I spent the morning observing lessons and schooling. One particularly interesting exercise designed with the ultimate goal of a better canter pirouette was used in the following manner: begin the half-pass from the corner to the centerline and X, then counter-canter a 10 meter circle to the opposite direction, and continue the half-pass in the original direction. Then lengthen across the diagonal, collect through the corner, and do the same exercise again, but this time, after the counter-canter circle, add a half schooling pirouette in the original direction and go straight down the line (somewhere near the quarter line if you finished well), and do the same exercise again, until the inside hind leg is sufficiently engaged to produce a good schooling half pirouette with the horse running through neither leg and holding the canter rhythm through the pirouette.
After a while it was time for me to ride my little stallion friend and although a bit sore from yesterday, I was optimistic that today would be better. And it was. At least I was more able to get him through the back and better in the neck for longer periods of time. Just when I was starting to feel somewhat redeemed, I was asked to do a shoulder-in, and everything went you-know-where again!
Could I get that horse on the outside rein and down the long side without jeopardizing the safety of every horse near me? NO-as soon as I asked for the shoulder-in, I lost control of the steering, and whoever was near me started getting that grim look on their face wordlessly telling me that I was definitely not following protocol, and furthermore, I had better not run in to them! All right then, back to the walk, and try it on the second track where I was less threatening, and more successful. But as soon as I tried trotting again, he got stronger, I lost my finesse, and we produced only a semblance of a shoulder-in. Apparently I lose all control over my body under these circumstances, and any recollection I ever had about how to ride. I was informed that my body twists, my leg creeps up, my outside rein is unsteady, my aids are held too long, I don't stay in the middle of the saddle, my reins are too long and I don't ride forward enough.
Well, tomorrow (Monday) is a rest day here, and perhaps I can regroup and try to practice in my mind what my body doesn't seem to grasp. They are all the same words I've heard before, and that I tell my students repeatedly, but they suddenly become irrelevant on such a green, big-moving horse under the scrutiny of so many knowledgeable riders and instructors.
I have to say that the other highlight of my day is watching Ellen school her Grand Prix horses with such finesse, strength, and tact. I have a new appreciation for the skill it takes to ride these magnificent horses well. |