John on Duke

John rode Duke (he was already in riding clothes so I asked him to), and it was nice to watch him ride.  He would counterbend Duke and then ask him to lengthen or straighten.  When Duke got tense, he would make some circles or do a bit of lateral work.  Duke looked great under him, but John said that we're going to have some trouble with the scores for the lengthenings, just because of the way Duke's front end is built.  John also worked with him on halting, and waiting until he took a breath, then praising him (patting him and telling him good boy) and letting him move forward.  Eventually, Duke seemed to figure out it wasn't a crazy ploy, and he could just halt.
After John rode, I got on (Duke had a frothy butt) and John had me work a bit on the aids, which was closing my leg (no spur) for halt, and then squeeze/release inside hand for both up and down transitions, and then inside leg to outside hand for everything.  Duke's back felt like it was like 3 inches higher than before John rode him, and he was so light and forward.  It is always amazing to get on after John has been on him, even for just a few minutes, to feel what Duke's potential really is.