Obsess over the neck length/contact

 Kelly Eaton lesson

wore Caroline's ribbon on hack to covered to deliver it. 

felt a hair short again on the hack over there. Told Kelly E about it all. she also agrees it sounds like feet. and with all his stuff going on, it makes sense that his feet need to be perfect.

watched me warm up and told me to obsess about his stretch. He can't half ass it. He has to be reaching for the contact and steady. When he is really in the contact, his back lifts, he gets swingy, and his head stops moving but his neck gets wiggly. So.. make sure I don't settle for less than that. Walk and trot. 

progressed to a more forward marching walk. she had to use the whip in the middle of the arena. Marching!! Almost jigging march.. or breaking to trot march. that much energy but connection. Then went to trot. must keep his shoulders from swinging out or in. trot must be marching and reaching too. then played with slowing it down but keeping it big and forward. When he changes within the gait, watch for the ducking behind the vertical or diving down. That's how he cheats. If he does, send him forward again. When he can stay consistent in the back and forwards within the gaits, that's when we know we're getting it. So.. use it as a test for me. And don't fix it by fiddling with his face... widen my hands, keep a connection but giving and soft and elastic, but don't throw away too much. Only give half, not all. move my hands both right or both left to correct his shoulders. as soon as he starts to correct go back to neutral. 

Quite nice. Works at the canter too. Same thing.

Good boy!! Basics, but... I had let them sneak away subtly. Dan felt pretty good for most of the lesson. Occasionally a subtle funky step when changing directions. Kelly agreed about his topline looking worse again and the not quite rightness, but... also didn't think he was lame. suggested checking foot rads and reassessing. also, stay pure! Don't let him suck me into letting him cheat. 

And.. remember... neck out and forward!! That's most important. his tongue did come out once. It was when he was sucking back behind the vertical. I pushed him forward and gave him a minute to sort it out and then he was fine again. Chomping on the bit in the beginning but... was more trying to avoid work/contact vs stressing. The tongue was stress, but he totally twisted up his own neck, so... I told him that was on him. But still worrisome... is it feet? Stifle? neck? lower back? Arghhhhh

had a nice hack home... rain moved out so didn't have to hurry to finish unloading hay. Had a nice walk and then a few short canters. didn't want to play in the lake today all by himself.

good pony! I did tell Kelly that I wanted to event AND dressage him because... "he's my favorite and he's fun to ride". So.. maybe we focus on Training 3 day and training AEC's and then after next year... we go to dressage.