Dressage Lesson

I am invited to a dressage lesson with Anna Auer - an equestrienne from Austria who has enjoyed dressage success in Australia, and has taught dressage and trained dressage horses for many years. My entourage of daughter, husband and accountant (yes accountant) makes the whole outing feel over the top.

At my request we focus on position. Back straight, relax left shoulder, don't jerk left hand, left toe in, less heel down. Then we focus on the horse. When head goes up, hands come down, but gently, gently. Ask her to look into the circle, gently though, don't jerk. When she runs, lean forward a bit, catch up to her motion. It's only when you're travelling with her that she will slow down. Snap out of the seat in rising trot. Faster! Retain the contact through transitions, yes, gentle contact. When she dives into the bridle, retain the contact, be gentle, go with her, then ask her to come up a bit.

I follow every instruction to the letter. The back of my mind is screaming at me though - "What?! Heel up? Hands down? Lean forward??? Every rule is being broken!" Yet within half an hour Princess is travelling better than ever before, and by the end of the lesson we're onto some lovely canter work and shoulder in.

And the emphasis is on "gentle". Gentle, kind, but disciplined at the same time. I get good vibes from Princess. We will be back for another lesson soon. Just perhaps less entourage! Although my accountant threatens to come to the next lesson as well. Maybe he'll invest in a dressag horse rather than a race horse next year?