Refocusing

Since my lessons with my favorite dressage judge the focus of my rides has shifted slightly.  I now have three main goals for my rides.

• Ride-ability
• Immediately working over his back
• Suppleness

The ride-ability has been improving rapidly after I was reminded that I need to expect it.  He tends to get quick and plow through my aids, but if I up my expectations and ride him without any baggage he steps up to the plate.  The remembering to ride him without any baggage is the tough part, but I am slowly getting there.

Getting him to immediately working over his back is a bit trickier.  If he gets flustered his immediate response is to shorten and pop his head up.  Plus he spends the majority of the time with his head up, so altering this response is taking time.  It helps when I remember to stay very consistent in my aids.

The suppleness is a bit of a struggle.  Lately he has been really tight in his poll, especially to the right.  In addition to that I am still having some problems with the left shoulder.  It is a struggle to get him to soften through the left shoulder and stay in the right rein.  By the end of the ride it will be good, but I would like to be able to get to that point more quickly.

I have been really happy with how he has been going since my lessons.  Hopefully, we can keep the progress moving forward and I will remember to forget the past and ride the horse I have now.