Dance lessons

Another warm, dry day to ride! Even though I try not to trample the fallen leaves into the sand of our arena, I really wanted to school today, so into the arena we went. (My DH swept up the leaves with the riding lawn mower this evening; yay!) It was one of those days when Lance felt frustratingly sloth-like, with NO available energy. Mind you, I was wearing my blunt ball spurs and carrying a dressage whip, but I didn't want to stab and smack him into moving. So (after warming up, of course) I asked Lance to canter, then got in two-point and urged him to go. We galloped around the arena a few times, then I brought him back and started the rhythm work in trot Julie had us work on at our last lesson. Lance responds very well to that simple exercise; it really does feel like we are practicing ballroom dancing: one-two-three, one-two-three. And I know the muscles and communication we are building will lead, in due time, to both passage and extended trot. But I'm enjoying every baby step along the way. ;-)