next day I will trot more when I ride, still asking him to soften his face,move hips and shoulders and backing.You can never do too much of it. I do like to push them to trot out freeley and then slow down a little.
Then I might take him to the Trail course to cool out. I do a lot of cooling out on the Trail course.