Hmmm... canter

Schooled I did ... *pat on back* and actually, really enjoyed him.

He was LOVELY tonight. Every now and again, head shot up and he tried to spook but the more I concentrated on outside rein, the more successful I was in preventing it. We didn't have a single spook anyway tonight, just an ATTEMPT to.

Got a nice trot established first, little bit of shoulder in, one or two attempts at medium trot (didn't really happen as he wasn't quite warmed up/focussed enough) and then canter on both reins.

Our canter is where we're really struggling at the moment. In dressage tests, it's truly atrocious. If he's not relaxed, he won't work over his back. Most likely not helped by having a not-very-well-fitting saddle for a few months. Since getting his GP sorted and using that again, his top line is coming back loads and his back is building back up.

So anyway, I think I've been way over analysing the canter thing and I've convinced myself he has a bad back, his GP doesn't fit and he's trying to tell me he's in agony rather than just him being a bit grumpy about having to work and me being the bit of a tit of a rider that I am.

I think that's also been partly why I was a bit reluctant to ride tonight, because I'd convinced myself of the saddle and bad back etc etc etc.

Anyway, so tonight I asked for canter and it got ignored. Whether it was because I'd done my usual trick of chucking reins at him or whether it was him just trundling round in trot, not ACTUALLY listening to me, I don't know. Anyway, big pony club kick and we got canter albeit ears back and tail swished canter. Was a horrid canter so let it break after a few strides and then re established a nice trot, asked again .... et voila .... bit gung ho and strung out but a nice canter none the less. No ears back, no tail swishing, no head up, nothing.

Got half way round the school before I could feel him start to lose his balance so back down to trot. Established trot. Canter a bit further and on 3rd attempt, cantered the whole way round the school. That's not a lot of canter seeing as he's so big and the school is so small BUT to do so he has to be really balanced to get round so I was pleased.

Curiously though, it felt totally and utterly strange. I THINK it's me and my position that was different. I block T-Jay in canter. I don't let him go forwards, or keep a consistent enough contact to allow him to do so. Tonight kinda felt that we were cantering downhill almost. We weren't and he was NOT on the forehand. He wasn't heavy in my hands, he just kept cantering without the speed changing or anything. I felt like I was collapsing through my stomach but the Ashen lady at YHL said I needed to relax my stomach and stop tensing through my shoulders/back.

I THINK (hope, pray) that I wasn't tipping forward, I wasn't blocking him and I had a consistent rein contact, specifically in my outside rein because it felt bloody LOVELY and he was just so soft and nice and and and ... I heart my horse!

Sorry, digressed rather a lot there.... wondered if it was a fluke so changed rein and this time on just the 2nd canter transition we got the same floaty, soft canter a circuit and a half round the school.

On both attempts, the downwards transition was lovely too. Surely it was RIGHT if it all felt that good?!?!

Took my stirrups away then for 10 mins or so. Lots of trotting. Concentrated on making my back strong but flexible, keeping legs forward and keeping that outside rein. Not sure we got IT tonight like we did last lesson but it felt good none the less and it was at this point that he started threatening to spook but no problemo, he didn't actually ever manage to cos I stopped them before he'd even finished thinking "ooh i might spook".

Curiously, when I put my stirrups back, the first thing he did was head shot up and threatened to spook and I was no where near as quick in stopping it as when I had no stirrups. Hmmm. Mental note to mention that one to instructor too.

Also, I don't seem to need to use my legs with no stirrups. What's that all about? I use my upper leg rather than lower leg to stop him falling out through the outside on circles etc. Whereas with stirrups, it all comes from my calves. Actually, probably explains why my heels creep up and back if I'm using my calves.... hmmm....

Couldn't resist and just wondered if we could get THAT canter again so off we toddled. Trot large, trot circle, shoulder in up "long" side, canter at A/C and a circuit and a half on each rein in that canter. Both reins too. I am struggling to describe that canter because I don't really know what felt so different about it.

Logically, he must have been more relaxed and working properly through his back. He must have been straight. He must, most importantly, have been in a good mood!

From that, I must have not been tipping forwards, my legs must have been in the right place, I must have had a consistent rein contact and I must have had that outside rein.

Lots of mental notes to go through with instructor next week. I want more no stirrup work I think!!!

My rosette has also come from dressage. Lurid green, pink and white one. Not quite sure on that colour scheme but a nice rosette none the less LOL