(no subject)

Trudi was really good Tuesday night- I was better too. I kept a better awareness of stupid-left-hand, and found out that lazy-right-leg was a major contributor to the problem. We started out walking with a long to loose rein and I tried to remember how to steer with my legs. At first Trudi mostly ignored lazy-right-leg, so I followed up with attention-getting-kick and then instant-reaction-whip. Things quickly got better as we remembered how to turn from the leg, and our abs have been getting stronger (Maybe Trudi and I will release a video- we'll wear matching sweatbands and legwarmers- "And SIT-TING TROT and suck in that gut and raise that back and SIT, and SIT, and SIT and BREATHE and SIT, and SIT, and SIT....) so both of us are starting to get better carriage. Rebalancing for both of us works a lot better when I get taller in the saddle too- I have a hard time staying where I need to be, and tend to topple forward and back, but I'm finding if I go UP with my body instead of leaning forward it works better. I think Trudi's starting to carry the weight longer on her hind legs and flex her joints- it feels slower but springier and more powerful when she's really working now- could it be that we're learning collection? Trot work had some really really good stuff, when I actually quit spacing out and rode every step (amazing what happens when you pay attention) on a couple of circles- I realize now that I actually spend a lot time letting my mind wander once I get Trudi going well, and so then things fall apart. I'm kind of used to multitasking but I need to focus more. Canter had some fast stuff, but also several strides of long canter- not really bigger strides, but slower, almost like slo-mo canter. Her back was really up for that and she was like "Ohh...wait...hmmm...cool...ohh...wait...HARD..eeep! *run*". Watch out, collected canter, we're coming to getcha.
There are so many things I know, mentally, but actually figuring out how and when to apply them- makes each little thing seem like a revelation when the theory is put into practice.