Lesson #160: Transitions

I didn't go into this lesson with any real expectations considering the ride I had the day before. I figured that as long as I learned something during the lesson and get through the ride in a calm and logical manner, then that is a successful lesson.

Ariel seemed to be in a more composed manner and I was practising my slow and deep breathing with her. It seems that she's particularly sensitive about that and the simplicity of just slowing down my breath and focusing on the goal was key to a successful lesson. Ariel demands a clear head and clear communications from her rider.

I started at the walk and Sheri told me to feel Ariel's body move beneath me and alternate leg pressure in union with her body to "open up her walk". The few times we did bareback riding, the goal was to get our seat to flow with their movement and effectively swing each hip as the horse was moving. Getting the feel for this in the saddle is a little trickier but loosening up meant that I could also alternate my legs according to the way her body swayed side to side. Our lesson was spent on getting a feel for transitions and what it took for us, to "talk transition" be it up or down.

I started out with no rein contact and was told to get Ariel super long and low at a relaxed steady pace. The best part about it was that as I relax, I in turn encourage her to relax too and she isn't speeding around the arena. This is tricky though, because when she did speed up, the natural thing to want to do is grab the reins and hold and pull. Instead, I was told, do the complete opposite to bring her back and add lots of half halts to get her attention. This isn't change immediately but in a stride or two, Ariel would relax and lower her head and I would regain control.

After several bouts of adding in seated trot with the objective to keep her head in the same relaxed frame and the pace consistent, we move onwards to transitioning up to canter, down to trot and back to canter and then back to walk etc. Sheri was telling us, you gotta feel that there is a difference with what your body is asking for, depending on the transition: a transition from canter to trot vs a transition from canter to walk are different. I also have to remember a transition down is not a loss of impulsion through the front where the horse falls into their transition down but rather, a collection of their bodies into a slowing down where you continue to push their hind ends beneath them. I would say that the transitions where we properly transition down have a much smoother ride whereas when she falls into her transitions down, it's jolty and usually abrupt.

The entire lesson was composed of transitions up and down and short or long bursts based on what was being asked of us. Definitely a very productive lesson that gave me the opportunity to regain control and be reminded of riding with our bodies and seat before hands.