January lesson - 1/15/07

Well, it's continued to be crazy with work, and I have had no time to ride (or get normal exercise either). Since my only lesson in December, I only rode twice: pitiful. I keep thinking my schedule will change by the next week, and then it just stays crazy. Despite all that, I decided to go ahead and have a lesson this week, and I'm so glad I did. It was a great lesson!
First we talked about work. Then I had my two measly questions from my two measly rides. (He leans on my hands and pulls me forward; bending)
My inside hand is still moving too much, so I looped my pinky finger through the breast strap (that holds the saddle forward). That made an immediate difference. Bob also tightened Mercury's noseband and flashband, which is probably what made the biggest difference. He said he can see Mercury open his mouth every time I ask him for anything.
So we started working in a circle with him on the bit with his poll as the highest point (instead of flat neck that I did for so long). Then we worked in trot. Then we started doing serpentines, which is where I started to fall apart. Things happen too fast in a serpentine (and sometimes in a circle) and even though I know what I'm supposed to do, I'm too slow, and so by the time I start his new bend, we're already on the other side of the arena (even though Bob's arena is huge). Bob said I just need to practice - as soon as I come off the rail, think bend to the new direction. Because when I'm three steps behind and then tell him what to do, that makes him even more behind.
He started acting up after we started really working, which I totally understand because I was also panting from the exertion. He started hanging on my hands, when that didn't work, tossing his head, then jumping up and down, then holding his head sideways, and when none of that worked, he just worked beautifully. Bob said when he starts the jumping up and down, to let my hands go forward and move him forward so it doesn't enter his mind to start rearing.
Then Bob gave me the highest praise ever - he said that if I kept riding him like that, we could ride Training level this summer. Which is an exaggeration, but was nice to hear. It really was an amazing improvement. Still plenty to work on, but a huge difference from the end of last summer, even with low riding the past couple months.
So I'm supposed to practice doing the hard serpentines and circles to get my reaction time up. Look ahead where I'm going. Hands steady. Same old, same old but with his poll high and moving forward.
And my gloves are just cheap $1 cotton gloves, and the reins slip out. Even with my skin or sticky gloves, the reins still slip, so I need to be faster at adjusting and not wear stupid cotton slippery gloves.
Mercury sees the chiropractor tomorrow. His roof blew up like a burrito in the windstorm last month, and it's been in the 20's, so we've had weird weather. He's actually been quite good though, despite all that.