And the 20-meter Circle is Back!

Sydney was very tense for Saturday's ride, but completely relaxed on Sunday. The ride lasted less than 15 minutes. We did some neck flexes at the walk to warm up, and then I asked for a forward trot. We crossed the diagonal a few times before I put him on the 20-meter circle tracking right. Boom! There it was.

Right away I rode the circle with the feeling of being on a square. I only used my outside aids to start. Once I felt that he was pretty balanced, I started gently squeezing and releasing the inside rein. His neck softened and he offered a nice stretch with some inside bend. I added some inside leg and gave a little cheer. Well done, Sydney. Well done!
 
I gave him a short walk break and then picked up the trot again, this time tracking left. I did some figure eights and then asked for a left lead canter. Again, right on cue with no drama. We took another walk break and I sent him right. He started to rush in a few places, but I stuck with Lois's tip of squeezing my fingers closed and then releasing right away. Sydney heard me and brought his pace back in line with my posting rhythm.

Things were so relaxed that I knew it was a good day to ask for a right lead canter. As I prepared for the transition, I made good and sure that he was solidly on my outside rein. And then, as quietly as I could, I sat softly and thought canter (just like I had with Speedy G). I felt him hesitate as he worked out what to do. He thought about grabbing the inside rein and ducking in, but then he realized that it was just a canter. And in that split second of hesitation, he went forward into the canter and kept his balance.

I was delighted. Some days are disastrous but other days just go your way.