Dressage Day by Day

I'm still trying to figure out to ride Gadget up and not lock up his neck in certain movements. Our nemesis is the shoulder-in currently, particularly to the left. So hard for me to remember how to not screw up everything about the shoulder-in. What seems to work: Do not pull back! Position lightly and keep hands up (like puppeteer). Move  shoulders first, but do not let him lean on your hands Remember to keep legs wrapped around to keep him stepping Keep seat moving - think of bouncing and actually pushing with the seat a little more. This also keep my hands/elbows a bit looser

Sometimes I feel like the progress is so slow that I can barely tell the difference from year to year or month to month. Yet, every now and then, I have a ride where I finally FEEL the difference I have been trying to achieve. Tonight was one of those rides. I have been riding in the indoor arena, and the last couple rides have felt very underwhelming. Overall, I have struggled to get Gadget truly in front of my leg, which means I never quite got him through his back and soft in the bridle. It wasn't horrible work, but it wasn't great -- particularly in the canter. Tonight, I went in with the goal to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Whatever I asked, I was going to make it happen, quickly. After a bit of forward walk, I asked for the trot. It felt sleepy and sloppy, so I immediately gave him a couple strong gooses with the leg/spur and got him moving. His head popped up, but I just kept asking for more. Then with a bit of soft counter-flexions and true flexions, he rounded and started tro...