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glenatronSince the last clinic with Steve I've been working on getting our direct rein better so that when I pick up with a direct feel on the left rein Zorro follows my movement with his left front foot and the same on the right. Since Karen French came to visit a couple of weeks ago I've also been working to build a stronger connection between my legs and his hindfeet so that if I'm asking softly on one side of his barrel he'll step under himself with that hind foot.
He's getting it pretty well ( no surprise there, once I finally fumble my way through to figuring out what to ask for Zorro comes up with the goods very rapidly ) and during our session yesterday it occurred to me that if I have this good direct rein and a connection between my leg and his hindfoot then I could just apply both and - hey presto - the best side pass he's ever offered me. Straight, balanced and flowing- not perfect but really in control and exactly what I was asking him for.
Increasingly when I ride him it feels a bit like we're floating on water and it will only take the mildest change in my balance to slide smoothly away in any direction. Tht's a pretty good feeling.
Of course, a year from now I'll be amazed that I thought I was getting anywhere, but right now it feels like we're still making progress. Steve quoted Philip Nye at the last clinic saying "If you could get just 1% better with your horse every time you ride, how much better would you be in a year?" At the moment it really does feel like we're managing that.
He's getting it pretty well ( no surprise there, once I finally fumble my way through to figuring out what to ask for Zorro comes up with the goods very rapidly ) and during our session yesterday it occurred to me that if I have this good direct rein and a connection between my leg and his hindfoot then I could just apply both and - hey presto - the best side pass he's ever offered me. Straight, balanced and flowing- not perfect but really in control and exactly what I was asking him for.
Increasingly when I ride him it feels a bit like we're floating on water and it will only take the mildest change in my balance to slide smoothly away in any direction. Tht's a pretty good feeling.
Of course, a year from now I'll be amazed that I thought I was getting anywhere, but right now it feels like we're still making progress. Steve quoted Philip Nye at the last clinic saying "If you could get just 1% better with your horse every time you ride, how much better would you be in a year?" At the moment it really does feel like we're managing that.
