addressing the weaknesses

How is it June already? Ugh, blowing my mind. It doesn't help that I'm a bit far behind in posts right now. Sorry! I'll keep this one brief: just a few takeaways to remember and document.

Isabel and I finally had a dressage lesson with trainer C at TM for the first time in ~2 months. It pains me to miss her for so long, but it's hard to stay consistent with Sunday lessons in the summer. Maybe we can try weekdays now that I have more flexibility when working from home?

I gave C the big ol' rundown on what's been going on lately with Isabel (specifically: that our show jumping is a shambles). And paid particular attention to outlining any detail, coincidence, pattern, anything that could potentially point to a physical issue with the mare.

Yes, I've said before that it presents as a training issue and that the mare does not seem uncomfortable. Actually verifying that with a vet is not something I can do unilaterally tho, so I'm doing the next best thing: Asking ALL of the trainers haha. And C has eagle eyes - if there's something there, she is gonna see it. But nope, nothing there to see.

she loves her reflection haha

Trainer C actually theorizes that it stems from weakness in Isabel's back. Sounds like a pretty typical dressage-y type answer, right? But perhaps she's onto something.

My struggle is in getting the mare in front of my leg. I either end up just riding the front end and not getting enough forward, or we careen around like madmen - but still totally fast and flat with no real push from behind.

C wants to see Isabel wait more in her trot so she can carry more weight in her hind end. The word nerd in me appreciates that perhaps our issues could be solved with homonyms.

trot!

We started things off with Isabel voluntarily stretch stretch stretching it out on a trot circle for a good long while. Then right out onto the trot work. With C basically delivering instruction via stream of consciousness, something I've desperately missed haha.

She wanted me to focus on being soft in my hands and contact. Saying that rein contact is a relative thing and I have to find where Isabel's sweet spot is. That Isabel may be getting more specific in what she wants, and might not want or won't tolerate any backwards feel anymore. And that I have to adapt.

I need to use my legs to help keep her back lifted and pushing into my hand - thinking circles, serpentines and leg yields for this. We also did a TON of shoulder in - which actually went quite well. The mare really came out to play, and I managed to remember to keep the weight down my inside leg with a soft almost neutral inside hand, and use the outside half halt to get the angle.

canter!

We worked on SI up the long sides, changing direction via lengthened trot on the diagonals - something we haven't practiced in ages and was very rusty. C wants to see me taking more time to develop the lengthened stride rather than rocketing immediately out of the corner. Downwards felt pretty good tho.

And lots of canter transitions. Especially the right lead depart - always our tricksier depart and perhaps where Isabel's weakness is most obvious?

Anyway, while cantering I had what felt like a position breakthrough. If you've been following along for a while, you may remember that I've struggled to quit the quintessential hunter perch and learn to actually sit the canter.

C has long told me to not dig with my seat at the canter - that she wants lightness while sitting. That's been... hard for me to feel. But we are getting closer. She told me to ask Isabel for a stretchy feel even in canter, which maybe helped me be more accountable for my arms and upper body. Then told me to almost feel like I'm standing on the ground in my stirrups.

Which - you may recall - closely echoes what Stephen Birchall said in our clinic this past spring. I need to let the stirrups carry me, not my seat or legs. Allowing Isabel's back to stay up so her neck can stretch down and stay soft. My lower leg stretches down and around loosely to lift Isabel's belly up, with the thought of allowing her to go forward, rather than sending her forward.

And it'll shock you to hear that Isabel actually came up in her shoulders when I could get the feel just right. Definitely something to remember!

lots of pets for a hard working mare

So. It was a good, thoughtful lesson. I'm not sure what all it means for jumping - but if trainer P from OF is right in her hypothesis that the mare has lost some confidence, then building her strength and improving my position can only help. With that in mind, we'll be back for another ride with C this afternoon.

What about you - have you had any useful position breakthroughs recently? Or anything that stands out as being super useful in sitting the canter or promoting a better way of going in your horse? OR, haha, have you ever managed to solve a horse problems with homonyms? Bc I would LOVE to hear about that lol.