Homework works!

 Today I rode Lyric at home and we practiced our homework. And it was a MUCH better ride today. We still had chestnut mare dragon moments. But overall, much improved. 

 

We started with our pillar work in hand and then did a short lunge session. And wow! She's really figured out the lunging and stretching down! Whooo hoo. So then I got on and we did some walking, working on our homework from our lesson. I worked on keeping the balance and not crossing the neck with my inside hand. Instead I turned my thumbs up and out on the inside rein and made sure I was not pulling back. I turned my hips and we did the smaller circles when we needed. And we got some really nice walk. So then we went to the trot. And it got a little crazy but we did our smaller circle to rebalance and I gave it time to work, and it worked!! And then we did our serpentine, with the goal being to get the balance not to complete the serpentine... and it worked! She even started to come into the connection! Yes, in the tiniest of ways, but still! Progress!!

 
And then, I debated cantering, but... it's me, so I did. And she was actually pretty good in the canter. It took her a minute to settle but then we got a pretty decent canter. yay! Then the trot got quick again and a little spazzy. And then she turned into a dragon. Probably because I did too. She was trying to run off and when I put my inside leg on and asked her to bend she tried to bolt. No ma'am! Leg does not mean go, remember!!! Leg means bend! So I may have kept my leg on and been a bit more insistent for the bend, which probably angered the dragon. So we had a little bit of a whirling tantrum which led to a bit of a canter whirly, but... we managed to figure it out. And it didn't take that long. We both took a breath and tried again and... she got it. And I did my end of the bargain. Then we took a walk break and went the other way. And again, I almost didn't ask that way because... drama! But it's me.. so I did. And she was good at the canter that way too. We came down to the trot and she was pretty good immediately so we very quickly went to a walk and took a brain break. I figured it would help us avoid another dragon moment. So then I reminded her that leg means bend at the walk... so that when we picked up the trot again... leg still means bend. And it was much better! We got some really nice trot again and quit with that. So yay!!! Progress. She's starting to actually not brace and maybe not lift her back, but... not drop her back. And she's starting to seek the contact with the bit. Again, very subtle, but... it's coming!!!!!

 
Good girl! Then we took a few laps around the pasture because she's so relaxed and in a good posture that way so I want to install that as much as I can. Then she got a rinse and fly sprayed again and a carrot and turned back out to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day! Hopefully tomorrow or this weekend she'll get adjusted!




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