Ryan Clinic -- June 2015 -- Mission: Fix my halfpasses

So I was able to share my good show news with Ryan at this clinic -- I got a 71%!!! He was very happy for me, but I told him that the judges hated my halfpasses. I rode them terribly and I need major help before the next show. With that goal in mind, we went to work. Gadget felt very balanced at this clinic and happy in the contact. The biggest thing to remember is to really make Gadget jump up in the canter without just running. I need to really hear the 3 beats and pause for suspension in the canter.

Back to the halfpasses -- I had been letting the haunches trail in the left halfpasses. Ryan had me think of starting the halfpass in shoulder fore, but then keeping the shoulders to the right a bit and really asking the haunches to come left. Then, finish the halpasses in a little renver or haunches in. Essentially, at the end of the halfpass, let the halfpasses lead, then right straight in shoulder in. I rode the halfpasses like crap in the clinic (I'm not good at processing how to use my body during clinics), but it really came together at home.

He also had me do lots of forward and back in the trot -- only a few steps of each to try to get more suspension and bounce in Gadget's stride.

It was a wonderful clinic. I learned so much and I have had even more success at home applying these principles.

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