Dressage lesson --

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Subject: Dressage lesson

Author:
Mel

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Date Posted: 13:20:09 06/17/02 Mon

Melanie groomed & tacked up her Arabian mare Princess. Then she mounted and rode to the outdoor arena for a dressage lesson. Jenny stood in the center. "Ask for a lively walk," she commanded. Melanie let out the reins and cued Princess forwards. They started walking around the arena. "No, no Melanie! Longer strides!" Mel concentrated. She swung her hips with each step, pushing the mare out. Princess obeyed, lengthening her walk and speeding up. "Good." The continued this way for a bit. "Sitting trot!" Melanie sat deep in the smooth dressage saddle. She gathered the reins, pushed her heels down, and asked for a trot. Princess broke into a nice trot. Melanie let the shock bounce down through her heels as she concentrated on keeping a still upper body as the mare trotted around the arena. Melanie remembered a few years ago when she had started to learn dressage. She had used a bucking strap for a deeper seat. Mel smiled to herself. Look @ her now! "20 meter circle." Jenny said. Melanie turned the supple mare in a circle. "Rising trot!" Melanie instantly started posting, high and tall in the saddle. Princess trotted a figure eight and another circle. "Slow your posting," Jenny said as she watched them. Melanie responded and Princess's strides softened. The mare was more collected now. "Ok. Ask for an extended trot down the long side of the arena." Melanie sat deep in the saddle, pressing with her legs and tightening the reins. Princess surged into a long, extended trot from H to K. Then they trotted a half circle and moved into a canter. Melanie moved rthemically in the saddle, keeping Princess in a steady gait. The mare tucked her head into her chest and stepped with light, prancing steps across the arena. They did a serpentine & 2 figure eights. Then they came back into a trot and cut across the arena, then broke into a canter again. "Ok, now go to the center for a piroutte!" Jenny called. Melanie rode the mare with perfect form. She asked the mare silently for a walk. They halted at the center. Then Melanie shifted her weight back and shortened the reins. Princess stepped forwards into the piroutte. She sped up until she was cantering in a tight circle, rotating on her hindquarters. Jenny could see the muscles standing out as the Arab spun beautifully. Then Mel relaxed her hold on the reins and Princess sprang fowards into a collected canter. The rest of the lesson was spent on transitions and flying lead changes. Melanie was bathing the mare later when Bogsdan came up. "Hey. Want to go on a trail ride tomorrow after lunch?" he invited. "Yes!" Melanie said eagerly.

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