Wow oh Wow

Last night WallE and I had a dressage lesson. Darkness was closing in and using our time wisely was important. Before Laura (our instructor) arrived, we had plenty of walk time to ensure we were well warmed up. Once Laura was in the arena, she put us straight to work. WallE was not being very responsive to our typical square exercise so Laura had us do 10 meter half circles repeatedly at the trot. Putting the pressure on to go forward and putting the inside leg on in the turn to get the bend and acceptance. I was sweating at minute five, but WallE was not even breathing hard. 

We then began going straight down the long side with a 15 meter circle at A and C. Then leg yielding out to make it 20 meters. Then leg yielding from the quarter line to the rail. Then the center line to the rail. Then a ten meter circle. Then a canter transition with a 20 meter circle at E and B. Lots of movement and lots of opportunities to change the bend or be straight. It is amazing how much WallE and I have both developed in this partnership. I have improved as a rider and understand so much more about what it means to have the horse on contact and the horse straight. WallE has become such an athlete and is willing to try even if he does not completely understand (something that was not possible a year ago). 

We took a walk break while Laura worked with another rider and then got back to work. This time Laura had us do the original exercise once and then go back to the leg yields. Her advice was move him over from the leg and do less with the hand. Keeping him even between the two hands. It only took two times before he was accepting of the contact and happily leg yielding quarter line or centerline to rail (With a little head toss here and there). 

Then we switched it up. We moved to the canter, leg yielding off the rail at the canter flexed to the outside, then bending to the inside for a 20 meter circle at the end of the arena, then repeating. After this exercise we went to the sitting trot and focused on taking the whole long side to perform the leg yield. The sitting trot is a big deal, we have never been asked to do that with Laura before...so maybe we are improving? 

Either way, it was a great lesson and will hopefully carry over into our next ride. Wow oh wow.