Dressage Fun

told ya. banging.

Courage and I participated in our first-ever (together) dressage clinic this weekend. As per the usual, I was proud of my little man and thought that all my friends would be deeply interested in what I was doing, so I talked Alyssa into coming both days to take pictures.

She may have ended up regretting that choice.

Saturday was our first ride. Our outfit was completely banging, which I was proud of. The clinician was less interested in that and more interested in the fact that while I've gotten Courage to give up the base of his neck some, his solution was to then shorten his stride and release his neck while still holding his back tight.

ASS

Naturally, the quick fix is to ride MORE FORWARD, but funny thing, when you push Courage forward, he gets more tight and his stride quickens. So instead of all the cool and fancy dressage things (that we can't do anyways yet), 85% of our lesson was at the walk.

Courage learns by slowing down and taking the pressure off, not jamming forward and hoping he figures things out along the way.

The ride focused on teaching Courage to stretch all the way down to the ground, first at the halt, then at the walk. Once he figured out what I wanted, I had to ask him to go slightly more forward.

best day 1 shot

If he stretches down and slows down, he's still holding his back tight. It was when he'd stretch down and walk forward and especially on a turn that he'd really lift his back and stretch his topline.

At the end of the lesson, we incorporated it into the trot a little, but it was hard work for Courage, both mentally and physically.

nailed it.

DAY TWO

Because I am poor/a tightwad/motivated (you pick), I didn't want to take the same lesson twice. I warmed Courage up on Sunday using the principles from the lesson Saturday and had it down. Our clinician was impressed.

That lasted like .02 seconds and then we were back to work. Since Courage understood the concepts, it was time to start applying them.

but so fancy

We immediately added in walk/trot transitions. Courage was doing famously and then the clinician said "canter".

We were going right. I wanted to say "LULZ WOMAN U CRAY CRAY", but I hate people who don't believe in themselves and talk back to the instructor.

So I did what she asked--I kept Courage active and loose. I sat up like a dressage rider instead of perching like a happy jump rider. I brought Courage back every time he braced.

ERMEGERD RIGHT LEAD CANTER

I still didn't really think he could do it, recent bodywork or no, but then....

HOT DAMN LADIES MY HORSE CAN CANTER RIGHT

This was where I really loved the clinician--we attempted to canter a couple of times and each time Courage braced and tried to run.

So the clinician had me bring him back to walk and do the same thing in w/t transitions a few times, then ask for the canter once he was comfortable.

It made SO MUCH SENSE to a Courage brain.

i love his mane in this one

We have some really great exercises to work on. The clinician was very positive about us--she said I have great feel and she was very pleased with Courage.

In fact, she said that when she comes back in a month or two, she thinks I'll be able to have him correctly and consistently on the bit at all three gaits.

:-D Nothing like a little confidence.