Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Turn on the haunches

"Did you feel his legs cross over under you?!"

Um yes...kind of?

In a private on Saturday I worked on turn on the haunches. We trotted on the rail and then changed reins by turning towards the wall. If I didn't pulse properly with my leg and half halts, we lost momentum or got stuck. I got it some what, but we need to keep trying to smooth it out. And maybe more importantly, I need to recognize what the right movement feels like: The horse's hind legs crossing under him.

We also worked on spiraling in at the trot. The focus here was on not leaning. I don't intentionally lean in, the horse does, so I have to overcompensate by leaning out to keep our balance. It feels like I'm overdoing it but I'm assured it looks correct. And I'm beginning to feel it's correct.

Angelina's first dressage eureka - feel is everything.

After that half of the lesson, we worked on collection in front of jumps. We always work on this. Perhaps we always will. Linda, my instructor likes to point out what I've probably said here many times, in different ways:

When I am on a straight path to the jump...

...and the horse is straight...

...and I half-halt to collect him and have a good rhythm...

...and I hold him off until I squeeze at the base of the jump...

...and I don't fall on top of him, or get ahead or behind...

...and sit up after...

...he does a beautiful jump that he could do over a cross-rail or over 3'3" AND he lands on the correct lead.

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