~Dressage lesson with Princess~ --

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Subject: ~Dressage lesson with Princess~

Author:
Melanie

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Date Posted: 14:33:54 06/17/02 Mon

Melanie finished grooming her 14.3 hh Arabian and stepped back. The gorgeous mare had flawless conformation and a stunning dapple gray coat. Her mane & tail were long & silky. She turned her finely dished head and nickered, as if to say, "Aren't I beautiful?" Melanie kissed her velvety muzzle, feeling like the luckiest girl alive to own such a gorgeous animal. Then the 12 year old grabbed her bridle & dressage saddle. Princess pricked her ear and accepted the bit eagerly. Melanie quickly slid the saddle on and pulled the girth tight. Then she grabbed her helmet and gloves and put them on. Jennifer walked over. "Ready?" she asked. Melanie nodded. Jenny handed her a whip. "Ok, let's go." Mel led the petite Arabian down a hill to the big dressage arena. It was a sunny day, perfect to be in the saddle. Melanie mounted and started warming the mare up. Princess walked, trotted & cantered around the arena. Then Mel tugged on the reins and they trotted to x where Jenny stood. Melanie sat deep and stopped her seat & in response the little Arab halted. "Ok, let's work on transitions first," Jenny said. "20 meter circle, walking." Melanie turned the mare and they walked a 20 meter circle. The mare's stride was light and fluid and she was bent around Melanie's leg expertly. Then they trotted the circle and cantered it. Then they did half circles, figure eights & serpentines, switching from a walk to a trot, then a trot to a canter, or a walk-canter transition. The mare performed these easily, collecting & extending herself whenever Melanie asked. "Ok, figure eight, working trot." Melanie tugged slightly on the reins and the cantering mare dropped to a working trot, Mel rising & falling in the saddle. Then Melanie stopped the mare and dropped her boots out of the stirrups. "C'mon mom, that was too easy," she complained. Jenny arched an eyebrow. "Ok, we were just reviewing some basics. Let's work on extended trots & lead changes next, then you can do a test." Melanie slid her boots back into the stirrups and pushed her heels down. She collected the reins and asked for a working trot. The mare picked up the gait smoothly. Melanie exaggerated her posting and squeezed, while applying slight pressure to the reins. Princess extended her trot until it felt as if they were floating on air. Her slender legs stretched out, and they trotted with long, smooth strides around the arena. Then back into a collected trot. Princess tossed her head. Melanie shortened the reins, keeping a firm contact. The mare settled down to a more refind trot. "Ok, pick up a canter, left lead." Melanie sat deep in the saddle, sliding her outside leg back behind the girth and squeezing. Princess broke into a canter on the correct lead. "Change leads every 2 strides," Jenny called. Melanie rocked with the mare's strides, and then squeezed with her right leg, shortening the reins. Princess switched to the right lead. This was easy and Melanie halted the Arabian after cantering for a bit. "Can we do the test now?" she begged. Jenny reviewed the pattern with her & then Melanie trotted Princess out of the ring and turned her.
Then they walked into the dressage arena, collected & calm. They halted at x & Melanie saluted. Then she tracked right to H, circling and breaking into a canter. They did the test smoothly, working as one. Afterwords Melanie loosened the reins and Princess dropped to a walk, her coat sleek with sweat. Melanie's muscles ached as she dismounted after the dressage lesson. "You think that's tough?" Jenny asked as she held the mare's bridle while Mel pulled off the saddle. "Next week it's bareback." They walked into the barn and Melanie hosed the mare off.

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