I met another Arthur this week, a rather dashingly handsome dappled grey cob and his lovely owner Charlotte. They are training at medium level dressage, and are doing great. However, Arthur has started to realise he can lean downwards on his loose ring bit, fix his jaw and ignore the rein aids when he feels like it. This ends up with Charlotte feeling that she has to ask him three maybe four times to correct his carriage, whereas she’d like to ask him once, so she isn’t micromanaging his frame continuously.
(Especially as she had broken a rib a few days before our session and she was feeling sore, but she was a real trooper and rode beautifully!).
The videos show that Arthur has become much looser in his jaw and is more responsive to the rein aids, he has a softer neck which in turn makes it easier for Charlotte to lift his wither and shoulders as he is not bracing against the bit and bearing down.
Fabulous work and hats off to Charlotte for riding we well with a broken rib!
