Shut The Front Door!

Monday nights right now still = lesson nights on the incomparable Audrey.

Hitting a new media low: old pics of Audrey and Bridget, different filter

The start of today's lesson was all about FORWARD. Like no matter how forward I thought she was, she needed to be more so. A and I both got tuned on and did medium trots and extended canters around and around the arena until I was gasping for air. My fitness leaves a lot to be desired right now.  I was like "why oh why is EC putting me through this hell?". And she was like "MORE, WHY ARE YOU NOT ASKING FOR MORE!?! Here, let me shout at you motivate you until you understand I really, truly, mean MORE!"

The method to her madness became apparent when we took all that forward energy and the newly energized Audrey I had built and then compressed that power. Whoa, I so wish I had video, because we were getting some really collected, like sitting almost on the spot, bouncing, trot steps. I hesitate to call it piaffe, because it was only a couple of steps here and there, but, mind blowing for a still very much learning rider like me. That medium trot was still happening, except it was going up instead of forward, carrying itself, until I pushed it back out again. So cool! We followed by recreating that feel in walk, and then cantering from that walk and spiralling in travers to what felt like some almost canter pirouettes, to a walk transition, and spiral back out to canter transition and spiral back in. Repeat.

So, so cool. But my mind is just a little bit blown. The amount of power and quickness in the hind end that I needed to create that is far beyond what I've been asking for or honestly even thought possible!

Anyway, tying in with the feedback from Saturday's clinic on Bridget. Creating that same power and quickness consistently is my homework for Bridget. Not a big goal this month, or anything, lol.

As a bit of a reality check, we did need to discuss that Bridget will only ever be capable and willing to do so much. I'm totally cool with that. She's already far exceeded any expectations I had of her, so if we can get to 3rd/schooling 4th in the next couple of years that's just icing on the cake. She's got a lifetime home here regardless of what the future brings.

Holy crap am I loving this dressage thing right now, though. I'm learning so much and cannot wait for our next lesson!