Brego and I had a great dressage session today. He was bendy and listening. We were sharing the indoor which is the size of a small dressage arena with 4 other horses and he did a great job staying focused and changing direction and bend in all three gaits. The other riders were equally skilled and considerate and we all made it work. Yay for a good barn!
Anyway, we worked again on the shoulder-in to haunches-in transition at the walk. He was awesome on the left bend and better on the right bend. We also did walk-canter transitions and he actually did one correctly to the right! One out of 8 or so schoolings, but I am so thrilled. We got one, no trot steps, big elevated departure, very soft. I couldn't believe it. He is just so cool. We worked to the left as well, but it was not quite as solid, although his left canter is still very nice.
I've been obsessing over Brego again because he did one line yesterday jumping in the sandy arena where he cross fired. But then he did some nice changes for me over and one stride after the fences and seemed really balanced. Then I thought his right hind was puffy again but when I checked today, it felt really good. So I think I am just in major OCD mode and I need to relax. Brego's excellent dressage work today shows me he is feeling good and interested in work. I really wish I could have gotten some video. I promise soon.
In addition to being the object of my obsession, Brego has been making the rounds as a general "Good Guy". On Tuesday, he was the mount of choice for the cutest 3rd grader on earth. He listened very well to her even through her legs did not extend below the flap on my dressage saddle. He walked and trotted for her, a perfect gentleman and then she rode him outside and he trotted her around. It was so cute. His little rider was so proud of herself on top of that big horse and you could tell Brego loved the attention. He loves little kids. And I LOVE that this horse goes from fire-breathing fox hunter/sensitive dressage horse to a very quiet, gentle chaperone for a precious child.
Then the next day, he provided jumping lessons for my SO who is battling confidence issues with the old cranky TB. He was also a star and performed very well (and did not cross fire once). He is rapidly turning into the kind of horse I trust to be appropriate for the rider. And by evidenced by his dressage work today, toning it down for his other passengers did not deaden him to my aids.
Now Brego gets a couple of days off while I obsess about when the perfect time to body clip him will be. It's getting down into the 30s at night, and his coat is coming in, but he is sweating a lot during work and is acting a little hot. What to do, what to do....
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