Clinic Time

My favorite dressage judge (the one I visited in Florida last Dec) was in town judging a schooling show and she came by the farm for a day of lessons Saturday.  She hasn't seen Stinker in person since late last year when she had us take a few steps back.  Because I am needy I made her look at him untacked (I have been sending her photos) and she was really happy with the way he looked.  This made me feel so much better, because it is one thing for me to think he is doing better and another to have a trusted outside source confirm it.

I drop all contact (from the beginning of the lesson)

I went all out for the turnout for our lesson.  Poor Stinker.  He got a bath (I fed him his timothy while he was drying so he partially forgave me) the morning of and I got all my tacked cleaned.  Well I forgot about my boots but they had been cleaned a couple days earlier, so they didn't look too bad.  Then I actually used a white saddle pad (second time ever) and put white polo wraps on (first time ever wrapping all four legs...side note I suck at the hind legs).  Stinker looked so dapper and of course I forgot to take pictures, so you will have to look at the GIFs from the video.

Nothing mind blowing, but I think he looks damn good!

I figured that it was going to be one of those lessons where I was so excited to show off our progress and all the wheels would fall off.  Especially when I thought about how much I had changed up our routine (bath, wrapping, generally taking a long time to tack up, etc.).  I was pleasantly surprised.  I got up there early enough that I was about to walk him for about 15 minutes (I have discovered this really helps him with getting straight and thinking about stretching down).

He is starting to get neck muscles

The focus of the lesson wasn't anything that I haven't done/been told before, but it finally clicked in my brain.  The whole goal is to get him stretching and using his body correctly.  Since he likes to brace the under neck and get short the goal was to make him long and loose.  We even got to work on this in the trot (it is basically a jig, but that can build as he learns to stay relaxed).  It was all quite simple, I rotate my inside hand so my fingers are up and open it (like I am opening a door) to ask for inside flexion.  I have been doing this for some time now, but the key part I was missing is I have to keep connection and feeling him in my elbow regardless of how long my reins are.

Tired pony at the end.

I have been letting him out too far and losing the connection when he stretches.  By keeping him connected and to where I can feel him in my elbows I don't leave him up to his own devices.  I also am to the point where I can push and act for more.  He trusts me and I can push with out him losing all his marbles.  I need to always be asking for something and not let him cruise around as much.  I am so happy that everything is finally starting to click in my brain.  And the best part is I was able to recreate everything on Sunday (this never happens!).

Full video if anyone is super bored at work.