Amateur Dressage

I have been so busy with everything (!) lately that I haven't had time to write in my blog.  So, this post will be really, really short but I did want to put up something.

I've been auditing clinics this summer and trying to observe good riding and different teaching & training as much as possible. One common demoninator that I've observed that has definitely been missing in my riding is just getting some energy in my rides.  I had a very nice lesson last week and a clinic ride earlier this summer where my horse was lots more forward that I normally ride and, lo & behold, he felt a ton better, his movement was better, and there was actually something under me to work with.  In several of the clinics I've observed, I realize that the horses that look really good are actually moving, not just shuffling along.  Since I ride on my own a good bit, it is very easy to slow down little by little until we're doing the solo-riding shuffle again. (This might have happened a little to my blog too, but that's an entirely different story .)

For now, I'll try to focus on moving forward energetically (not running, of course) and see where that leads...