Pacha - august 11, 2010

Large indoor arena, fairly busy with one teacher and two students. Plus large lorry unloading straw in the barn adjacent to the arena. Pacha was not overly anxious by the latter, and did not try to escape the door open to the barn. Usual walk work, with SI and leg yield (still stiffer on the right handside). Sitting trot at a good cadence and in calmness, with several transitions to and from walk. Frequent halts with sometimes rein back, not always fluid (deviations from the haunches). I tried to correct this with haunches out on small circles, both hands. As usual since Pacha stepchange in canter quality, we spent twenty minutes on 'confirming' this gait. Pacha was long and low, with steady pace the speed of which I could vary easily without resistance. The horse was reasonably straight and not disturbed at all by the activity inside and outside the arena. I did several downward transition to walk, then halt and canter strike-off again.No rushing, and head carriage pretty equal. I could obtain two or three descente des aides (hands and legs) which is really fulfilling on a horse which I would not have dreamt to get from only two months ago!
We ended with some trot looking for a beginning of collection in lateral work. Good series of alternate leg yield on the middle line. Clearly, work at trot after the canter session is better than the one before it; especially the stiffness of the right handside is considerably reduced. The canter on the right lead is a powerful aid in this respect.
Back to stables, happy and light hearted. Pacha enjoyed his shower and a well deserved meal.