Groundwork, fitness and a case of the blahs

I think I want to go back to posting regularly on this blog. I need something to help me track my progress.
As the title implies, I'm on kind of a groudwork kick right now. I'm following the instructions in the book "Horse training in hand: A modern guide to training in hand." I want all my horses to be reaching under themselves and really lifting their backs with their inside hind leg when we're on a circle. Eventually I'm going to be working everyone on their lateral work too. I'm trying to be very patient and not skip any steps. Right now Lady, Colonel, and Star are working on their proper walk.

I walk beside them by their shoulder with a dressage whip and my leading hand extended. If they aren't bending right I put my driving hand on their neck or shoulder and vibrate the line to invite their head in. All three horses are wanting to swing their hips out instead of bending. I'm trying to be persistent and not let up with the pressure on their neck/shoulder until they bend for me and then I release the pressure. Eventually I need to be able to just vibrate the line and point at their shoulder and they need to respond by bending nicely.

The idea is that then when we go to our lunge line work, I can signal them to do the right thing without having to shrink my circle again. Furthermore, if they get the idea at the walk, I can use the same signal for the trot and eventually the canter.

Lady also needs a little help extending her inside hind. This is simpler to accomplish. I just have to give that leg a little tap just as the outside fore is about to lift off the ground. Sometimes Lady prefers to trot rather than extend, but she's getting over it.

Papillon apparently already walks like I want her to, so she'll be moving on to lunge work. Papillon will need conditioning as much as anything else.

After the lunge work is done with Colonel and Star, they'll be lunged in side reins. At first very loose and gradually shorter as they gain their balance back at each new length. I'm feeling impatient to get to this step, but I'm committed to doing this right and building the neccessary muscles before moving to the next step.

In theory all these ground work exercises can be used just to warm up before a ride. I have been feeling very blah about riding lately. I'm waiting for that to pass but if it doesn't pass soon I'll have to force the issue.