On the Straight and Narrow

 My rides on Carmen since our lessons last week have been really good. I've been pleased with how we're both behaving. I was looking forward to a lesson I had booked for Wednesday.  Julia also was available to ride so we started early and warmed up by hacking in the woods. 

Carmen was really on the aids marching forward. Shanea said that our lesson was going to focus on straightness.  It seems a bit ridiculous that this is still a struggle for us but honestly, it has more to do with Carmen's mental focus than anything. She really wants to look out of the ring and put her weight on her inside shoulder. I try to compensate by getting her bent to the inside which gets me hanging on the inside rein and, funnily enough, that makes her more crooked. Go figure. 

It's worse on the right rein so Shanea had me think about counter-bending and keeping her haunches to the rail. 

When Shanea rode Carmen last week she said that she had noticed a big change in her willingness to listen to the rider. Instead of defaulting to 'no' she tries to find the answer.  When Carmen is more straight and balanced she's also more confident and forward. 

Our warm up trot was slow but steady.  I don't worry about her neck stretching to contact but I do try to give her the room to do it. 

her neck is short here but I like how she's carrying herself

As we moved into trot I realized that I had worn the wrong breeches. These are full seat denim Horze breeches and I love them. But in this saddle the silicone was too sticky and it kept pulling on my leg. I had to stop and readjust a few times.  Carmen took that all very well. 

We played with shoulder in on the inside track and centre line. It's hard for me to not worry about her having her head up. Not because I want her in a frame but when her head is it's because she is looking for danger and likely to bolt. So me having a loopy rein here is a big step for me. 

We finished up with canter work and it was amazing. She was so straight and forward. I could feel her whithers lifting her pushing from behind.  Even Shanea said 'wow, where has that canter been hiding?'

I knew it existed but it was fun to ride. 

Carmen has a busy mouth and now that I have the flash off she is more active. However, with a flash she pushes on it which is more tension. So I have the flash off and have faith that we will work through it. I contribute to it as well with my hands that insist on being busy but we're getting there. However, at times she will put her tongue over the bit and then get really upset. I usually stop and let her sort her tongue and then carry on. When we were cantering to the left she got her tongue over the bit but I didn't stop. Instead I pushed my hands forward and let her sort herself. What was nice was that she didn't even change her stride. She fixed it and we carried on. 

hands forward while I tell her to sort it out

All in all it was a good lesson. I have homework and I hope that I can show improvement in the straightness. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate how gorgeous this colour combination is on her?

so much to love about this.
 

I don't know, maybe I'll learn to ride some day. 

Such a good girl