Dodging rain and mud and a new chill in the air, I managed to work in a wonderful ride. Practice on the intro A tests went well and though I did not get Opie down to a med walk on command, I did eventually get him to walk from C-M where we picked up the working trot on command. Med walk went fairly well but asking for a free-walk on the diagonal always resulted in anticipation of a trot. After riding the test several times, I practiced the canter depart using the transition outlined in the Schooling Text:
- jingle the inside lead to gain balance and attention,
- ask for the canter depart with center pressure on the inside girth.
The first attempts failed as I do what I always do, as the horse departs I pull back on the reins and restrict the take off. FAIL. I did realize this right off and was able to correct my balance on takeoff. Determine a start point of C for a successful depart, jingle inside lead to set up, pressure on inside girth to ask for inside lead, as Opie lept forward I followed that motion with both wrists forward and let him take that step out into the canter. He lept into a well-balanced canter and I was able to maintain it with control asking for a circle at A. Although our circle was a little larger than 20m as planned, it was just icing on the cake of a great canter depart. I was able to repeat the canter depart on cue and the correct lead on command.
Was also able to get a recording of part of our ride. The video gave me some insight into my ride especially the fact that I was riding with my legs too far forward. I plan to shorten my stirrups slightly and concentrate on a more forward seat. Also want to try a little less height on posting and more practice on what lead and change reins while posting.
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