Pacha - january 24, 2011

Very pleasant session today. We were only two riders in the large arena, F. on Milha and me on Pacha. Chill but dry weather.Long walk session (20'), first on loose reins and looking for long, horizontal neck with energetic strides. Lateral work (SI and LY with bend) followed. Frequent , prolonged halts with stillness required, often combined with rein back asked a la Baucher (lightness request at halt,a little leg, a fixed hand and horse bouncing back when intending to move forward). Reining back extended over up to ten steps when Pacha remains in correct head carriage (ramener), then followed by immediate forward walk. Carrying on  at walk, haunches outside on very small circles, at both hands. Pacha has still difficulty with this exercise, losing impulsion easily, or getting nervous. In such case, halt and wait for calmness to come back - request for lightness and start again.
The trot session is now shorter (10'), mainly sitting trot, looking for regularity and straightness on track, with several voltes, half-voltes, and counter half-voltes. I do not get him into posting trot every time - only if I feel that I need to build up some impulsion, in which case we go into energetic working trot, horizontal placer, on the track.
The canter session is now longer (15') and the keynote of the working session. Aiming at getting him as round and cadenced as possible, the canter is as slow as feasible, with lots of gentle 'give and take' on 6m circles, as well as on the full arena round. Descentes de jambes are becoming almost routine, and descentes de mains begin to be sustained. The canter quality is equally good on both leads.The transition to trot is not good enough, often lacking smoothness. I put more stress on downward transition at lunge work, and hopefully it will translate in mounted work.