Thursday July 17 - Kathy and Try - sh in & hq in

First lesson since the shoulder injury

1. Worked on my alignment as during recovery time I have reverted to riding as if sitting in a chair instead of heels aligned with shoulder. New image that helped--lift leg away a bit then step back and down and feel it touching Try's side. Check it periodically until it is the new habit. Open my shoulders.

2. Walk with shoulder in and haunches in--cueing:

• shoulder in
• turn my body inward while looking forward
• HQ stays on the track and outside sh leads forward inside sh coming off the track inward
• use inside rein?? and ??steady with outside
• moving shoulder not bending neck
• point of sh leads
• use stick on outside sh and ?outside leg to push
• make sh fore new habit when riding on the rail
• haunches in -- I understand this better
• turn body/belly button slightly to outside and look forward
• ask haunches to stay off the track and sh stay straight on the track
• ask haunches with leg/stick
• steady FQ with reins
• similar to turn on the forehand which could serve to warmup and give Try the idea
• See video on hard drive 2014 7 17 I am pleased to have video--now to practice this just a bit every time with Try until I am clear and it is an easy habit for us both. NOW is the time to get this!!

3. Played with image of ice cream cone for reverse. I know this from BA--just a different image.

4. Trotting: Try was full of something--lots of energy and not joyful which would have been ideal but a great opportunity to play differently anyway.

• Tiger and BFF energies to relax the trot and power it up
• Circles to slow and relax emotional energy--similar to leaving the gate situation
• Broke to canter and I was sitting it in wintec saddle HAPPY accidents
• my core and legs ask for using back and hq better

I liked the way Try looked on the video and the progress we have made in the last few months in both trot quality and canter, even if the trot wasn't the joyful exuberance we have had lately. (Compare to 2 years ago--let alone our freestyle L3 audition ?4-5 years ago.)

Other thoughts

1. Sephira  -- ground work for fitness is better for bonding and confidence
2. be wary of dressage with Sephira for a while
3. Creative on line circling games, cavalettis
4. She doesn't know how to think for herself and solve puzzle/find the good deal. REWARD her for tries that show independent thought
5. Go for passenger walk
6. Not good for Sephira to be so fit that she is too much for me.