Clinton Anderson and a supple horse

I watched Clinton Anderson's advanced ground work and riding. It blew me away. In the ground work the horse is totally obedient and quick. Crossing fluidly demonstrating a remarkable relationship between horse and rider. Wow I want to do that. Similarly under saddle he is basically demonstrating leg yield, half pass, tempi changes, backing, pirouettes, turn on the 4 hand and turn on the haunches... all dressage movements and all very fluid. It made me realise my older horses all need improved suppleness and submission. Don't get me wrong, Kalae is a awesome horse but she could be better. The reason I am having trouble with my flying changes will be solved with improved suppleness and submission. I need to ask for more fluidity. I have started all my horses back to the beginning of ground work using the Clinton Anderson method.
The herd:
Freesia wont back up reliably and drops her shoulder in toward the person on the ground. She pulls back when tied up and doesnt tie.
Freederic has a very stiff neck and is difficult to bend. He is sensitive but could be quicker off the leg.
Divine needs to be more supple laterally.
Kalae needs improved fluidity and suppleness in lateral work. Fine tuning for more submission in transitions. More collection and control of 4 hand and HQ for improved flying changes.
Rupert is just in the colt starting stage.
Darlene needs respect on the ground. She tends to mow you over.
Pueo is very timid and can use desensitizing.

Kalae the awesome girl

Kalae did double duty and carried 2 riders each day for the 3 day clinic. She went first in the morning and then last of the day.

Her morning lessons were pushing the envelope or comfort zone and learning new things. She still worked in the afternoon but not quite as hard. Overall she needs more submission as when she tends to become more compressed she wants to come above the bit for moments (transitions) and also she becomes more crooked. She is not totally through. I need to work on thoroughness and straightness. When I get her more compressed and she is powered up I need to learn to be more subtle in my aids as it will require less from me. There is a fine line and it just takes feel and tact.

Homework is to begin to introduce the double bridle. Start with easy work so she gets used to double bridle. Do not work on my flying changes for a while. Work on my canter pirouettes and making the counter canter absolutely balanced. Think a wider working pirouette. Initially I was trying to make the Canter Pirouette too small and loosing the canter.

The canter needs to be absolutely straight. When I canter down the center line in right lead canter, she wants to put her HQ to the right. This makes the flying change to the L impossible. I have learned from the Kyra Kirklund symposium that I am subtly collapsing my waist to the R. This puts more weight on the L seat. The horse is harder to bend L. If I am conscious of this and collapse subtly to the L to counter the R collapse I feel more pressure in the R seat. Then suddenly my horse goes straighter. Need equal weight on both sides of the horses spine. Ride the horses back, not the saddle.

Her lateral work is OK, she is doing it but she could be more expressive in the lateral work. With time it will come.

* Video #1 is Trish and Kalae

* Video #2 is Marilee and Kalae - John advised to invest in more ground poles so that I have at least 12 in a fan position so the horse can really bend the joints and strengthen their muscles. He states Conrad Schumaker uses up to 16 poles in the fan when he comes to Goodwood every other month to teach.