You wouldn’t think a left half pass would be difficult or that making both your hands follow one another would be hard. Well, the other day my brain decided that these were very, very difficult tasks.
I could not make my right hand follow the left. The trouble with my left half pass is that Vitall falls through his shoulder and then makes it difficult to bend left. So, I have been exaggerating the shoulder move over with bend then taking the hind quarters with me. To do this, I have to use an extra amount of outside rein (right rein) and pretty much cross it over his neck to make my point to him. But my brain would just not allow it… I said to Anky that I have been trained for so long to not do it, my brain just won’t allow it to happen. She looked at me and laughed and then she agreed that while technically it’s not correct, in this case it is ok. I felt I had to have someone yank my hand across it was the strangest feeling. Thankfully, in the end, I was able to work it all out and my left half passes were rideable again.
Other than that, training over the week has gone well and working on the little details. For example, in the PSG you ride shoulder in to 8m volte and most of us ride shoulder in strait then volte. Well I learned a new trick to make that Volte easier. If you ride your shoulder inn just past the letter a little but then use your inside rein to turn. By carrying the shoulder in just a bit longer, and turning off your inside rein, you are able to maintain the bend so you don’t get that funny egg shaped circle. So, if you’re having trouble with that movement, I suggest trying this way. It certainly made my life a lot easier.
On another note, I just wanted to say how terrible and sorry I feel for all the families that lost loved ones at Love Parade in Germany last weekend. I happened to be there and I am very happy and thankful that I left when I did. It was a complete zoo. I have never experienced anything like that in my life. People were acting like animals with total disregard to humanity. Such a shame. There were so many people running in different directions They had lots of police but there were no signs to tell people where to go and what to do so that is why panic occurred. I will think twice next time about what festivals I go to.
