A tired pony

I forgot I had taken this photo until I found it in my phone.  Here is MLE's Nicki Carson and Delia after a lesson with Susan Graham White. "Lizzie" says that being so good is hard work!

Today's challenge

I think we've used every standard we have!

Lissell's Counter Canter Miracle

So last Saturday we had Susan Graham White in town for a day of dressage lessons.  I noticed that the theme of the day for many riders was the counter canter. For Kelley, it was in preparation for flying changes.  For Erica, it was a balancing tool for her green bean.  I was just praying that Susan didn't ask me to try it.

For those of you that don't know, Lissell was a jumper before I got her.  In other words, the horse came installed with a flying change button.  Well, not really a button, because that would mean that Lissell would have to wait for me to press it.  Basically, Lissell throws in a flying change wherever and whenever she deems it necessary.  This means that the counter canter just doesn't exist for us.  I've tried to breach the subject with her in the past, and she just says, "No, you're wrong." as she does a perfect change.

Which brings us to Saturday.  Susan was having us do leg yield after leg yield at the trot and then wanted one at the canter.  We were on the right lead, and I moved my leg too far back for the leg yield, so Princess Lissell threw in a change instead.  But Susan then told me to keep the left lead.  At this point, my brain was racing, and I was convinced that we were about to see fireworks.  But instead, Lissell stayed with me for the whole exercise.  Wooohooooooooooooo!

Here's the video as proof! 

Lessons have started!

Lessons have started with Susan Graham White. Here is Julia Wendell (of An Otherwise Perfect Farm) and her adorable gelding Picante.