A lesson involving feeling

I started this lesson by telling Mike that despite last week's lesson being a bunch of new stuff, I felt like I "got it" - until my next ride, where it promptly all fell apart and I couldn't seem to do any of it right.
He almost immediately solved the problem - instead of a "thump" (percussion type aid), I continue to do a "squeeze" (anaconda type aid). So it's impossible to time my aid properly (a thump when his rear hind leg is lifting) when I start squeezing, build up the squeeze, and release - which basically takes three steps to do.
So - wham-o - explanation and now back to practice.
We worked a bit more on feeling the swinging of his belly and which hind leg is moving. This is TRICKY. I put my hand on his back hip and felt it coming up and down and up and down, but matching that feeling to my hips is really confusing. I'm going to have to really work on this one.
Mike also pointed out the very strong difference between my right and left (going right, poor Willig's head is cranked almost to his belly; going left, well, poor Willig's head is still cranked almost to his RIGHT belly). I have to be more aware of that and work really hard on the left.
Then we worked on a "thump" with a check-in with the reins, and then how many strides can Willig hold it - and as he starts to fade, a new "thump" and check-in.
Willig was a bit of a slug today (there was a flappy jacket at the end of the arena that his ears stayed pivoted on, but he couldn't muster up the effort for a spook), but he usually catches on right away and is all thankful "A crisp, clear aid! Thank you Mom!"
Then we took away the stirrups and worked for a while at sitting trot - mostly focusing on the bouncing ball and not leaning too far back, and then thinking about pushing my legs DOWN, instead of clamping with my thigh.
We worked on a super-duper feeling thing here - continuing to move into uncharted territory for me - where I imagined Willig the wheelbarrow leaning onto his front wheel with his butt up in the air, and then I would sit up tall and straight and firm and think about him lifting his shoulders up - and then by some miracle, most of the time, he would. Mike says he has quite a nice trot, and not every horse can lift his shoulders up like that. (At the end of the lesson, I was working again on pushing my leg farther back (thinking off the back of the saddle) and then I could really feel him just loosen up and go. Pretty cool.) But this bit was hard because I could tell that I was doing something that had an effect on him, but other than "sitting up" I can't begin to describe what I was doing (yet).
Then we worked on transition from the sitting trot to the canter - keeping the bouncing ball going all the way into the canter transition - what I do is completely stop moving my hips, and then he does this ugly up transition. If I focus completely on the 1-2-1-2 of my hips, the transition is much nicer.
Then we worked on the down transition (after some "swinging" my seat at the canter), and doing the same - thinking about it with my hips so we just drop into it soft like a feather instead of like a bowling ball - off the Eiffel tower - and lo and behold - I can continue to sit the trot when we do it with focus and concentration.
It was another great lesson, although I think my learning curve is about to flatten out quite a bit since all this is new to me (which is keeping it really interesting and fun and challenging between lessons too!).

First lesson in the new saddle (and in a couple months)

The cat just stepped on the mouse in some magical way and deleted 20 minutes of typing.
The lesson today was great - one of the best.
We worked the first 1/3 on, at each quarter of the circle, a leg yield out which made Willig tall and balanced. This involved a lot of thinking (but more, feeling) on my part. Once I put all the steps together, I could instantly feel the transformation, but as soon as I lost a step, I'd have to start over (1, then 2, then 3, then 4, then magic, then I'd lose my hand, so 1, then 2, then 3, then 4, then ooops, then 1, then 2 ... you get it).
The second 2/3 of the lesson we worked on canter transitions (he did quite nice) and this is probably where we're getting the most solid.
The last 1/3 of the lesson we did a dressage test (and I learned how to salute properly!), but Willig got a bit worked up about having to go past the scary short side, so we need to work on that some more. It was a good lesson for when a tired Willig is hungry but he needs to keep working, but wasn't quite as satisfactory as the first 2/3 of the lesson, which were just more magic.
The 20 minute version said that I am excited, and even though he fell down out of fear of the poodle earlier this week, I love the saddle, and today's ride was the reason I spend all my spare time and money riding.

Out with the old! In with the new(er)!

Willig's new Regal and his old Circuit.

Vacation

I was gone for almost all of March, and spent almost all of February working to make up for being gone almost all of March. I was gone for a good reason (http://wademcdade.com/), but poor Willig ...
Now I'm back, enthusiastic and refreshed, and so keep watching for some good posts coming soon.