Balance

this has been the theme for the last couple of lessons. Both mine and Odin's, since we of course influence each other.
L. has been making me aware of the fact that Odin's balance is constantly changing, every time I ask him to do something, like be a little more forward, a little more round. So I am trying to be aware of this, and keep his balance steady. It is so much my ability as a rider that is the problem, it is not that he can't be in balance, but we do pull each other around a lot.

Also, I had a light bulb moment this Wednesday morning in my lesson. Odin likes to lean on the bit a lot, and it is quite hard for me to make him stop, and get him forward enough. However, I managed to get him to be light in the hand (still not steady enough, still have balance issues!), and L. pointed something out to me... I tense up and feel insecure in the saddle, when he doesn't pull at my hands! So basically I lean on him, and he leans on me, and I let it happen because it makes me feel more secure.
That is really, really annoying. I have to encode my brain and body to him being light being a good thing!
At least now I know.

It feels like there is a million things to work with sometimes. Sometimes I feel a bit sorry that Odin has to put up with my faulty riding, but at least it keeps improving. I am sure that every horse I will ride later in life will be grateful to him.

Otherwise, it is really cold (freezing) right now, and that is really annoying in a covered arena. Brrr. Where is that Seattle cloud cover? On the other hand, that means I have had plenty of opportunity to use one of my Christmas gifts, a Rambo Newmarket Quarter Sheet. In goldenrod stripes, it so reminds me of winter back in the stable in Denmark... I feel all nostalgic when I look at us in the mirrors.