Can I really use the word euphoria when referring to a late afternoon schooling ride? That's truly how I felt when I was done riding on Wednesday evening. I can't even begin to imagine what it must feel like to ride one of those "top" dressage horses like Ravel or Totilas ... I was ecstatic when I got off my Speedy pony after schooling Intro C!
We worked on a true medium walk, or at least the best version I can coax out of him. We also did a long and low free walk at which he's really getting better. Our trot circles are more and more balanced and are closer to being circles ... and 20 meters. I am probably the most proud of Speedy's canter departures. He still pins his ears and gets a bit crow-hoppy about it, but he does make the transition on cue, most of the time. And before I get a lot of his back must be sore, rest assured, he's not hurting, he's just resistant to the whole "when I give the cue thing." And really, this is hard for both of us. Once he starts working more softly, I can get a nice canter transition - like last night. We finished the session with some decent stretchy trot circles. Since we had never even attempted one a month ago, decent is acceptable in my book, at least for now.
That I even "know" what these movements are, makes me feel accomplished. I can't believe how much a team can learn in a year! We worked really hard with a coach in bi-weekly lessons over the summer and then once or twice a month throughout the fall and winter. We've learned a lot about how to get a lot done. Last summer, I couldn't have accomplished a quarter of what what I got from Speedy last night, even with a coach or trainer ... and now, it took us only 25 minutes to get it done ... and I did it alone, without my coach directing.
I love dressage! I know ... a bit goofy, but I do.
We worked on a true medium walk, or at least the best version I can coax out of him. We also did a long and low free walk at which he's really getting better. Our trot circles are more and more balanced and are closer to being circles ... and 20 meters. I am probably the most proud of Speedy's canter departures. He still pins his ears and gets a bit crow-hoppy about it, but he does make the transition on cue, most of the time. And before I get a lot of his back must be sore, rest assured, he's not hurting, he's just resistant to the whole "when I give the cue thing." And really, this is hard for both of us. Once he starts working more softly, I can get a nice canter transition - like last night. We finished the session with some decent stretchy trot circles. Since we had never even attempted one a month ago, decent is acceptable in my book, at least for now.
That I even "know" what these movements are, makes me feel accomplished. I can't believe how much a team can learn in a year! We worked really hard with a coach in bi-weekly lessons over the summer and then once or twice a month throughout the fall and winter. We've learned a lot about how to get a lot done. Last summer, I couldn't have accomplished a quarter of what what I got from Speedy last night, even with a coach or trainer ... and now, it took us only 25 minutes to get it done ... and I did it alone, without my coach directing.
I love dressage! I know ... a bit goofy, but I do.
