Wednesday - MH and Try

MH shared this article on Tuesday about not blocking the horse's energy flow in the trot, etc.

http://www.eurodressage.com/equestrian/2014/05/20/classical-training-catching-energy-trotting-nine

Quotes:

"Developing an engaged, active, swinging, rhythmic trot is very difficult to achieve and takes a great deal of technique, feeling and balance on the rider’s part; to allow their horse the room to move freely through the rider’s realm. 
In the dressage world today, it’s not enough to have a rhythm, swinging trot and to earn yourself the marks that puts you ahead of your relaxed neighbour, but to also show your horse’s expression.


The key in creating a trot with expression is in encouragement and allowing the horse’s energy to flow from the back to the front and up through the rider’s body simultaneously, with a lightness and freedom that only comes when the two parts can unite as one unit.


During the demonstration Carl spoke about how Charlotte “would ask the hind legs of the horse to push and then with a very steady hand she would catch the energy” without blocking it at any stage in either her seat, legs and hands.
 "

Before the session began we had a chance to catchup:
That I had seen improvement in Try being forward in the trot with joy--kinda yeehaw--the catch being the amount of HQ engagement--sometimes yes and often I would like to see more. Also talked about the following figure:

I have added this before. But I am finding that my aversion to touching the horse's mouth isn't really a good thing. If the energy needs to flow in a circle by not having a connection the line of energy is broken. When Try and I are trotting and I ask for stretching and get a glorious powerful trot that is with a connection. My best synced strides thus far with Sephira's trot have been with a soft feel connection.

So we began the lesson with warmup: walk on a loose rein checking cueing and responsibilities at a walk not using reins. Then trot a bit building to yeehaw and Try was using her HQ pretty well.

MH suggested on our own we could trot a bit longer--great to get energy level up for LBI horse. Next MH asked that we play with lots of transitions as a method to get mental and physical connection. We did this on a loose rein and later with a soft feel and later still with stretching/maintaining the connection while combing the reins.

My use of my body and aids--visualize to learn. 

1. for downward transition think to cue first lengthen my torso up thru my ribcage 2 inches and then 1/2 halt through my core (Try got this!). Also to add outside rein only--just a tiny bit and Try made the dn transitions nicely and promptly. (Remember: inside rein a bit higher--it bends and shapes. The outside rein helps balance the horse/maintain straightness.)