Eole - december 3, 2009

Eole has been sick with bronchitis over the last two weeks. I am glad that antibiotics finally worked, and that he is back in good shape. He is sensitive to this type of disease which he had got last year as well. I heard that old horses are less prone to such infections like this - but it does not apply to him.
I was delighted to ride him again. We were in the large indoor arena with S. exercising his own jumper. Eole was full of stamina. We started with descente d'encolure at walk, which were generously given on an energetic push from the quarters. We did slight lateral flexions, nose down. I find this quite useful, but not always easy to obtain. Generally, the head will tend to go upwards when you try that. When it stays down, I take it as a proof of relaxation a la Baucher, where each 'part' of the horse body is lightly disconnected from the others in a first stage, and then will get reassembled in the second stage of the exercise. I know that German method supporters think that this 'décomposition' is detriemantal to the 'connectivity' of the horse. I believe this is not a valid criticism, except for what deals with the base of the neck, where I would be cautious to ask for repeated, substantial flexions. By contrast, I find that these light flexions at the poll on extended neck are great for preparing good and soft'cessions de machoire'.
Trot session was full of impulsion. I interspersed it with square halts, Eole's hind legs coming right 'beneath'. Shoulder in, haunches in, half pass, good extensions with smooth transitions. Canter was just great, as usual now. Very slow, on small circles, up to strong on the large side (yet on the hand). A few strides in shoulder-in, and half-pass till the middle line. And we finished by two or three lovely half-turns on the haunches which come nearer and nearer to pirouette.
S. was complimentary to Eole's work. He suggested me to bring my hands slightly more forward, in front of the withers. I welcomed this suggestion and will work on it.
We went back to the stables in an upbeat mood.