It's been a while. Basically, the changes that have been taking place have been so subtle and, dare I say, monotonous, that making note of them would put the reader to sleep. I've decided to start working with Nic more on her canter, as she is getting more through at the trot. This decision has been met with some, oh, shall we say, lack of enthusiasm on her end. The mare has expressed her opinion by inverting and stiffening.
I've decided, as well, to have a masseuse look at her, because sometimes she stiffens her right side to such an extent that she is just unsupple in that direction. If there is any back pain, the masseuse will find it, and if she finds nothing, then I can look to an alternate source causing her stiffness.
Reason dictates that this stiffening is just a growing pain coupled with the cold weather we've been having lately. She also has expressed signs of being in heat, which is odd given that all the world is dead from the cold, but since she is perpetually surrounded by stallions (very nicely behaved ones at that), I suppose it's inevitable.
Actually, re-reading my first paragraph, it really isn't fair to say that she is inverting and stiffening at the canter. That's not exactly what's going on. She, in my opinion, seems lovely to the right, and in both directions, actually does accept half halts fairly well. It's just that sometimes her nose is a little too far in front of the vertical going to the left and it's clear on the video that she isn't recycling her energy as well going to the left.
Yesterday we worked on 15m canter circles, and I'm surprised at how much effort it takes her to collect even that little bit. However, I remember a time, not so long ago, when I couldn't even steer her into a 15m canter circle (even a crappy one). Around last August, we went through this phase where she wasn't on the outside rein AT ALL going to the left. Asking her to create a smaller circle was impossible. Now, although they aren't always in good balance and aren't always completely through, it takes much less effort to ask for the smaller circle.
I also remember a time (as I'm sure you do as well) when we couldn't get a decent upward transition into the canter. Now, that's basically a given, and I've been told by this new trainer that her canter transitions are "very correct."
I'd say one of the bigger improvements, especially with regards to the canter, is that she does less pulling than before, and more staying on her hocks. I guess the best term is to say she is less "strung out."
