Gia - session 276 - more shoulder-in with Suzin!

 Gia and I had a lesson with Suzin this morning.  We started out with a really nice, long, relaxed stretch at the walk.  When we picked up the trot, the transition was a little sticky at first, but then she softened nicely.  We did a lot of schooling figures all over the ring to help her loosen up, become softer, and more responsive.  We also did quite a few transitions between walk and trot.

Then we got into the meat of the work today - shoulder-in.  We attempted the shoulder-in MANY times, but really only got it for real a handful of times.  Eventually, when we would get a step of shoulder-in, I would ask her for canter.  Several times, instead of cantering, she would lengthen her trot.  While it was a very nice lengthening, it was not what I had asked for, so we would come back and try again.  We did a LOT of circles today, especially when she wasn't quite getting it, to help her rebalance and reorganize.

On our walk breaks, she was stretching the best she ever has.  I was even able to ask her for several steps in true Medium Walk.  We finished our ride with a decent stretchy trot.

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