Contact

I took Papillon out today. As always, too lazy to saddle her. We trowalked out in the field, through the flooded stream banks. I missed Papillons hyper-collected trot. Its so comfortable to ride, which is good because its not easy to stop it for very long. If I thought she would keep it up when she was actually allowed to trot then I'd just ask her to do it all the time. I trotted her a little in the outdoor arena. Comet zooming around in the indoor arena was somewhat offensive to her highness. She was actually really good, very little cantering at all. One spook, at the lightpost of all things. I think I might do a little bridle re-shuffling. Maybe swap Reno and Papillon's bridles? Lots and lots of leather polishing is in order for me at some point.

Took Colonel out in the dressage saddle. I'm not sure I like the way it fits him, but he didn't complain. Alyssa and I will have to look at it tomorrow. Anyway, I decided that it was time to resume working on rein contact. This had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the dressage saddle has nowhere to set the reins down without them slipping.

He was a little surprised to feel my hands again, but he dealt with it OK. Then he started casually pulling on the reins. Its very subtle and insidious because I have to really pay attention to notice that I'm leaning more and more forward to accommodate his demand for more rein. I started pushing with my legs and then little half halts with my reins.

I talked to Robert about this later and he pointed out that its just a game for Colonel. He pulls, I half halt, he puts his head up for a second, then he pulls again. This is consistent with what was happening. I dont know why I always get so whiny when I talk to Robert about my problems with Colonel, but I really do. Fortunately Robert ignores this, which is very gracious of him. He is going to help me on wednesday. He also gave me a suggestion for a long lining technique to try. I'm going to thread the reins through the top loops of the surcingle, then through the bit and then attach the reins to the lowest loops on the surcingle.

The new plan of attack under saddle, as per Roberts suggestion, is that when he pulls on my I'll just push him forward and then deal with the results of that once he has pulled his head up. No rein stuff until his head is back up. He says that should help him work off his hind end too, so that he doesn't need/want as much support from my hands. We're also going to do lots of transitions to help him work off his hind end.

I felt kinda guilty. Robert said to me, "no one wants to do repetetive transitions with a horse because its boring, but there is just nothing better, to my mind." I'm totally that person who doesn't feel like doing the transitions. I dont really think of myself that way, but I am. Maybe thats why I get so whiny talking to Robert, he suggests things that are slow and difficult. (Though effective.) So its time to pay my dues. I cant just sit there anymore.