Change of plans

 Today was a wonky day. Our Tuesday lesson got moved to today but then Jacel had to cancel because she couldn't find a petsitter. So then Laura and I had made plans to ride together at 5:30, and then she wanted to do earlier. But then Dan was an idiot and lost his shoe and Russel said he could come by around 2:30/3 to put it back on. Which would have still been plenty of time for me to meet Laura at 4:30. But then Russel didn't get here til 3:15. And as soon as he got Dan's shoe back on, I said bye and then grabbed Lyric from her stall and went to load her up. I realized that even though I had checked before Russel left to make sure they all had their shoes (they did!) I didn't realize that she had half flipped out her pad. So... I called him and he said he would turn around. Luckily he only made it to the stop sign at the end of Dixie. 

So.. he came back over and pulled the shoe and replaced the pad. Doh. So then I was about to load up again but Laura messaged and said that she was struggling and did we want to just postpone til Saturday. I was kind of struggling too... so I agreed. I decided to just ride Lyric at home, although it was tempting to go for a hack and dressage but... I needed to go to the grovery store too. And drag the arena and spread manure... (I only managed the grocery store). So we rode at home.

I did manage to get her jump bridle switched out before Russel showed up. Unfortunately I didn't get to test it out. The one her and Funny share just does not fit her very well, so I put her in Dan's jump bridle but left the pinwheel bit for her and will try Funny in the nathe due bit. Anyways... we did dressage though. 

We hacked up to the arena and then did some walk work - focusing on shoulder in and haunches in. She is definitely not really able to go haunches left without shoulders right too/counterbent. So we managed to get a few steps of actual correct bend. It took some finagling with me and my body. I think I have to sit left and move her left shoulder up and her right shoulder over and then bring her haunches left, but... I don't know. It took a lot of finagling! So then we did some ten meter figure 8's, which .... seemed easier to get bend. Which, doesn't make much sense because it's kind of the same thing in a way. Anyways... we picked up the trot and she is a bit rooty again. I can ride her out of it if I keep a more steady contact but... I'm not sure if it's inconsistent contact she's unhappy about or... my consistent contact just covers up her unhappiness. Sigh... She did take a few wonky steps here and there, but I'm sticking to my plan of consistent riding with hills and strengthening before I address anything. She did lose her (right I think) hind hard core today once. She's also twisting again in the poll. I really need to do some body work on her again. 

But we did have some good moments. We did a bit more canter work today and that's making some progress! She's not quite as fast and speedy, although we're still a bit heavy on the left rein both ways. We practiced our trot to canter transitions, which still aren't great, but our downwards are getting better.  I also got a nice leg yield to the right (the hard way) at the end when I thought about lifting and swinging my left hip and shoulder to help her left and swing her left shoulder. We also did some sitting trot. 

So ... overall, a good ride. Just... really not sure how much is greenness vs soundness struggles. Sigh... Guess I'll have to figure out a vet appointment soon.