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| Subject: Dressage Lesson with Princess | |
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Author: Melanie |
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Date Posted: 20:01:43 06/17/02 Mon  12 y/o Melanie Brooks swung into the polished dressage saddle and sat deep. She gathered the reins, pushed her heels down, and squeezed gently. Princess responded obiedantly with a smooth walk. Melanie rode into the dressage arena and they circled it, warming up. Then Jennifer came into the arena to give Melanie a lesson. "Ok, canter a 20 meter circle to k..." Melanie sat deep, brought her outside leg back behind the girth, and pressed her heel against the Arabian's sides. The 14.3h mare picked up a rolling canter, her back rounded, neck arched, nostrils flared, ears pricked, and moving softly on the bit. They did a collected canter around the 20 meter circle and then Melanie shortened the reins and did a flawless 10 meter circle. Then they did figure eights & serpentines in an extended trot (sitting) and collected canter. Then Melanie worked on walk-canter transitions and flying lead changes. The talented 6 y/o Arabian was behaving perfectly, strides smooth, responding instantly. Melanie was moving with each stride. "Back to a trot!" Jenny called. Melanie started posting as Princess dropped from a graceful canter to a working trot. Melanie trotted a circle and Jenny yelled, "Sitting trot!" Melanie sat deep and they trotted down the longside of the arena. "Swing those hips!" Jenny called. Melanie swung her hips and Princess's trot became bigger. Then they picked up a canter again and cantered a half circle. Melanie sponged her fingers on the reins and Princess chewed the bit. She dropped to a springy walk, head bowed. "Good girl," Mel whispered as they walked past Jenny. "Canter, flying lead changes!" Jenny called. Melanie swung her outside leg back and they sprang into a canter. Melanie asked for a flying lead change and the Arabian responded instantly, switching leads with every stride. It was a wonderful sensation! "20 meter circle, canter!" Melanie pushed Princess into a circle. "Bend to the inside!" Melanie shortened the outside rein and brought the inside rein down and back, squeezing with her inside leg and turning the mare's head in. Princess dropped her head and flexed to the inside. "Good! Ok, reverse directions and flex to the outside." After this, Jenny beamed and said, "Ok, I think that's enough for today! Fantastic lesson Mel!" she smiled and walked to the barn. Melanie dropped her boots out of the stirrups and walked the sweaty mare around the arena to cool off. They had ridden for almost an hour & a half! Melanie dismounted, ran the stirrups up, and led the glossy mare to the barn. She untacked her and turned on the hose. Princess grabbed the hose in her mouth and sucked the cold water in. Laughing, Melanie pried it from her grip and hosed her off. After all the dirt & lather had been rinsed off, Melanie used the sweat scraper and walked her around. Then she put her in her stall with an apple, hay, and water. Then Melanie hurridly cleaned the tack and washed up. Her mom was going to give her a jumping lesson on Gamble and she was very excited. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |