Milha - january 13, 2009

I had not ridden Milha for a month or so. She was difficult all the way through, starting with bridling for which I needed the help of a lad..The weather was less cold today (6°C) and the arena was almost empty. She was on her toes. I had put the draw reins. I worked several lateral neck flexions at walk, tried shoulder-in and quickly saw that the right side was worse than I expected, with signs of restiveness (going as far as kicking to the boot). I then tried to put her forward at brisk posting trot, which she accepted after some reluctance. I worked on the track, with speed variations. Then I started sitting trot, on circles with change of direction, figures of eight etc...Several restiveness episodes occured, and I was particularly disappointed to see that the touch of the whip was no longer effective - worse, when I touched the croup to push her forward after one of those defences, she kicked with both hind legs in a fashion that might have resembled the croupade at the Cadre! I decided that I would prolong the trot session until a return to calmness and a beginning of legerete would manifest itself. After half an hour, I got near but not quite to this goal: with draw reins fully loose,correct placer, regular cadence, froth on the lips but I always had the unpleasant impression that this was temporary and could vanish at any time. I cancelled the canter session and we went back to stables. Milha was dry, but her low head carriage showed at least that she had spent some energy out!
This was for me one of those times that we all know, when you think you are going backwards and you end your session with lots of frustration, that hopefully will turn into food for thought later. I believe that Milha is not asked enough by her riders in the barn, and that she is clever at using restiveness to avoid efforts. This is worrying.