Almost a Centaur

Work, work, work, leg yields, turns on the forehand, controlling spooks, more work on transitions between gaits, within gaits, spiral in spiral out, what a way to turn a hobby into a chore. All last summer, work, work, work. All winter indoors, work, work, work. Once in a while a pleasant time on the trail, but mostly: work.

Now I a seeing a payoff. (Not that I doubted, but still it can be dreary at times.)

So: yesterday my boy had impulsion (well, he still isn’t speedy, but sometimes the track of his hind hoof now reaches beyond the track his front hoof just left). My boy will come to a halt just from my seat and legs, no rein pressure at all. He canters on demand (well, he didn’t canter at the first ask going left, but got himself ready to respond at the second ask) and cantered on the first ask going right. He cantered on a 20 meter circle turning right without attempting (very much) to go straight. He is reading my leg and seat cues for the leg yields, and I can move him over just with my heel.

I had a small taste of that “one with the horse” thing; as if I myself had four strong legs and a huge heart and lungs, making running effortless. Just a taste, just for a couple of seconds, but what a trip!