Letting Go

During a recent lesson, Hwin and I were having a bit of a disagreement. Mostly it was about where her head should be. It is hard to get motivated to ride in the winter even with an indoor, and I haven’t been on as much as I should. When that happens Hwin starts to get heavy. I am not sure if it is a lack of fitness or that with time off she forgets how to carry herself. It is probably a combination of both.

Throughout the lesson we were trying to get her lighter in the hand. Her head felt like a brick, and I was just holding it where I wanted it. We tried transitions, rein back, turns on the haunches, etc. Everything we could think of to get her butt underneath her more (or at all!)

We went on with some of the exercises that we planned on doing that day, but they weren’t great. I was starting to get frustrated and my arms were getting tired!

Finally Katie said, “Have you tried giving the rein and seeing what happens?” We both kind of thought her nose would pop out and she would fall on her face. Miraculously neither of those things happened! In fact, she pretty much stayed right where she was. When I took the contact back, I didn’t take it quite so strongly. It turns out she was willing to carry herself if I let her. She was also equally as willing to have me hold her head up if I so chose.

Drafts are bred to pull and endure a lot. If I pull on her she will settle in and pull right back. Her head and neck are heavier than my entire body, so I am not going to win a battle of strength. Instead I have to remember that when I let go, she will too and things get a whole lot easier.