Jeff Moore Clinic third lesson May 11, 2013

Half pass in trot:  first, before bend or parallel or more sideways, get the chest up and get self carriage FIRST, don't just kick and pull harder.

In left half pass turn his head to the left and raise his chest right.  In right half pass turn his head to the right and raise his withers to the left.  DON'T chase his butt with more leg.

To make the half pass more parallel, slow the progress of the shoulders, DON'T chase the bum.

In canter half pass: play with changes of flexion, two or three times change flexion then change it back then straight ahead and change the flexion several times on a straight line.  In canter half pass I tend to hold Rijkens down and chase his bum; instead I must raise his chest and say upsee daisy.  DON'T pull more or push more but rather say "stand up" by raising the chest.

Practice the canter half pass with changes of bend. Then the subsequent straight line (on the centerline or quarter line or wherever) with changes of bend until Rijkens is waiting for me.  When he falls down on the forehand, raise him up; if when you raise him up he says "I can't keep going if you raise me up" I say "oh yes I will raise you up."

After the canter half pass go straight ahead and change flexion a couple of times, but with each change of flexion he still has to be tall.  Raise his chest and turn his head for bend.

In schooling extended trot: go on the diagonal; after three strides (count them!) say "RAISE your chest; RAISE your chest; RAISE your chest" and insist that he raises his chest even if you end up stopping or even if you end up with his snout in the air.  This is a pattern breaker that says "go like hell" from M and be clear that you only do three strides of extension to prepare for a really climbing half halt or climbing collection.  Eventually he goes on the diagonal and he will stay tall because he's living in a state of readiness.

He'll say "When comes the collection?" and I say "Any second."  So after three strides it has to be climbing and chest lift.  You go back and forth between "yowza" giddyup to "fluff it up" collection.

For collection, the cue is to lighten the seat.  If he doesn't collect touch your guts with the reins and let go.  Don't cling in an attempt to make it smooth at first, rather be obvious when I say upsee daisy I should be able to bring Rijkens to the canter nearly on the spot in practically no time.  The cue is lighten my seat and hold still then the reins to my belly button and let go.

Video highlights of the third lesson:

Videography credit: Stacey Smith of Bridge Equestrian