first level type sh*t

All the DQs out there might laugh (hard) at this, but I think I *finally* get what all the fuss is about.

return of the mirror selfies! and *real* riding boots!!!

Let's back up for some context, recalling that I only truly began dressage in the summer of 2014.

My first trainer (childhood through high school) believed in a traditional balanced seat philosophy and laid a solid foundation for riding from seat and legs. But with age, she became increasingly protective of her horses, wanting riders using less and less contact. Meaning everyone wore a hackamore (you needed 'approval' to ride in a bit) and the word "pull" was verboten.

So I never learned about true contact and connection there, nor did I pick it up in the h/j world, where I stayed for the next 10 years.

Isabel has demonstrated that she's got the talent and affinity for dressage tho, and I'm figuring out that with a good enough ride, she should be very competitive at events based on dressage score alone (we'll leave stadium rounds for another day lol).

how to prepare for an epic dressage lesson. white boots optional, cat is required tho

Plus it's easy to get excited about Izzy's dressage potential when I ride with a trainer who's absolutely BONKERS about the horse. Seriously. Every time I see trainer C, she reminds me that she wants Isabel for her breeding program when she's done as a riding horse. And she loves Isabel's lengthenings and always has me do them when her people are around to watch.

Which gets us back to the point (finally lol). There was a dressage show near Frederick over the weekend so I took another lesson with C. Sadly the show was canceled due to the EHV outbreak in PA (that has Alli and Dino on lock-down, scary), but we carried on with the lesson anyway.

I told C that the plan was to ride Training 2 & 3, since we went through all the movements last week. She thought that was all well and nice and all, but actually said we should aim for first level instead. Why? Because Isabel's lengthenings are fantastic.

ignore than i'm getting thrown out of the tack, just look at her! (also pic was from last week, no new media this time)

Thus began what I believe was our first *true* dressage ride. I have understood dressage as 'trot on a circle with the horse's head down.' Honestly, that's kinda how the eventing dressage tests go anyway. Trot a circle in balance. Check. Canter a circle in balance. Check. Walk with nose on ground. Check. Boom, nice test, you win.

And as such, Isabel and I would dutifully trot around on circles, nitpicking each other and fussing about connection and head position.

But in this lesson we actually did THINGS. Like even *smaller* circles!!! Haha, just kidding, that wasn't the exciting part.

"things. i like doing them" - isabel

What made it exciting was the technicality. Trot up the long side and at a predetermined point, turn in for half a 10m circle, then take the diagonal back to the wall, changing rein.

Or, free walk across diagonal, then medium walk, then working trot, then canter, bam bam bam. But wait - no rest for the weary, lengthen that canter up the long side then reel it in for a 15m circle. Then canter across the diagonal, transitioning to trot promptly at X.

Imo, that's kinda a lot of stuff all at once, and requires a certain balance and focus that isn't just "put your head here." Plus it turns out that Izzy's canter lengthenings are there too - and she's incredibly easy to put back together again (thank YOU, Dan lessons), meaning that preparing for that trot transition at X is very doable.

And while riding through this test, Isabel and I didn't really fuss once about connection. She was just right there, ready for whatever came next. It was almost like this was what she's been waiting for all along - plainly trotting around connected and balanced is boooooring, she wants to DO something.

This test (2015 USEF First Level Test 1) fit the bill perfectly. It almost felt like a jump course - as soon as you made it through one bit, the next piece was right there. I totally get it now, you guys. This stuff is FUN (never mind the fact that I was *exhausted* after riding the test haha).

"you want fancy? i'll show ya fancy!" - isabel

So yea. Dressage winter boot camp starts now. Pretty exciting!!

And because it can't be a 'Fraidy Cat Eventing lesson recap without some nitty gritty takeaways, here they are:

• Start thinking about slowly changing Isabel's balance to a slightly higher frame.
• I should aim to have Isabel's nose poked ever so slightly in front of the vertical, rather than right smack on it (and definitely not behind).
• It's ok for our leg yields to lead with the shoulder for now, and that is definitely preferred to having too much right bend.
• For the 10m half circles, it's very hard for judges to tell if the circle is a little longer than it is wide. Meaning, I can turn in ever so slightly late and give myself a little more room to ensure that my half circle ends exactly on the center line at X. Strategy, y'all.
• For lengthenings (esp canter), ONE leg signal at beginning then let her go. To bring her back together, close entire leg. 
• While schooling the first trot lengthening or two, don't go all out - wait until later when she's really cooking. 
• Halts were ON POINT, as was the balance of our canter immediately preceding trot transition at X. Remember that feeling!
• Watch out for Isabel's right shoulder - especially tracking right I need to avoid exaggerating the bend such that we actually get into shoulder-in (unless that's specifically what I want). 
• Work on being straighter with my body - hips shoulders weight etc. I'm currently sitting too far right, probably compensating for my broken left leg. 
• In a test, don't worry about switching whip as we change reins - just carry it in left hand (given my current weak left leg).
• At some point, we'll work on sitting trot such that the brief corner of trot between walk and canter in First 1 can be sat; C thinks it makes for a more elegant picture. 
• Holy hell I will never be able to sit that trot lengthening tho. I can barely post it!