We started fairly simply with walk, adding some shoulder-in, haunches-in and leg yield before going to transitions within the walk. Brat was responsive going forward but a little slower coming back at first. We got some nice compliments on the shoulder-in and haunches-in work - good angle and rhythm, we need to be a little steadier and rounder over his topline so I can be quieter with the reins. Per also mentioned that it was nice to see brat facing straight down the track in the haunches-in as he sees many people who get too much bend to the inside through the horse's neck. This is actually something that Per taught me years ago. It is too easy to get too much bend through the horse's neck in haunches-in when he is a bit stiff and reluctant to move his haunches in enough.
In trot we worked some more in shoulder-in, haunches-in and some half-pass. Brat was a little resistant to really giving to the inside rein today and so we did lots of small serpentines focusing on a smooth easy change of bend and getting the new inside hind leg stepping smartly up underneath. As he got more relaxed about the changes of bend Per had me add some transitions within the gaits - nothing big today, but rather more of a showing a willing response to the aids. In the collecting steps I had to work on keeping more bounce in brat's hind legs. We did a few transitions between the working outline and a slightly longer and lower outline to help brat relax and remind him that I can ask him to carry his head and neck in different positions.
On to canter starting with simple circles, straightness and lightness. Then a bit of counter canter, a few simple changes through walk, followed by some transitions within the gait and more shoulder-in and haunches-in. Again brat was a bit slow to respond to the collecting aids, but he improved. We also focused on having him carry his outline consistent through the lengthening (he tended to raise his neck and head a little bit - not hollowing, but just a little higher frame than we wanted right now). Repeated the transitions between the working outline and a slightly longer and lower outline in canter. We did a bit of work on our working canter pirouettes. Brat was pretty good going left, and as usual had a little more difficulty going right until something clicked into place for me. I rode him in a shoulder-in position as we brought the circle smaller to reach the working pirouette and he really started moving his shoulders more sideways in each stride. Per had me do it a third time after two nice tries "to make sure it wasn't just pure luck." Then we changed the rein again and I tried the shoulder-in idea going left with better results.
Back in trot brat was showing me he was getting tired (so was I!) and bobbing on the contact and resisting the right bend a little bit. We did a little serpentine and I put him in shoulder-in right to get him more solidly on the aids and lighter in the right bend. Then we finished up with a little alternating shoulder-in and haunches-in on a 15m circle and a little stretching in the trot. I was ready to call it quits and that was just when Per said that was enough for today. Brat was a very good boy and we got several "Super!" compliments (Per's highest accord ) today.
I have been riding with Per for six years now and find his teaching style works very well for me. We are often on the same wavelength now and I will start to do the next thing just as he starts to tell me to do it! Per lives in Denmark and comes to Canada 3-4 times a year. His methods are focused on calm and patience, but persistence in getting the horse to respond. Per explains what the goal is in what we are doing (this can be as simple as getting the horse light and relaxed on the reins so that the rider can be quiet and allow the horse to perform the exercise) and still pushes the student to be their best. I have seen him ride students' horses, but he is able to explain things to me well enough that neither of us has found a need for him to ride the brat.
I have two more sessions with the brat tomorrow and Saturday mornings, and Rory gets his very first clinic session Friday afternoon!
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