We've been tooling along, riding 5-6 times a week, with static flexions every day, an occasional lunge, and in hand work maybe twice a week. Taking a lesson pretty much weekly has been super beneficial in learning the Legerete/French Classical system and Cruise is thriving. His balance has changed so much, he loves the system and is so much more willing. We did our first walk canters yesterday and they were actually good! Add in getting our first effortless trot in hand and lateral work in the same lesson and I feel like we are making some good progress.
I'm still working on keeping my elbows by my sides and my thumbs up but I think that's going to be the job of a lifetime. One thing that has recently really helped my position is going to a mild roller spur instead of the dressage whip for forward. Worn low on the heels, Legerete style, and only used as an auxiliary aid to energy and leg, riding Cruise with spurs has been a revelation for me. I only use them to back up my energy/leg and then ask again until I get the response I want with no spur. Cruise is surprisingly easygoing about the use of the(admittedly mild)spur but gets his arse in gear pretty rapidly. And I just sit there with a truly forward horse. It's amazing how much easier everything is with true forward.
We're doing another Pippa Callanan Clinic in the beginning of July and this time it is 3 days and Cruise is staying overnight for the duration. It should be an adventure!
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