hearts and flowers

So I had a really nice ride again last night- Trudi got in a zone for a while where she was in dressage horse mode, and it was very fun. Trot work was good, we did more walk/trot and trot/walk transitions and got some really good downwards, especially when I remembered to squeeze the reins and then LET GO. When I did that she would do the transition so much better, because she wasn't pulling/hanging on the reins. Rode the best canter transition I've ever done (to the left, our easy side, oh well- I'll still take it). It was like a unicorn jumping up and settling on a cloud- like one of those goofy posters you had when you were 12, all waterfalls and rainbows and airbrushing. She was round and energetic and coming from the hind and yet incredibly soft and balanced. To the right we had a lot more, erm... practice. There was some running and falling and hurrying and worrying and a blown lead- but at least we did several transitions and a few laps. At one point I lost a stirrup and she really scooted, trying to get away from the iron banging on her side, but I got it and the horse back. Had one really decent transition after I realized "Just sit up and do this, quit being sloppy and making a big deal out of nothing." Her canter IS still getting better, and when it's really good it's awesome, so that's encouraging.
As I was cooling her out, I felt pretty satisfied and very relaxed. And suddenly out of the blue I was completely centered. I felt everything fall into place, and I was sitting evenly and balanced, and my feet felt as though they were firmly on the ground. I realized I could keep the horse straight if I sat this way, and that I would feel the change along my seat and leg if she wasn't, and I could fix it just by sitting.