Good things come to those who wait

After that disappointing ride on Monday, I think we are finally making some progress. She's actually starting to stretch her neck forward and down, accepting the bit. It was like she finally realized, "Ah, ok, if I just relax and stop fighting, it will be a lot easier." :-)

Granted, in the trot she only does it for several strides and then goes back to the old way, but the point is that she's doing it, and that's the important part. The consistency will come. I wouldn't say she is "on the bit", because that phrase I take to mean active/engaged in the hindquarters as well, and she is just not there yet. But this is progress. At least I can slow her down when she's light like this. With her head up and that short, tense neck, there's no way my half halts can possibly go through. All I've been doing is simply riding her into a steady and elastic contact. Not once have I used a martingale, or any of those silly devices to try to force her head down. (Side note): Why must people insist on short cuts when it's really so amazingly simple? Is it lack of time, laziness, what? I'm not a genius or an upper level dressage rider, yet things are happening here. I'm excited. I might even go as far as to say that I look forward to proving that "trainer" wrong: yes, National Show Horses/NSH-types can "do" dressage. Heck, there is a Saddlebred by the name of Harry Callahan who is shown GP (YouTube him-he's amazing.) If he can do tempi changes, piaffe, and passage, surely Emmy can w/t/c/ accepting the bit and going in a steady, forward rhythm--basically all that Training Level requires. What's so hard about that?