There has been fairly consistent riding, finally! Like at least once a week for several weeks running. Camaro and I have even done some cantering, and I have to say it is better than the cantering we had last fall before I took my physical therapist imposed riding break.
We're still battling the scary door boogie man, but that is getting better. I've found that if I can give Camaro enough things to think about as we head toward and through that end of the arena, he's less apt to spook. Which means I have to be on my A game right from the time I get in the saddle so that I can keep track of all my and his body parts (am I holding the outside rein enough? Is my inside hand drifting? Is my seat encouraging him to swing through is back and go forward into contact? Am I tensing up anything in anticipation of a spook? What is his inside shoulder doing? Is he starting to suck back and lose engagement? Is he on the bit or lifting his head and losing contact?) while asking him a bunch of questions at the same time:
"Can you go more forward?"
"Can you NOT lean on my inside leg?"
"Can you take a step sideways toward the wall? Toward the door?"
"Can you do a 20 meter circle here? A 10 meter circle?"
"Can you halt for 4 seconds then trot off?"
Whoever thinks that dressage is just sitting there doing nothing while the horse goes around and around really ought to try it sometime. It's kind of like rubbing your head and patting your stomach at the same time, while singing the Star Spangled Banner.
In other horse-related news, Camaro is shedding. Let Spring begin!
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