Eole - december 10, 2009

Large indoor arena. Two or three riders only. Eole was quite upbeat and full of stamina. I decided to take advantage of this and to devote this hour to collected work. We started with active walk with neck downward extension,lateral flexions in that position. Jaw relaxation on elevated neck. Then work on small circles in a corner (3m. diameter) with changes of hand inside the circle, followed by larger circles on the large side with haunches out, haunches in, spiralling down to pirouette at walk on haunches and on the shoulders. Several halts, square and calm followed by reining back over three steps. Then posting trot with extending and relaxing the topline, head and neck low. Some speed variations. Then sitting trot with good SI on both hands, alternating with haunches in and again. Eole was quite forward, pulling too much on the hand though.We did some leg yield with outside bend and half passes.The canter session followed with lots of transitions, on small circles as well as on the track. A few soft half halts to push some weight back on the hind quarters. This restored lightness.
During all this preparatory work, I had in mind storing a lot of impulsion, which did happen. I felt Eole vibrant, and getting sharper and sharper to the aids. We went back to walk at very slow pace, halt, reining back on three strides, walk forward three strides, halt and again. I had a light twig which I touched Eole's inside back leg with. We did this several times at different places. We then went into a corner at 'pas compté' with lots of impulsion but diminishing pace until reaching almost, but not quite a halt. His withers went up, his head carriage was high with nose close to the vertical and he gave me two or three strides of diagonalization: I felt the famous ripple of water under my seat.This was clearly a first stage of mobilization of the hinds.It is a pity there was no mirror there, because I would have liked to verify his attitude. Although Eole was extremely sharp and reactive at this stage, he made no resistance (such as lifting his shoulders, or getting upset with the control of his movements - which occur easily with many horses in such an exercise). I was extremely pleased since I honestly did not expect Eole to go this far on a first attempt. Of course a lot of improvements is needed - the first one being the loss of lightness during the ultimate stage of collection, where I had to 'compress' him between hand and leg. A long way off from 'piaffer in descente des aides'..but who knows, maybe we may comme nearer to this Graal some day!
We ended the work there and went outside in the sunny open arena where I walked him on loose reins in full relaxation for 15'.
A session which was a great opener on new vistas!