merry-go-round

So I had a whole bunch of big plans leading up to another show this weekend... But with Doozy getting kicked and missing some rides from that (and also from me being out of town... and also from, on occasion, having other things going on in life... you know how it goes), things are kinda up in the air now. C'est la vie, amirite?

hangin out at the trailer like the most civilized creature while Amy + Punky had their lesson first

Ambiguity and fluidity are new friends to me, and... honestly, I'm appreciating just enjoying my horse on a day by day basis. On this day, that enjoyment took the form of another eagerly awaited dressage lesson with Trainer C -- intended as show prep but still independently delightful!

"cookies pls!"

There's an actual metric buttload of video footage... But, eh. It looks a lot like a green TB trotting around inverted, weak, hollow and counter-bent while her rider fumbles around trying to put all the pieces together. To me? Glorious! To the average viewer tho? Well. You know... LOL....

fair warning --- i cherry picked only the best moments from legit endless footage of my untrained racehorse twirling around like a dervish

So I did everybody the favor of parsing through all that footage frame by frame to find the little moments where pieces clicked together, where one or both of us had a little "aha!" or gave a big try. In other words, pics today aren't exactly "representative" of the ride, but rather little "dots" that eventually I want to be able to connect into a bigger future picture.

when slanty walls attack!

And guys, it was a good lesson. Like, really getting back to our roots here. This arena has such good juju, Trainer C has been such a supportive and positive coach over the years (since 2015 omg!), and Doozy and I are really feeling like a proper team. 

sorta kinda tryna leg yield

It's a relief, in a way, too. I cringe at so many photos of me riding these days bc I feel sloppy and slouchy and all over the place... And ya know, I am.... Bc that's just the reality of having to come back from a period of protracted downtime. Skills, strengths, abilities... They're only ever really on loan, ya know? We don't "own" them. Use it or lose it, right?

"ohhhhh bennnnd" -- doozy, figuring things out

That's where the video is so helpful, too, tho. Like I can only realistically keep track of mayyybe one or two body parts at a time when I'm riding. 

Given enough routine consistent coaching, eventually all the various bits and bobs fall in line.. but right now? Good lord, if I'm focusing on one hand, the other is probably wafting out into the stratosphere. If my mind is on keeping my inside leg draped down long like the pole in a carousel horse... my outside leg is likely stuck straight out ahead of me like some kind of brace. 

 

proof that even this monkey of a rider can eventually write shakespeare, if only briefly

Doozy, meanwhile, is legitimately always counter-bent. Like. Wayyyyy more than I realized. And honestly, I think it's bc of how I try to slow her down -- that I try to hold her out. But seeing it in this lesson, paired with Trainer C's coaching, really made it plain. 

canter transitions!

Trainer C wants me to constantly be thinking about bringing Doozy's nose in, while keeping my outside hand low -- as if to invite her outside shoulder to stay out and upright. I should be always aiming for a sorta "leg yield" feel, without being afraid of putting my inside leg on to not leg Doozy's rib cage push inward.

trotting diagonals without bolting off into the sunset

We practiced some very basic figure work -- first trotting circles in the ends of the arena focusing on bringing the nose in, slowing down the trot. Then we'd go up the long side along the "second track" (about 8' off the wall, so kinda halfway to the quarter line) and try to gently glide back toward the wall with an "out and over, out and over, nose slightly in, body out" type feeling. Not exactly a leg yield, but working on that feeling.

probably did the most trotting of our lives in this lesson lol... step one to making the trot better is actually trotting at all

We found that smaller circles (15m or even smaller still) helped in the ends of the arena, esp when I tried to channel the spiral work we've been practicing. And obvi trying to keep the pace steady and not rushed --- thinking of telling Doozy, "wait!" then relax, "wait!" then relax, again and again to help her sort of understand the beginnings of a 'half halt.'

and another canter transition!

Doozy, for her part, was a superstar. I legit wish I'd tinkered around with her bridle way sooner, bc this flash strap is making a huge difference. Trainer C actually said she starts all her babies in a flash -- bc it's easier to start with "this is a normal part of the bridle!" that can be discarded if unnecessary, vs having to add it in later. In retrospect, I wish I'd done the same -- bc I can be a lot softer now with my hands and we both like that!

pretty pleased with this pony
(no idea why i look like an illustration from an airplane safety instructions booklet here... but it's a cute pic anyway!)

Separate from the bridle, tho, Doozy was just... again, really good. She tried so hard in this lesson. Legit trotted for about 7 goddamn minutes straight at one point (I know bc it's all on video) without trying to break into canter once. Like.. wow. Good girl! 

It was hot and humid and we were both sweaty and puffing (and I may or may not have almost damn near fallen on my ass when I dismounted LOL), but she tried the whole time. Doozy has a "tell" when she's getting worked up and tense, where she sorta whistles and groans and holds her breath... Like a cartoon bomb about to drop... But she didn't go there once this whole lesson. Just stayed present and responsive, in her own red way. 

good girl, dooz!

For me, this is the good stuff -- and I'm so excited to keep growing and developing with this special little mare <3 <3