Releasing the Dragon

 Well I've had four lessons in a row and it's been amazing. The last three have been with Carmen. In my recap a couple weeks ago I talked about how we're working on establishing (and keeping!) a steady rhythm. Last week we built on that and worked on flexion and doing transitions from behind rather than her throwing into them with her chest. 

I will love this image by Emma forever
(and my goodness she's lightened up)

It was good work and a great lesson. I can see huge improvements in our transitions. We even did some work on counter canter and it was great. Our first time through I took my leg off and she dropped to canter and then picked up the 'correct' lead. I couldn't be mad, she was clearly helping. 

I did a quick debrief with Jane and we tried again and it was great! Look. how balanced we stayed. 

To the left it was even better. These are the best counter canter loops we've ever done. 

I had a good week practicing encouraging her to stretch her neck and to be soft with her body. As always, it's Carmen so every ride is a new ball of wax. But overall things have been going really well.  

I was excited for this morning's lesson. I thought briefly of doing it with Quaid but decided I wanted to keep the momentum with Carmen going.  After a few unseasonably warm days last week this weekend was more typical. So cool and a bit breezy. Carmen was definitely feeling more challenging and dragon-like. 

Carmen: what part of 'I'm not in the mood' don't you understand
Me: ......oh I understand...

Jane came and immediately honed in our total lack of rhythm. Which I was like 'yeah I know, I keep trying'. 

Jane had us do an exercise of shoulder in a few strides, straighten a few strides, repeat all the way around the ring.  It was really hard because I had to stay soft but firm and keep the reins active, but don't be abrupt. 

but it really worked

It's funny, it felt like a train wreck to be honest. But when I look at clips from the video it wasn't as awful as it felt. As tense as she felt at times I never felt unsafe. 

I also found at times that I was getting lost at what to do but Jane just kept talking me through it and the pieces began to fall into place. 

We finished on the middle 20m circle practicing getting her to flex and soften to the inside while maintaining a light light leg. All my moves had to be slow and deliberate. Carmen's ears began to bob, then her neck began to soften. Like really soften (unfortunately my pivo quit here so no media).  Carmen was completely unsure of this but at the same time she felt like playdoh. The lightest aid made a difference. I have worked with Carmen a long time and I have never felt her this loose.  We finished and I dismounted. Carmen did a number of 'releases' just like horses do after a massage when they let tightness go: she shook her head, blew and yawned and yawned. Her face during this was adorable. Instead of a fire-breathing dragon she looked like a kitten. 

I am fascinated to continue on this path.