Putting pieces together

Amazingly today I remember about the construction disaster that is our road and took the scenic roundabout detour on my way out of the house.

 

In today's lesson I really tried to take what we talked about the day before into practice. Most importantly to it all is to have her absolutely forward to the contact. 

• In all gaits: must have a feeling of being pulled along, lots more forward and funnel it to the contact (solid contact please). "Working trot is just that, work!" -Pam
• Once ticking start with the haunches in to leg yield to haunches in exercise from yesterday. 
• Keep the forward, do not let trot slow
• not too much sideways at once, forward in the sideways
• slight flexion and keep the contact

•  Walk break: do not stab her legs into the ground in the transition, allow the transition or bump her back into trot immediately and try again.
• Canter right first today: again shoulder-out on the circle but also utilizing some long strides to ride the straight and up then back to circle. This way in canter I sit too much left, the mirror never lies.

• Canter left: Much improvement with shoulder-out! Put right leg on and bam! haunches go in. A little too much even! Tone it back and keep the forward (more forward and more forward) Same this direction to work the circle then try and keep some on the long-side and ride it more straight. Do not pump at the canter, kick her off your leg and sit up.

Back to nice walk transition and big pats. I was quite shocked with the great reaction to my right leg in the left lead canter today. I was certainly not expecting such a response to my aid and I don't think Pam did either. We were both pleasantly surprised! I can see what we're working towards and I very much like it. It's going to be work, and it's going to be tough at times but I think both 'Dea and I were able take instruction from the previous day and expand upon it. That is what I'm most excited about, the change in both of us as a team.  

I can tell you what I'm not excited about, my tall boots.

Not cool.

This would be my left boot which can be ahem, smidgen small at times. Due to the stress of that and the fact that stitching does not last forever, this happens. It has happened at least one before and they were able to stitch it back together. After a short hissy fit of can this seriously not be happening right now, I prepared myself to take them into Concord to United Shoe Repair to see if they could fix them. And if they could fix them by oh you know, Saturday. Yes, this Saturday...please?


Thankfully they will try and restitch them, and yes after pleading I should be able to have them by Saturday. Phew! Ah the crisis that is dressage.


'Dea is in the faithful hands of Pam's girls for the rest of the week. Which is good since my boots are out of commission for the time being. I will be hitting up the gym on my own. We'll be back to a light ride and a rest day this weekend and then back at it with Pam on Monday.

Rest up little one!