It’s attention to detail that makes the difference between average and stunning.
Francis Atterbury.
Attention to detail! That was my main lesson this week with my coach Belinda Trussell. Details! They may be barely visible when executed but they make the world of difference. Here is a video of our canter warm up. We have done a long and low trot warm up but for the canter I must pick Biasini up in his head and shoulders, and bring him together into a shorter and more compact frame. When I start doing this he throws in flying lead changes. This is how I know I do not have him in the correct frame and must work harder to get him there. Once he is in that frame, he will only do a flying lead change when I ask for one. This video is a longer one but if you turn up the volume, and listen to Belinda, you will hear how much importance she places on getting the little details right.
It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make the big things happen.
John Wooden
My next video comes from later in the lesson. I had worked on the travers ( haunches in ) to the left and struggled with it . You will hear Belinda say Biasini is “lugging” This means he is pulling down. It is his favorite thing to do! In this video I am riding the travers right and half pass right. For some reason it is much easier in this direction. Previously I have had difficulty in going to the right and found going left easier. But now it has changed. C’est la vie!
I can tell you that after working on all those details I had to go home and have a hot bath in Dead Sea salts to restore myself!
Details create the big picture.
Sigfried I. Weill.
*Featured photo taken in Florida, January 2020 by Carmen Franco.*
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