Eole - march 19, 2009

Fair weather, small outdoor arena. Coquin and his owner and the coach. Walk with descente d'encolure and lateral flexions followed by shoulder-ins on large circles alterning with haunches out. Eole was receptive and came on the hand quickly and smoothly with lovely bright white lipstick, and good placer. I was able to better control the head and nose position than last time, and avoided any behind the vertical incidents. Relaxation at trot, with flexions.Extensions at posting trot, then work at sitting trot with doubler on the long side, halt on the middle line, three backward steps and forward into trot again, without letting haunches deviate nor opening at poll nor hollowing in the back. Then shoulder-ins at trot and leg-yield from corner say F to quarter line at X level, and back again to large side towards M. Then change of hands and same exercise. Canter session started with relaxation and straightness focus, then more collection in order to do leg yield in the same way as previously, at both hands. Eole did seamless performance on the right lead, and missed two or three times on left lead (i.e. fell into trot when counter changing). This was put in order with legs (both) closer and even lighter hands (both to the right), and starting before F to flatten the angle of the trajectory a little.
Excellent session on the whole, in lightness. Eole (and myself too!) were dry and happy when going back to stables.
I could ponder a bit deeper on the issue of the importance of horse character in horsemanship. The warm Eole needed no aids effort from me at all. He was forward, head in place and tasting his bit. The cold Coquin did perform the exercises, but he was not in ramener, needed a lot of legs from his rider and missed on several occasions falling back into trot. His mouth was dry. His rider was tired indeed at the end, and was a bit bitter when she said : 'Eole does have a steady placer'! . I sympathise with her disappointment which I have known as well with Coquin as reported earlier. I believe this might not have happened if an energetic 'mise en avant' would have been requested at the beginning of the sessio for digging out his impulsion. This gives me some more fodder for the discussion I started on my other blog 'art et equitation':
http://zhx3.artblog.fr/2/
I will ride Coquin next week and will be able to further investigate the issue of warmth vs. coldness. This 'study' turns my scientific fiber on again - What a nice experimental evironment when having two very good horses of each type at one's disposal!