Piaffing and a 10 canter!

 Lesson with Liz. peaceful zen funny to start

jean's interns drilling stripped screws.. nervous... later spooked at liz's jacket falling off the fence

settled nicely and quickly despite being hot and spicy. i'm getting better at finding my balance now matter where she slings me. and getting quicker. then she gets quicker to settle with me. 

liz complimented me. said i looked like a 5 star rider! my position is definitely improving and getting better. 

remember, especially with her, to not lock my elbows.. keep my elbows more at my side... longer reins, shorter arms is more elastic and kind and giving then shorter reins, longer arms that lock. don't keep giving forward.. i know it's an effort to soften and let her go to the bit, but she's ready for a bit more contact. and the proof is that she isn't getting heavier at all. she's still very soft in the mouth. 

riding off my seat and aids. upward to the trot.. i'm still yelling. use both legs at the same time.. gentle squeeze. sometimes still too much, so cluck. softly and the jduge won't hear. much better, although left is easier. right still more explosive. tracking left i still have to keep my head turned right (actually straight) and my shoulders turned left and my seat turned left and then she's lovely. and when i add weight into my left seat bone, OH MY GOSH!! ANGELS SANG! That was the most amazing canter... i felt her inside hind just reach right up and forward and her back lifted and i could sit easily! ahhhhhhhhhhh. amazing. 

liz told me not to let anyone tell me to make her more round... she is so uphill and needs to be more up in her neck. if i try to get her round, i'll shut her down and send her hind end behind her. 

hot today and did some piaffe on accident. but getting her to compress more and more and not be so rushed and out of balance. 

keep my hands wide..don't lock my head. she was locked at the AA joint and I get that way too. nod my head if needed... move my elbows... 

when she gets tense and I told her "we can't do it out of tension" i also have to get out of tension. if I breath, she breathes. ahh.... 

REALLY fun ride. That left lead canter was amazingness. and the downwards after, just by closing my thighs. amazing! 

hacked back and snuggled with dan then walked the rest of the way. Oh, and put my saddle back far enough (i hope) and did the fake telephone pole serpentine a few times too

photos: 3-26 piaffe