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December -- month of the 10 meter circle

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So after a miserably bad ride yesterday, Gadget worked fabulously today. He had a lot of factors working in his favor today: it was a balmy 55 degrees, the outdoor dressage arena footing was glorious, and it's a weekend so maybe I did not drag my work tension to the barn with me.

As planned, we started out with stretching and suppling and making him quicker to the leg. This took some time in the trot, but he finally started feeling pretty good. The walk was uncharacteristically good today, too. A good walk for Gadget is nearly any walk where he is on the bit and forward at the same time. I am focusing on keeping the reins forward-thinking without giving away the contact (a la my favorite Lilo Fore youtube videos). In the canter, I focus on keeping the reins quiet and riding him up to the reins. I must break the habit of pulling back in the canter, and simply learn to allow the canter to develop, SIT UP, and canter up to the contact.

However, the most amazing working took place in the canter. We have been struggling with the left lead most of this year. It is more naturally uphill, but I struggle to get decent contact on the outside rein. Today I went back to the ultra-simple exercise Bent had me work on to place Gadget on a 10 meter circle, take contact on the outside rein, give half halts on the outside rein, stay soft and playful on the inside rein, and really ask him to stay forward and stepping under. Today the exercise really made a huge difference. Gadget actually stayed forward, softened his jaw, and took the outside rein contact. The trot after that canter work was amazing. He was up in the neck, totally carrying himself, and soft and quiet in the contact. By gaining access to the outside rein, the canter halfpass on the left lead felt better too. I schooled the 10 meter circles in the center of the arena.  Hopefully I can replicate this work as I know this is what we both need to improve the collected work.



 

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