Andrew Gould dressage clinic 19-04-12

First, schooling yesterday.  Half an hour between rain clouds but very pleased with how he went so no need to do more.  He worked in deep and round really nicely - bit heavy in my hands, but soft and relaxed.  Then we did some transitions - TWT and CTC and also some THT.  Staying nice and round - very happy.  Then did some CWC and the canter to walks are really coming on - starting to step through into them rather than dive onto his forehand, even coming on the right rein and even better we managed some walk-canter on right rein without chucking head in the air.  Also did a couple of canter figure of 8's involving counter canter on the circle and he is getting really good at this.  The canter is getting so much more balanced - yay!

So, off to Parwood today.  Truck poorly so had to hack there.  Managed to dodge the rain clouds again so made it there nice and dry.  It was only a half hour lesson so limited on what we could do but most important things to take away:

• while he learns to work deeper into a more consistent contact he will feel heavier in the hand until he learns to rebalance - this is a normal stage of the process.
• must must straighten him out - right hand just gives away the contact so it's not so much that left rein taking too much contact but right rein is just letting go.  easy to see this on the videos on both reins so need to really work on keeping hold better with the right rein.  must not overbend to the inside on the left rein.  he cant work more forwards until he is more straight
• when changing the rein, change the bend early pushing him over into the new outside rein from the new inside leg and establishing the newbend before reaching the corner.
• trot and canter need more energy, more forwards.  dont accept less.  if he drops off must instantly push him forwards again
• dont let him drop off in the downwards transitions - keep it active and then go forwards again.
• do lots of transitions and changes of rein
• from the word go he needs to work into an outline - no ambling around, straight into a contact type of stretch, not a giraffe amble.
• work him deeper and rounder - he must learn to take the contact and to respond to requests to come round.  dont take no for an answer.
• in the downwards transitions, dont pull back, just push down in the stirrups
• coming from canter to trot, then push forwards and use the energy created in the canter to improve the trot
• looking at video, hands seem in a better place today, still need to work on them not moving so much in trot but not as bad as they are when he's not taking the contact at an event.
• pleased with canter work on the video - nice transitions up and down, needs more energy in the actual canter.  trot work def needs to be rounder.
• might need to sacrifice a test at an event to insist he goes rounder and softer rather than nursing him round to try and get good marks.

so, even though a short session, it picked up on some important things which I kind of knew but good to have them reinforced.  lots to work on!