Almost Summer Update

 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!

Interview with Helene Arianoff

 

Wonderful interview with Helene Arianoff, a Belgian Classical dressage instructor who trained with Nuno Oliveira.  Some really interesting descriptions of the seat and rein aids that led to some lightbulb moments for me.  She is a treasure.  Watch it HERE.

The Elbow Fix

 

At our lesson on Saturday with LM, my elbows came up again.  I've spent 40+ years fighting my chicken wings and LM thinks it is time to get rid of them for a potential huge improvement in my connection through my back, in my seat, and ultimately in my finesse in riding.  She suggested riding with a thin dowel under my thumbs while holding the reins.  I'm not super keen on that with windy cooler spring weather and the difficulty of shortening my reins easily, so off to the interwebs I went.  After about an hour I found the best video.  It explains why I have always struggled with my elbows(I'll give you a hint-piano hands) and how to easily fix them.  Also, why my wrists are a little stiff and how to fix them as well.  10 minutes that are so well spent if you struggle with either of these issues.  Watch it HERE.

Are You With Me? TRT Method to the Rescue

 

The first lesson after the Pippa clinic LM and I went over various things that were pointed out but LM had one additional overarching thought that Pippa didn't really touch on.  As LM put it, Cruise knows a lot of stuff but he does everything at about 50%.  Yes ma'am, I feel seen.  She wanted me to work on all the techniques that Pippa gave me but with one added element.  He must be with me and match my energy at all times.  When walking out of his stall, when in hand, lunging, when under saddle, and so on.

So, I knew this was right on the money but knew I needed some help with my use of energy and projection of energy.  I remembered the TRT Method's connective energy module and logged in.  It was so helpful.  The module goes over how to make connective energy in your own body by imagining small balls in your body that start to swirl faster and change color.  Connected through your feet, capped by the top of your head, and then sending energy out through your middle or your pinkie.  This stream of energy is what you want the horse to join up with and follow.  You are not driving the horse with your energy you are encouraging him to join up with your projection of energy.

I've got to tell you that this has been a game changer for Cruise.  Added in to his improved balance and my improved riding posture this has been amazing.  I've spent a lot of time doing energy work on the ground to get him more responsive.  Things as simple as forward and back from my energy at the walk in a halter.  Then I've taken that into more formal ground work.  The truly amazing thing though has been the under saddle work.  LM was blown away by how much he improved in a week.  Forward, matching my energy stream, and with a flowing canter.

In a lot of ways I'm finding the current lesson and clinic schedule really suits us but I think we're also making quicker progress because of the base of all the online courses I have cycled through.  Nothing quite put it all together for me like Legerete lessons but so much is familiar from my wanderings.  Really glad for the courses that offer lifetime access so when something familiar comes up, I have another detailed explanation.