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November Ryan Clinic

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I had my last Ryan clinic of the year, and it was fantastic. I am so sad to see Ryan go, but he has promised to come back earlier next year and begin in April.

Because I was out of town most of the week, Gadget had 3 days off before the clinic. He felt a bit distracted on the first day but he felt forward (hooray!). The collected canter felt solid today as did the collected trot.

For collected trot, I need to start asking for more from Gadget. After a proper warm up, I need to get him in the proper frame and ask him to work through his back while carrying himself in a higher frame. Right now, giving a forward aid (pelvic tilt back/scooch forward with seat) from my seat seems to get the best trot, then I can mold him a bit more with some half halts.

I have been struggling with halfpass in trot and canter lately and Ryan reminded me to carry him up and forward with the inside leg. Perfect solution. Also, work in counter canter on left lead pushing Gadget's body to the left to help improve his balance for the canter halfpass.

For flying changes, get the right canter (forward, soft in the neck, jumping), SIT, give the half-halt, aid for the change. If the change does not come, do not let him dive and then change! If there is no change from the first aid, collect, SIT, and prepare to ask again. This is most important in the right to left change, where I need to keep my right seat bone plugged in.



New exercise for flying changes -- counter canter down the long side, push Gadget off the rail in slight legyield, collect, then change. This was tough, but effective. It needs more work as evidenced by the video, but I think this will help give me control in the change:

Ryan actually seems to think we have a shot at third level next year. He said he was not disappointed with the flying changes work. Gadget understands the aid and all of his issues are fixable. I still feel like I have something to prove at second level -- like breaking that damn 60% barrier! However, I think I will aim for a third level test by the end of the season if we can firm up the changes and halfpasses.

In other news, Gadget and I won the WPDA Reserve Champion Adult Amature Year End Award for Second Level at USDF competitions. That long, lovely ribbon will carry me through the winter doldrums . . .

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