7-22-12 FLYING CHANGES Today was an amazing day for Lordy and Me!!!! The weather was beautiful and so I decided to ride out bareback. We headed out to the playground to play with follow the outside rail of the 50 foot round pen. Lordy was super. He was relaxed and I felt balanced and centered riding at the walk, trot and canter. After that we decided to mingle on the obstacle area and help a few students. We then headed for the Arena Grande.... Now I have to say it is huge and I love that but the slope in which the arena sits on takes some getting used to. You have to remember.... I am a dressage queen at heart and I am used to having a "level" arena...... LOL Overall Lordy didnt seem to really mind. I think it is more me that minds... Our ride bareback was so much easier than the saddle... I guess without stirrups there is really less ways to brace on the slow downhill grades... ROFL As we picked up the canter on the long straight lines I decided to play with the swinging of his shoulders from left to right and right to left. Nice and slow. Relaxation...... It felt so easy to just weight a foot/sit bone and he would go that way and then back to the other side. I could feel how soft he was in his back there was really no tension and it was comfortable to sit and flow with him. Harmony. At that moment I decided as his shoulders went right to ask for a flying change and he did it effortlessly!! It was so smooth and connected.. I just had to stop and release him in the moment.... I then set out to try it out again from the other side right to left change.... Again swinging the shoulders back and forth a few times and then I asked and again flawless.... and just a few strides later another swing of the shoulders and an amazing flying change.... It literally brought tears to my eyes.... All those years.. I "made" him change.... It was so easy this way... Walter Zettl's Lead Change Ladder really does work...... Lordy was so relaxed and willing it was a HUGE BFO moment for me.... to tie it all together. Am I looking forward to our next ride...... XO