More of the same this week; I am still not feeling that my riding is quite “right” but Heddvig is making rather amazing progress. And, admittedly, this week I did get something of a good feeling with some of the canter, with things clicking both mentally and physically.
Ulrika told me that Heddvig actually cantered a full circle in one of the lower groups last week and that she’s not seen this sort of development in a horse before. Certainly, it is very striking how she’s progressed over (I think) around two years at the riding school. For the first few months, she was apparently pretty difficult (I don’t think I got a chance to ride her more than maybe once during that time), and then I guess she made slow progress during the following year. And now, in the last few months, the pieces have started to fall into place.
The main exercise was the same as last week, with a change from one circle to another to produce a figure-of-eight pattern and where we would start with regular canter and move over into counter-canter at the changeover. I was mindful of my co-ordination issues and tried to concentrate on not changing my seat at the change of circles. It was easier to focus on that this time around since I was also told to let Heddvig handle the cantering mostly on her own, just supporting her with the whip on her inner shoulder and a properly pulled-back outer leg. In the end, we managed half a circle of counter-canter on two occasions. Very well done of a horse that a few weeks ago couldn’t manage a full circle of regular canter.
In other news, I was drooling over the latest addition to the stables. Sort of a bigger version of Heddvig, at least in terms of his looks. He’s Zimba, ten years old and half Frisian. I think I would like to try him, but I am not sure I can handle him. He looked smaller than I had thought at first but he seemed a little frisky. Maybe I will consider taking a private lesson on him to see. Gorgeous horse, at least.