05/15/2022
The pirouette mystery,
Some hints if you like.
Here is a photo of my longtime good Buddy Raymeister showing us a nice example.
Many things needed to happen correctly before this was available.
First off,
Always consider the balance in and around any and every movement you ride.
Yours…and the horses.
Your balance needs to be softly centered over the horses inside hind leg which carries both of you in the pirouette.
The canter approach needs to be in a slight shoulder fore to that lead and turn with a canter that is active but relaxed. Yes that is hard.
The hind legs need to support the rider and the horse and maintain rhythm so your movements during these six to eight strides of turning need to compliment not contradict the turn.
Your connection should not change during the pirouette. Poll should be flexed to the inside, outside rein should allow this positioning, and soft quick half halts that the horse understands the answer to, may help.
The horse cannot balance on or be supported in any way by the reins.
Inside leg at girth helps to keep the position to inside but allows the turn outside leg asks for each step of the turn.
No big changes of aids or balance will benefit if things go wrong you must think it through and try again with a better set up.
Often the horse will have same mistake tendencies in walk turns as in canter turns so practice those and make sure they are secure before trying canter pirouettes.
There is so much these horses will do and try for us when we strive to be the best rider we can be.
