I've Just Danced for the First Time in My Life...

You know when you have a huge breakthrough with your horse, and you are SO excited you feel like shouting it out to everyone on the street? Or perhaps, more conveniently, in the barn? Well, I had one today! I knew there was a light somewhere in this huge, tough, sometimes disheartening and tear-wrenching tunnel to ride Seb like a German. I'm by no means out of the tunnel yet, but I can definitely see the light, bright and shining!


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Today Seb had a back, hind legs, shoulders lifted up in front of me for me to sit behind and ride! It was the most amazing feeling in the world, I'm sure the Germans aren't used to people "woo-hoo"ing as they trot around the arena - I think they are more the "quiet achiever" type.
I had a weekend to process my lessons last week, which as an understatement, were hard. But through my own thought-processes and riding Seb to apply them and work through them quietly, I got the concept. It was there.
I knew I had to constantly ride the hind legs no matter how much he ignored me or found it hard.
I knew I had to keep my hands down and never pulling back, tied to the saddle but keeping a constant, steady communication with the mouth, never throwing the reins away as a version of giving.
I knew I had to be committed to which line I was riding on, not letting him waver off it or fall crooked.
I knew my half halts and upper body strength to hold our picture together had to be constant (6-pack here I come!).
I knew which side of him was stiff or weak and what exercises to do to assist him in loosening his weak areas.
I knew that I had to have him equal in both reins, both seat bones, both legs, with everything ON. If I couldn't get something "on" ie my right leg or left rein, and I found myself twisting to compensate for Seb's weakness, then no, stop, FORCE myself to put that aid on, keep it and keep straight, and Seb very quickly becomes straight too.

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Seriously, there is no better feeling than a horse that is going into both legs, both seat bones and both reins, forward with impulsion and the feeling like he is dancing. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was truly dancing with my horse.