Had an interesting session today, to say the least!!
Elsie was in a such a 'typical mare' mood, looking for things to spook at, being uncooperative and a little backwards thinking.
Saying that, we did have some lovely moments, dont think I'll ever get used to how sensitive and difficult this Pony is to ride, just hope I can someday do her justice and not ride like a potato.
I have been working very hard on improving my general position lately but today was all about practical riding rather than pretty riding.
We worked most on collection and extension in the trot, a little lateral work, some long and low and to finish, canter work, which I have no photo evidence of as it took atleast 8 circles round the arena for Elsie to have had her fun and for me, to be able to stop...ooops.
Started off in walk encouraging Elsie to stretch down and 'seek' the bit, popped in a lot of walk-halt, halt-walk transitions (as always!!) practiced a bit of shoulder in and leg yielding away from and toward the track before moving up to trot.
I always start with a fairly loose contact encouraging Elsie to stretch down and get her supple and relaxed but still working in a nice forward trot, I spend some time changing the bend through her neck, Elsie has a habit of hanging on the inside rein a little so I try to get a little flexion to the outside whilst keeping her body straight.
As you can see above, Elsie is not quite tracking up and will try to get away with not using her back end so I incorporate lots of half transitions in my trot work to make her hind end step underneath her more and push her up into the bridle which results in a much nicer trot as you can see below...
After warming up on both reins in a long and low frame, I ask Elsie to sit back on her bum, slow it down and collect the stride, Elsie finds collected trot quite difficult so I just ask for a few strides here and there, pushing her back into a working trot and collecting her back up again.
This is definitely something that I know needs a lot of work (must engage the hocks more and get her a little 'lighter') but I think as Elsie gets fitter, her muscles develop and with practice we'll improve!!
I then moved back into working trot before lengthening the stride out, asking for more impulsion and really engaging the hind end to produce a really lovely, dreamy, floaty trot, or, in more technical terms, a medium trot.
I really was so pleased with the steps she produced here, she really engaged her hind end and worked into the bridle, it was a little bit speedy but we'll work on slowing it down!! Big pats for chubby pony.
I then took Elsie into the field, this is where she feels most comfortable and you can feel a difference in her paces, she is much more relaxed!!
Just messed a round a little in the trot, again sneaking in some steps of leg yield and shoulder in and practicing making the trot bigger and smaller.
I absolutely love these photos of Elsie, she looks like a little pro!
clever, clever pony :)
Elsie wears: Euro Star Dressage pad in Rose blush, Euro Star bandages in Rose Blush, Le Mieux Dressage girth, Equiture Over reaches.
I wear: Ariat Sunstopper shirt, Premier Equine breeches, Sergio Grasso tall boots, Carrots Gloves.
Thankyou so much for reading.
India and Elsie-may x
