Dressage....

I was pretty sure I wasn't ready for this! But it was N21, a test that has died but I like, and P wanted to take Dan for some practice.

Dan did P13 and warmed up really nicely, canter looked much more relaxed and it all seemed to be going well considering a new venue. Then he went into do his test in new spooky arena and was very tense. But still, there were loads of positives. I just wish he didn't have to make life so hard on himself doing new things.

We went in to warm up at same time as Dan (over an hour before my time!) and we did 10/15 mins on walk/halt/walk and MY walk not his. All went very well. He was hollow and looky, but was doing as told so ignored it.

I put him back in the myler, but its not the rockin s! He was back to trying to snatch the reins from my hands as soon as I picked them up. Hopefully, the way I rode today (or tried to!) convinced him a little more that I am TRYING not to ride from the hand.

Then I attempted a trot. There were mirrors which was fab! Right rein trot was perfect, I did it right, he waited for me, was round, long necked, I was light handed to prove I wasn't holding the trot. Left rein? oops. It appears I can't do it on Magic on the left rein. Or at least, not in an arena and not when not in the rockin s!

We practiced. We got better. Left rein MUCH harder, I have to think very narrow and very off the foot and then very big rise and very big pause. In his defence, when I could GET to the point of pausing, he waited, but that was maybe one stride per circle? As a dressage test was looming, I worked a compromised where if he went to run I'd half halt with body but retaining firm hand until he came back to me, then release and concentrate on rise whilst waiting to see if he'd wait. This worked.... may be a way of helping it become more concrete for both of us. Only needed it on the left rein though.

Plus when walking, he wasn't bulging out on left rein, but on right! And when I tried to do square corners he led with the quarters right. And he was a bit the same in the test. It might be me over compensating, or it might be him/saddle whatever. Chiro is out next week so will see how he is then.

Overall warm up so far fabby. He was very relaxed, and seemed actually happy to be there! I think he likes me having too much to concentrate on!

Did a bit of canter, which felt a bit laboured, not quite 3 time (esp right rein) and I had to do trans out of diagonal and rein back to get him listening to me. Overall, canter much better, I don't have to control or round him from my hands, but it didn't seem quite a "Magic" canter.

Then stopped as Dan finished his test and we had a rest.

Then we went in for ours. It was a very spooky arena, and although he looked, and bent the wrong way, he was very settled. Went in and just wanted to concentrate on my rising. I succeeded in concentrating on it! But it wasn't brilliant.... I could feel from time to time my feet coming forwards, all the weight going in them, then having to hold the contact to stop him running on.

However, I felt it, big plus, I managed to half halt from seat and pause in rise quite a few times, so although I couldn't maintain it the whole time (hardly surprising on my 4th go!) it was ok.

The biggest plus was the canter was just fab. I though back corners and sternum and he did a lovely light canter circle on a light contact.... no falling out either way. Dead dead chuffed.

Then back for a medium trot - I managed to collect him the corner before (a bit like jumping, I just managed to get him back BEFORE something, but not after something or heaven forbid, during!) and as I turned I got my rising spot on.... then went for bigger trot and he gave me a lovely medium..... but the BESTIST bit, as I wanted smaller trot at the corner, I paused at the top of my rise, and BINGO he came back to me (almost a bit much!) with no hand and NO loss of balance to forehand. I nearly fell off there and then. My goodness this stuff WORKS!!!!

Came out very pleased. First test in ages, new spooky venue, new relaxed pony who does his bit whilst I concentrate on the million and one things I need to! I didn't even beat myself up that I couldn't maintain the rise the whole time. I was knackered though. Canter was such a breather!

Oh, and the best free walk ever probably too.

He got very good comments, whole test was 7s, except two 6s for canter across diagonal where I let him break early (I need to learn how to do canter/trot trans as back corners not enough!), and two 8s for both canter circles. So for the first time ever, what I felt was happening, got marked the same by the judge, unbelieveable! So 70%.

I am just so pleased that he was sooo relaxed in this new way of going, and I was able to concentrate on my bits, even in a test! Watching him in the mirrors warming up, his neck is much longer already, granted better on right rein, but its also longer in canter which I didn't feel it was. Plus its odd that warm up canter felt four time, but canters in the test were just fab.

Flat lesson on Tues, so more practice then!