Dressage = Fun

Yep, I'm admitting it, dressage is currently FUN. I pulled Midge out for another dressage lesson last night and she was totally tuned in and responsive again.  I have no idea where the super opinionated, argumentative I-don't-wanna-and-you-can't-make-me Midge went (maybe she only comes out for jumping now? IDK, but she hasn't made an appearance in a flat lesson for months) After over a year of almost daily drama, I am truly grateful for our current peaceful existence.

Although it looks here like she could be thinking of a new plan to rule the world.

 We basically continued on with the exercises from Monday night, tons of shoulder in and travers, followed by lots and lots of trot/canter/trot transitions in which we ask Ms B to use her bum and stay balanced throughout. She'd obviously thought things through from Monday and put in a super effort and once again I had a huge smile on my face almost the entire ride.

I hope I my recent dressage lesson posts don't come across as "wow we are so perfect and awesome!" because that's absolutely not what I'm trying to say. We've got tons of things to work on! The reason I'm so incredibly happy with our dressage lately is because all our hard work of the past year is starting to show dividends. The basics are installed, now we're having fun installing the cool stuff. What we're working on now is all green baby and rider needing to learn to ride better stuff. Normal stuff. Not the "Whoa! Emergency intervention! We seem to have a serious issue here!!" stuff I was previously bringing to almost all my rides ;) 

Booty shot, ha ha not the most flattering angle

 I'm writing that my dressage lessons have been amazing and wonderful and everything felt great because there hasn't been a single moment lately where I don't feel like we're a team and that B isn't putting in her very best effort. It feels like we can do anything together (with a little time and a lot of help!) and that's super empowering and confidence boosting for us both.

More booty. I'm liking the tail and the dapples :)

However, the real world is calling...it's not dressage on the schedule next, it's a hunter/jumper show next weekend. Decisions to be made. Do I scratch and wait until we're in a better place jumping wise, or go and view it as a schooling opportunity? Normally I say go to all the things and learn everything you can from them. The only reason I'm thinking hard on this one is because honestly I'm not sure I can let go enough to truly not care or be tempted to give up and just do dressage forever if we go and have a disastrous day.