How Seemingly Bad Things Contribute to the Greater Good

Also known as the blessing in disguise.
Well, it wasn't overly hot yesterday, but it made up for that in humidity. Blue was quite sweaty by the end, but we beat the heat quite nicely. First, though, the work part.
We warmed up with the exercise we practiced Friday on our hack - walk-to-halt transitions. Simple, right? Wrong. There's a lot behind this transition that people don't stop to consider. My goals with Blue were a smooth transition to a square halt. I adapted the exercise to halt at each dressage letter. For me, this means that I need to build impulsion between letters, half-halt to collect about a fence post before the letter to produce a nice square halt at the letter.
Well, we're getting more square but the transitions are still fairly abrupt. I think I'm half-halting with too much hand. So I need to counter this with more leg pressure to a resistant, not pulling, hand. We'll try again next time.
The flat part of the lesson went pretty well. Blue needs the first fifteen minutes to regulate pace and figure out what the heck I mean by bending, but eventually he gets it and works nicely on the bit. We've both recently discovered the concept that you push first with the legs and receive this energy into a "breathing", sensitive hand. And man, the results are impressive. We even got some flexion at the canter! Look at how far we've come!
My legs are hurting today, so I know my vendetta against my level heels is working.
My other project today was quite related to the walk-halt transition one - we're working on adjustability by lengthening the trot on the long side and collecting it on the short side. This will, hopefully, do wonders for our over fences work.
Speaking of which, did not start well. It was really simple - teeny little 18" vertical off the rail at F, pick up the right lead canter and halt at A.
Only one problem - there were trot poles in front of the crossrail and IT WAS THE RIGHT LEAD!
Don't see the significance? Here's a bit of history on Blue - he dislikes trotting jumps and he equally dislikes picking up the right lead over fences.
The first time went well enough, in that he actually trotted the poles, but unfortunately he didn't get the memo on the lead. I would love to tell you I calmly and quietly asked him for the change and he gave it to me before the corner, but it was more like I opening reined his head to the right and thumped him repeatedly with my outside leg, getting the change in time for a rough halt at A.
Ewwww.
Second time was pretty much a repeat of the first, except add in holding his head up and bounding over the trotting poles.
Which warranted a return to the vertical, with a mandate not to canter the poles.
No such luck. Halt and reinback. Running through my left leg is met with a smart smack with my stick.
Turn right and approach again. Make attempt at getting the rogue's head down with half-halts. Does not listen to hand, only leg. My trainer's polite request to "I DON'T CARE IF IT'S A SLIDING STOP, DON'T GO OE STRIDE FURTHER!" is met with an abrupt, seat-bouncing halt. I immediately forget the fact that horse will not settle and pity his long-suffering back.
Turn left and approach again. Halt and rein-back before the poles. Do our best Western jog (which is pretty good) to vertical. Actually trots poles but continues to pick up wrong lead. Rider gets tired of begging, bridges reins and REQUIRES a lead change. Gets it, sort of, but at least it's before the corner. Of course, we're not halting this time, but continuing around the short side of the arena to do the diagonal rolltop. Again, halt after the jump. Blue decides that it's finally OK to start running after the jump again (after all, there's no fence in his way!) My resolve to use more leg in halts backfires, and NOW he decides it's time for a flying change.
Great. At this point, I'm pretty frustrated and I know it's all my fault. I decide the time is ripe for my trainer's favorite request - don't override.
We're adding a rollback from the rolltop to a 2' vertical. It's a tough little turn, but it's a fitting challenge. After another disunited (but prompt) change, I aim Blue to meet the rolltop at an angle, for optimum turn length. I look too late, but we get over the vertical (though we must chip to fit in).
Luckily, my saving grace arrives with another try. Yet another prompt disunited change (we really need to work on this) to an angled rolltop. My eyes are spot on, and a smooth turn puts us in the center of the vertical, which Blue pops over easily. Lands on the correct lead, too...imagine that!
My poor, sweaty, long-suffering boy was rewarded with a bareback swim in the pond afterwards with my friend's visiting gelding, Drummer. He splashes water over all of us and I think all is forgiven.
Well, I've learned an important lesson today - ride quietly, but efficiently. 'Nuff said.