Gaby 3/30

Gaby amazes me. Her memory is just WONDERFUL. I started her out in hand, and after only ONE session working in hand with me two days prior, she worked in hand like a pro. Beautiful, light, balanced. Shoulder-in, renvers, leg yield and half pass were all easy for her. I could actually stand back, use one rein only, even take away the in-hand whip and ask her to half pass and she complied easily. She demonstrated she had a true understanding of the task at hand during the 2nd time ever in her life she's been asked to do this. Remarkable.

Mounted, her trot transitions had greatly improved and I was able to gather the rein quicker after the transition to start "putting her together" underneath me without resistance. Her walking lateral work (shoulder-in, travers, leg yeild and half pass) had all improved dramatically. Trotting, she was unable to carry out anything but leg yeild and shoulder in, but that's so be expected. She has to learn the balance, bend, and step sequence under saddle at the walk first and become comfortable with it to begin to be able to trot with it.

I played with piaffe with her and she complied and REALLY stepped up underneath herself and SPRUNG off the ground, while listening to hand and seat. Every time she complied, raised her forehand, and lowered her croup she was given a HUGE reward, with voice, patting and softening of all aids, allowing her forward movement if she chose again. Her owner also cheered her on from the sidelines as well, letting her know she was doing the right thing. After each high collection, we went around the ring long and low to stretch out her lumbar. We also played with extension as well. She's beginning to learn the idea of shortening and lengthening her frame on command.

She was easily able to go from walk half-pass to pirhouette back to half-pass etc. She's really starting to grasp the concept of her seat, rein and leg aids. She's very reactive to core musculature changes in her rider, and a correct core from her rider really make her gaits and movement shine. She also is building her aerobic ability to work longer as well.