Impulsion impulsion impulsion

That is our next challenge.  Getting impulsion and then not losing it.
Today was a good lesson.  Because of various mishaps, it has been a little while since I've had one, and I was nervous that it was going to be a disaster - that after a few weeks on my own, I would have reverted back to my worst habits.
Instead, Charlie got to work pretty much right away (although frustratingly, I still don't know what the difference is between when I'm riding on my own and when I'm riding in a lesson that makes the magic happen) and we worked on spiraling in and maintaining impulsion.
Then we worked on riding trot to halt.  I have been drilling it relentlessly, and futilely, on my own, and again, the magic was there in the lesson.  The secret is coming in with impulsion, but a piaffey impulsion, and then doing the aids as leg, hips/lower abs, back, then hands (going along with back) in quick succession.  When Charlie flopped into it, Shannon had me give a few jiggles to get him to pay attention and square up.
Then we did a little bit of in hand work so I got an idea for what to expect for Rebecca next summer and so I can practice leading him around in hand and get him sharpened up for that.
Shannon pointed out that compared to last year, working on impulsion is a big step forward, and I'm really pleased.  I'm so pleased, I'm not going to look back (just yet) to my posts from a year ago and see that I was working on impulsion then too.
Charlie is a darling.  He is so patient.