a-One & a-Two & a-Three & a-Four

 Bonus points if you know the reference for this blog title!

Today I had a lesson and it was Carmen's turn. I was really excited for it because Carmen has been such a solid horse to ride since the show. We go into the ring and do our work and it just feels so good. It's not like she's become a magical unicorn... 

Carmen: ahem! I've always been a magical unicorn. You just failed to notice. 

Yes, yes, but as I was saying, she's become so rideable. We've even gone on a few solo hacks.  It's been so hot that the woods are relief, even with all the horseflies. 

Carmen: this is fine, more of this please

So I was excited to get Jane's input. I even texted Tanya a few days before: 

 When Jane arrived this morning I was pretty much gushing about Carmen. About how good she's been and how our counter canter work is getting really better. Jane said that I was not cursing myself and even if something arose in your lesson that's okay. It doesn't take away from the joy you're having. 

Spoiler alert: I did not curse us. 

We had already been warming up so Jane got us to work. As always, I need more on the outside rein and stop being so passive with my leg.  She kept saying Ask for the walk you want, not the one she gives you.  Left to her own devices Carmen will change her walk rhythm all over the place. Which is not good for her balance. In the past I would go with it. Now I'm to tell her what I want and keep asking.  When the walk rhythm was good we did some turn on the haunches, first a quarter turn and then a half turn. My problem is that I simply cannot feel that she steps wide behind. I'm too used to it. Jane had me walk a haunches in and then do the turn. Which is not correct but a correction, if that makes sense. 

Carmen waiting while I set up the pivo

We spent a little time on trot- getting her to track up and push to my hands while being bent. But we mostly worked on the canter. 

like why is my outside shoulder back? sigh.
 riding is hard and Carmen is a saint

It was different to have a lesson focussed on the canter because normally it takes a while for Carmen to be, well rideable (word of the day!) and cantering sooner is just asking for it all to go to shit. 

But not now. Now we can just canter. Is it perfect? No? But it's good. and getting better. In my rides alone I've been cantering a lot and asking for transitions down the long side. And because I'm riding the canter more, I'm getting better and so is the gait. (feel free to roll your eyes here). 

I know her ears are back but she actually wasn't pissed at me

Jane had us canter a 10 metre circle and then ask for the walk. It was not good. Because I wasn't managing the rhythm. That's when she started having me count a rhythm: 1-2-3-4. She got it started for me and then I was to say it out loud as we cantered. 

At first it felt really weird. And then things began to click and I was timing my aids with my counting and keeping her in a steady rhythm.  I began to really be able to time my hands and my legs to help her and it became so much easier. 

Like any new thing, it follows a pattern of 'get it, lose it, get it, lose it, get it, almost lose it but save it,'  The walk-canter transitions really improved. The canter-walk got better but were still crappy on the long side. But I can work on that. 

Jane then had me do the counter canter serpentine. Which is you're not familiar are where you ride a sepertine on one lead and the middle piece is in counter canter.  These have been historically difficult, Carmen wants to speed up and get sprawly and I usually let her. If I try to correct we go sideways.  Like I said at the beginning, they are getting way better.  

I have a 4 minute video on YouTube that I'm sharing. You can see the struggle with right lead CC and her confusion.  I'm counting and trying to keep the rhythm. The first few are not so good and once she even broke gait from her confusion over being asked to do it differently. But the last one was the best we've even done. And that's where we stopped. 

What I do love is how much better my seat is at the canter and that I'm not being bounced out of the saddle. What I really love is how hard she's trying.  Jane said 'you must be so proud of the work you've done. because this is because of you. 

And you! I said We both agreed that it has definitely been a team effort.  

(and if you guessed that the title reference was to Lawrence Welk, a conductor who had a musical TV show from 1951-1982. He started every number by saying 'a one an a two an a three an a four').  Yes I'm old.