Worst. Lesson. Ever.

I don't have bad lessons. I always learn something, even if it's what not to do. Sunday's lesson was terrible, and it was not my fault. It was not Chemaine Hurtado's fault - owner at trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables. I am placing the entirety of the blame at Speedy's wild-child hooves. DUDE! 

He tried to explode in all four directions. Repeatedly. For over an hour.

I rarely ride Speedy for more than hour, and if I do, it's during a lesson with plenty of walk breaks. On Sunday, I rode him for nearly an hour and a half with virtually no walk breaks. Granted, most of that time was spent regrouping from the latest round of bucks and kicks, so I am not sure how tired he ended up being. Not tired enough would be my vote.

Can't and won't turn.

The day before, Speedy was absolutely brilliant. We half passed and we did neat little flying changes. I was so excited to show Chemaine how we have incorporated her exercise for getting more suspension instead of more forward. Sunday was one of those days were all he had was FORWARD. He had plenty of go, but there was no steering and certainly no bending of any kind. It's kind of hard to school half passes when your horse won't bend.

You will bend!

I WILL NOT!

Poor Chemaine. She tried every exercise she could think of. Speedy just was not in the mood. We did shoulder in to haunches in down the long side. We did shoulder in to haunches in on the circle. We galloped. I used the whip. I tossed the whip. I used the whip again and tossed the whip again. We walked. We jigged. We did walk pirouettes.  

I told you NO!

Honestly, Speedy. What a day ...

Speedy was just so full of himself that he could not do anything that even resembled dressage. He wasn't sick, he wasn't sore, he was just feeling GOOD. It was the first morning in a long while that felt cool. I almost regretted not wearing long sleeves. Of course it broke a hundred later in the day, but the morning felt fabulous. Or at least Speedy thought so.

From the one or two good moments he had.

The lesson wasn't a complete waste though, Chemaine showed me a good exercise to start the canter pirouette as well as a half pass to counter canter to flying lead change. Of course, the very next day he did each exercise quietly with his usual try hard demeanor. Speedy is such a saint that I totally forgave him for having a wild day. If he needs a day to let it all hang out, I think he's earned it. 

I just wish he would have picked a day where I wasn't paying to ride. Sheesh!