This week my coach Belinda Trussell has been getting me to make up my own mind about what needs to be done every moment of my riding. Does Biasini need a half halt? A correction? Belinda is resisting telling me what to do and watching to see what my decisions are.
So I have to make the decisions and react to what Biasini is offering me. I may make the wrong decision or not commit to my decision. Then Belinda will let me know. Is this criticism? In a way it is but it is also valuable assistance. I can’t hold back . I must go for it. I must not be fearful of doing the wrong thing. I have to ‘do it anyways.‘
Sometimes I make the wrong choice or I am too late making a choice about what action to take. But sometimes the choice to take action comes almost spontaneously. I do not even think about it. Here is a video where I turn a corner and give Biasini a half halt to re-balance. It happens just after the 24 second mark. Belinda has something to say about it. If you watch the video you will find out what she thought of my action.
At the end of this video Belinda asks me: “What was your feel?” Feel is important in riding. I have to feel when Biasini is in good balance, or when he needs a reminder. My feel for this half pass was good. He felt light in my hands and reacted well to my leg aids. What a joy it is to have a ride like this.
And just in case you think it is always going along swimmingly I should tell you that today, when we were working on our own, Biasini was frightened by his own shadow on the wall . The sun was coming in from the big windows at the west end of the arena and when we would come round the corner he would startle and stop with his head in giraffe position. It took us a few times around to get him over that. Horses always keep things interesting don’t they?
Feature image of Biasini’s legs in half pass (C) Connie Gee.
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