Slow Down, Then Go Slower: This. Is. DRESSAGE.

first lesson

So last year I had a lot of fun with Courage and did all kinds of things and let's be honest, skipped some pretty critical steps that he really needed covered in order to progress as a sporthorse. Our jumping coach S pointed out that Courage needed to be able to lengthen his frame and go forward in that balance in order to improve his jumping.

And that's something you don't learn by doing course work every week.

ooooh look what an exciting walk picture!

And it's not very exciting.

And it's hard.

And guess what we have been doing all winter at the dressage barn?

I haven't been blogging much about riding because instead of the feel-good updates of "YEAH JUMPING SHIT" it's much more like "well, today we did a hundred walk/trot transitions". Actually, that was two weeks ago. This past week, Courage was a little footsore so instead the update should be "today we did 50 transitions from free walk to working walk to free walk each direction".

he's a hottie

So you know. It's good quality work. His education is progressing in leaps and bounds. It's just not very exciting to read about.

In fact, every time I feel like we should just start accelerating forward, we take a few more steps back to do basics.

I complained to my dressage instructor and she said something like "this is dressage".

Damn.

I'd be discouraged, but Courage has really started developing some sexy muscles in his neck and butt and his attitude has never been better, sooooo we're learning to rock the long and low and slow.

Am I dressaging yet?

Walking

Izzy got two days off on account of the weather, my schedule, and me being generally exhausted. I don't think she minded. Today I turned her loose in the arena and she galloped around a little, but didn't buck. I didn't bother with lunging her before we rode because I basically just do it to allow her a chance to burn off energy, which she already did.

Then we walked. I started by not asking for much. I just wanted a steady, forward, 4 beat rhythm. She could stretch or she could not. Then, I started asking her to really push from behind. When she did, I'd give the inside rein and scratch her withers. Gradually, she moved in to accepting the contact and started offering to stretch. Then we changed direction and did the whole thing the other way.

I was so happy. She was balanced and rhythmical and taking a light contact and it just feels so good to ride that. I even contemplated not moving beyond that today, but I decided I wanted that same feeling at the trot and canter. We stayed very relaxed. She was comfortably forward, and she was very responsive. It felt amazing. When we could do walk, trot, and canter circles both directions while maintaining balance and a steady rhythm, I gave her a cookie and put her away. Every day should be like this.

:-)