Bringing it all together

WallE and I have been struggling with being round, while forward and with WallE's poll above his withers. We have been utilizing squares, leg yields, shoulder ins and other arena figures, but without too much success. This weekend we rode with Molly Xanthopoulos. I rode with her three times, twice on WallE and once on another horse named Exeter. 

With WallE we had massive success. We worked on leg yields in the walk on a square (turn, leg yield, go straight, tur leg yield, go straight). Then we did the same in the trot. In the canter we worked on riding round transitions and lengthening on a circle. Then we began leg yielding in the canter from the rail in. We ended each day with a trot lengthening. The use of the back end through the leg yields increased the forward momentum for the rest of the ride. 

With Exeter, we worked on using his back end as well. We began with the same leg yield walking exercise. Once we started to trot we transitioned to shorter reins and a forward trot. Changing the the incorrect diagonal to help get the connection between inside leg and out side rein, then switching back. During this time we spiraled the circle in and then leg yielded out. We did this a few times at the trot and then did the same at the canter. My position was critiqued quite a bit, I was told to sit back and open my shoulders (WIDE). We took a walk break and then did the same the other direction. Our last set was leg yields and shoulder ins - focusing on not bending too much one way or the other. 

Iris (the pony) went with another rider. They focused on the straightness in her body. Through lots of leg yields and slight flexion to the outside, their trot and canter work improved immensely. 

I felt like this round brought many things that we have been working on separately - together. WallE and I have a new standard. I feel like riding Exeter more could help me with WallE. And I have new thoughts for Iris's riders. All in all a great weekend of learning!