As November went, we have begun doing a review of all the lessons and exercises that we learned years ago, a complete course. This means about 5 minutes on each exercise, just to confirm that he (and I) both know the exercise to an excellent degree.

  We have got through a lot of the exercises quickly, until I find one that he needs to work on, at least until he has it really good, and then the next. There are some he still tries to cut corners on, some he needs to re-learn, but by and large, I have a superbly well-trained horse. My bearing, my seat, my smoothness in the saddle feel solid, proper, smooth, my aids are exact and soft, only what is needed. On camera, I can barely see my limbs move as I ask him to perform. I feel pretty good about that. The last lesson we did was changing gaits, the one that improves impulsion, response, and collection. It felt like I only had to think about it and he moved smoothly. It was a delight.

  He still hates going out on the trail alone, but the farm fields have been cut so we don't have to stay right on the edge. The forest trails got overgrown a couple of years ago since nobody rides there any more. Maybe I'll find time to trim them in spring. Probably not, though... no time.