Well one horse actually, but it might just have well have been two. On Friday I schooled Jazz and he was buzzy right from the start. He was looking for stones to fall out of the banks as an excuse to shy, and when I flicked him with the whip to correct him, he turned and left the arena and went to the stables. He hasn't done that for over two years! To say he caught me out is an understatement.
His work was, of course, not good and although he did to two changes on one line, it was unbalanced and tight and reluctant. I reminded myself that I had expected worse before we got better and called it a day.
Fast forward to today. I've just come in. I got on him at five to six and at a quarter past I had him untacked and turned out. He warmed up looser and more responsive than he ever has. He immediately did some superb walk-canter-walk, and a couple of great single changes of rein, so I turned him onto the diagonal and he did three three-time tempis in perfect rythmn and balance straight off. I was stunned! (That's change-canter-canter-change-canter-canter for those who don't know). He has never done three threes before, and he has never done any tempis on the diagonal, he could only do it parallel with the side.
I didn't try for any more, he couldn't better what he had done and we have plenty of time for more. He's clearly going to get a 4th pretty quickly, and move on to two-time soon as well. We did some medium trot and towards-piaffe trot instead, which he also got immediately, so I stopped and brought him in.
I can't believe how fast these tempis are coming now. What a thrill to have taught him it all myself!
C.
Gee, is that flash of light I see coming from the east the brilliance of the smile you should be wearing? *g*
ReplyDeleteI knew you could do it! Congratulations!!!
I could light a city Jean :-)
DeleteC
It must be such a rush to have him offering tempi changes now like its just so much fun. I would love to do it, in fact one day I will do it on my youngster, she's got the ability, once I learn how to do it!!!
ReplyDeleteFab stuff.
Tracey B
You'll have to visit and ride them on Jazz when he's got them consolidated Tracey. I'm sure I'd have found it a lot easier if I'd ever ridden them on a horse who could do them first!
ReplyDeleteC
I'll take you up on that one day :D and this from a woman who swore she'd never be a dressage diva!! Tee hee
ReplyDeleteTracey B