I've been absent for a while because I've been trying to sort out how I want to refer to the new barn/trainer, but have yet to make a decision. So, I'll just briefly discuss what we've been working on.
Nic and I had our first lesson last week, and the main focus was just slowing the mare down. Perspective is a funky concept, because it's based on the viewer's point of reference. If you ask 10 people what happened in an accident, you will likely get 10 different variations of the truth. Even the video camera shows a different perspective depending on where it's placed in the arena.
Because I'm used to "the way Nic is," it just didn't really occur to me that her tempo is too fast. In short, her tension lulled me into a status quo that possibly is just left of correct. On the other hand, the casual viewer doesn't realize that this too-fast tempo is much improved over her way of going last spring.
However, when urged to slow her down, I felt the difference. The horse actually became more "driveable." (To my non-dressage readers: If your horse is more "driveable," that means they are easier to control, easier to balance, and therefore easier to ride.) The idea we were shooting for is to make Nic "so slow I had to urge her forward with my leg." This was achieved through the seat, i.e., just sitting more still and putting more weight in my seatbones as if my intention was to halt her. The sense that there is now some sort of elasticity to my horse is amazing.
The other result of this, and an unexpected one at that, is that I feel I am starting to attain a greater sense of balance in my seat. Because the drivability of the horse and balance of the rider's seat are the Chi of dressage, if either's off, then your Chi is off, and you just got a big ol' mess you have to contend with.
Basically, the whole point was to work on Nic and her tension issues, which really stand in the way of achieving anything right now. I mean, there is good tension, and that has its place, but Nic's tension gets in the way of her training sometimes. She's definitely had moments this week (you didn't know motorcycles ate horses, did you?) but overall she feels more on the aids and less as if she's gunning for the title of "First Triple Crown Winner Since Seattle Slew."
Recidivism being the antithesis of evolution, it's nice to know that we have a trainer (and the omnipresent and ever-objective video camera) to keep us in line.
