Slowly but surely

Making progress

jumping lesson... still drifting right but not as obvious to me.... better with my hands...

Just need to establish forward and keep it. Straightness slows him down. Encourage him to go forward and once I get straight to the fence...add one mile per hour each stride so that he's building and going forward. The video shows it. I know I'm chickening out and taking back. Don't.. give/soften and if he doesn't move forward, add leg to get the forward. Not running.. balanced... but more forward. Then he can decide what place to take off from but the forward gives us better options with better results.

Videos.

stills

Grid Morning

Today.... I had a cancellation and would have had time to ride, but I couldn't sleep last night, so I was cranky and slow this morning. Ended up riding at home and I'm glad I did.

Warmed up and still felt funky but definitely better when I sit, although it's really hard to sit in a jump saddle in the field! Got our left lead canter better! (Had the right draw rein and right hind bell boot on). Cantered the barrel a few times. Mostly straight. The first time he went over it he jumped hard left and I got madder than I should have. After that, he was GOING! I got his forward installed and while we got more forward, we also got a little bit straighter. Then went for the grid. The first time through he was soooooo not straight! He jumped the first two and then landed almost outside the grid so I pulled him out. Sigh... BUT... the second time through I focused and he was super straight. Then we came around on the other lead and he was also super straight. And the striding was right too!! So then we went to trot the barrel and had to do that twice and then we were done.

He was sooooo sweaty. So he got a rinse, as did Fleck.. because... ;)

And we laughed because... Dan tasted the rainbow!

Decent Dressage

Maybe only lame when I post??

Good canter work today. Figured out the aids for the left lead canter depart... I cannot tip forward.. if I just sit back and up he gets it. :) Used the handcuffs and the RH bellboot. Good trot work and SI and HI. Also played with centerline.. for some reason he thinks centerline means slam on the breaks reining style. Got some better halts and downwards.

Not helping my mood at all....

Such a pretty day... snuck in a ride. put on the RH bell boot. Danny felt puny and icky and lazy.... super hot...

but did make him canter through the bridge and jump the brush box... after walking through the bridge because we spooked at it.

ARGHHHH.....

Maybe we made him sore? Maybe I can't ride....

tried to jump. Even with handcuffs still drifting hard right. Felt lame still. (maybe only when I'm posting but I didn't test my theory as i didn't think about it til after).

Finally got it right over the weird oxer...

Dressage Lesson Amazingness

"Handcuffs"......  not a single lame step...  so through his topline and actually bending around my right leg. My aids were soft and quiet as was he. actual bend and correct bend in SI and HI... even some decent baby half pass at the trot.