Have been watching all of the videos but not commented for a while. Without wanting to sound like a broken record I think you do have to see each session in the context of the rest of the week's work, as today's ridden session is not representative of the training as a whole.
Putting aside the BTV issue, for me what is of greater interest is the length of his neck overall. When he is going forward in a way that he is confident with, he is now reaching out into a longer frame. At *times* we are now seeing that poll-high, open & over the back feeling
Today looked like she challenged him a bit more with the lateral work in collected canter - this really does seem hard for him and the canter becomes a bit short and tight as he just doesn't have the balance or engagement yet. But on the plus side, he is keeping his rhythm, staying with her and really trying. She's sacrificed the contact a bit today to achieve that. It's swings & roundabouts though - he hasn't un-learned that reach, but it won't all come at once yet. I suppose it's just a case of what the rider feels the priority is each day.
Yesterday on the long reins he looked tighter when she asked him to flex to the inside more and the lateral canter work today just reminded me of that a bit. I wonder what he would be like if she really rode forwards when asking for the flexion. Think he might find it easier to deliver with an easier way of going, though appreciate the 'form' of the lateral work would possibly unravel a bit at this stage. The right hind is a bit of a question mark at the moment and I think it was predictable that the left to right changes were awkward :wink3:
FWIW i don't think she's *pulling* him BTV. I do think she's carrying her hands lower than she did at the start which makes them appear more fixed and she sometimes appears to miss an opportunity to let him just reach a few inches forward. I also think from her comments in the last few days that she's less worried about his frame at the moment and more about having his focussed attention and obedience. He looks reasonably relaxed. That and the fact that she does work him into a more truly forward-down-out contact on the long reins is reassuring to me
Today looked like the first time he's really been able to stay with her *mentally* with so many distractions outside. It would be nice to see if she can get the same level of concentration on one of his easy stretchy days and do that under saddle instead of long reins
), nor is he the same temperament, he does go on the forehand and can tuck btv when he is not wanting to work. I did spend some time riding quite defensively and my hands were somewhat buried. With confidence, and lots more lessons, I am able to carry my hands now, and the transformation has been amazing. He is no longer fixed and tucked in, but up through his shoulders and tall and proud. Armas (person!) - is this something worth discussing with the rider?
:lol: Fair enough! Red or white?
For me I just think you have to see the thing as a whole. There are plenty of things I might have done differently with this horse but there's no way of knowing if it would have had a better or worse result, so... Not much point speculating
She's not 'perfect', but I don't think she's *bad* either (& I think she's fantastic with the long reins! I'm incredibly inspired in that respect) and it's her comments that make it for me - like when she said today that he was beginning to pull into her hands in the lengthened trot . It's not a proper extension yet, but he has to learn to pull first. Just one tiny example of where i think she's looking for the right feel from the horse.
