The Rainbow Connection

You know how ages ago I wrote that post about how I love teaching baby horses jumping?

I don't usually feel the same way about dressage.

Jumping typically builds linearly. Your horse trips on a jump and eats dirt, he picks up his feet next time. I mean, he may jump to the moon too but he doesn't usually trip and eat dirt again.

Dressage's progress is... slightly less linear. It feels like we circle and meander closer to that mystical nirvana called 'connection' while taking forward, backward and sometimes lateral steps.

For awhile, Indy's main issue was forward. It's hard to connect when the horse is behind your leg. We also went through a wobbly phase where connection was eluded because of lack of straightness. And the tongue thing is a day to day road block.

Forward isn't a problem now but I tend to lose his spine in various places. Keeping his legs going forward in one direction kind of feels like herding ducklings.

I have to keep my lower leg moving because - oops! His butt is swinging out! Quick get your knee on now the shoulders are breaking rank! Apply leg at the girth because he's tilting his head and sticking his tongue out like a bulldog on a hot day!

Recently I've realized the lack of connection is a lack of control over his shoulders. Once the shoulders are gone his head tilts, he falls in on my inside aids and usually the stupid tongue comes out. We had a couple fights where I made very little progress and couldn't pick up the left lead canter. I was rescued by a dressage lesson.

"I see," my trainer said from her perch on the mounting block. "He's not connected through his back, which means you're losing body parts. Ride him long and low for a week and we'll see what we have."

Which, long and low? For a week? BORING. I did it anyway because I'm a good student. 

It did start pretty boring, but shave my head and call me baldy if it isn't working. He's so through his back, he's getting what my trainer and I refer to as 'Shakira booty'.

It's so awesome. It feels really cool and is surprisingly easy to sit - and sit I do. His neck is so round and low he looks like he might kick himself in the chin. We do everything down there; walk/trot transitions, baby lateral work, lengthening and collections. The more work we do down there, the more strong and through his back he gets.

I'm actually finding I'm enjoying myself.

And there, I've said it. I'm enjoying dressage. I'M ENJOYING TEACHING MY HORSE DRESSAGE.

WHO AM I.

Tackless too???