I have got a minute, just a little minute, I have only got a minute, just a minute, I have only got a minute that is all the time I have
Lan O’Kun, Lyrics for The Minute Waltz
Back in lessons now. Coach Belinda has come up with a new way to help me to get it right. I ride a 20 meter circle and she gives me ONE Minute to get the canter right: the right frame, activity, tempo, rhythm . In One Minute. And so we began. Here is a video and you can hear Coach Belinda letting me know more is needed.
I then changed rein and began work on the other canter lead going to the right . We had a lot of unasked for flying changes that you could see in the previous video. Belinda explained that Biasini was at a point in the ride where he is very sensitive. I must be careful with my outside leg. The slightest change in my contact with his side or the least movement will be interpreted as a signal for him to change leads. I also knew that I had to start with the best possible transition from walk to canter. I had to start as I meant to continue. So I got organized and prepared Biasini and with the lightest of aids asked him to canter.
Coach Belinda remarked : “I think you do better under pressure”. I think she may be right. I know it is pointless to keep riding around and not getting the desired result. I get tired. Biasini gets tired. Neither of us learns anything. In that second one minute Biasini felt marvelous. He was light in my hands and very responsive. That’s the standard now. However I should tell you we did another minute to the left and it was not quite as good. At least I recognized it was not as good. Going back to that one handed pirouette I posted about during the week I would know I did not have Biasini active and in self carriage . I would not be able to ride one handed.
Progress not perfection!
Leave a Reply