An interesting phenomenon has occurred, which I feel deserves the undivided attention of its own post. 6 months ago I wouldn't have guessed this would occur.
Since I began slowing Nic down and making her more drivable, the mare has become, as expected, more drivable. This vehicular similarity has started to cause her to raise her withers a little, and maybe one day we'll actually start to see some shoulder freedom.
Unexpectedly, however, she has become more drivable and balanced at a faster rate at the canter than at the trot. She is softer in the mouth, and responds to quieter aids and I'm starting to feel some consistent relaxation, which wasn't there a month ago. Downward transitions are still an issue, because, however nice she is in the up transition and in the actual canter, she still braces on the down transition.
At the trot she isn't as through as nicely, and still hangs on the bit. She isn't as willing to raise her back, but a new friend showed me another way to longe her, the method to which Nic has taken a liking. The method involves taking the longe line and running it through the saddle's billet straps, on the inside of her circle, like a sort of third side rein. Nic stretches much better in this sort of contact and actually seeks the bit. The other advantage is when her attention goes elsewhere, I have an easy way to half halt her to get her attention back on me. I'm starting to think, however, that the massage therapist should be called to see if there is some sort of muscle issue in her back.
It appears as if she is starting to grow some more muscle on her withers, although I could just be imagining it.
On another note, she stopped shying at the corners of the arena with the doors (as in my last post) now that I have shut them. I think that's contributing to some of her new found relaxation (not that she's really relaxed, but is more so than before I shut those doors).
