Monday was Willow's day off. Tuesday we had, in the midst of weeks of gorgeous, sunny weather, a chilly, drizzly day. Between the chill and the day off, Willow was feeling sassy! I could tell from the moment I got on that our usual warmup in walk was not what she needed. So I immediately sent her into trot and canter with lots of transitions and changes of bend, to try to get her head on straight. She came back to me after about ten minutes, and then I got some spectacular shoulder-in in trot out of her. Best ever.
I also worked on small circles in canter--trying to get her to turn from my seat and not hang into the outside rein. To the left, she's really getting it. To the right, she still falls over the outside shoulder. But I'm feeling glimmers of understanding from her.
At the end of the ride I did several three-loop canter serpentines with simple change through trot. I'm so pleased with how much more crisp her transitions are, and how her canter stride is no longer 20 feet long!
Saturday I'm off to Devonwood to cheer on some of my barn mates.
5 comments:
See ya there, I am in the cherring section as well
I'll look for you!
I also worked on shoulder-in and shortening the canter strides recently...had some success in both, as well as a few rocky moments. Still fun, though!
Ooooh, take some pictures of the show, for those of us that are too far away!
Love your blog... been living vicariously thru my dressage friends lately! It's something that intrigues me, for sure. Hopefully I can start up some training soon, and move from huntseat to dressage, eh? :)
Love reading about Willow....
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