Saturday morning...

Saturday Morning-Exercises to Create a More Responsive Dressage Horse
Horse 1-Haflinger gelding (from yesterday)

Warm Up
-practice transitions within the gaits, should get bigger through just a squeeze
-to shorten-play the bit, bend, use some sideways, don't just pull back

Exercise
medium trot down long side
walk
walk pirouette
medium trot
repeat

Horse 2-not sure on this horse's breed, it was new

Improving the Trot
This horse had a nice, but flat trot, it wasn't very impressive
-horses with a flat trot are often improved through work at the canter
-use haunches in then shoulder in on a circle. Maintain contact with the outside leg to keep the horse on the shoulder in, not haunches out.
-then big canter/small canter; keep inside leg on to keep him from finding the inside rein

Contact
It's up to you to keep the contact, even if the horse loses the contact and bounces the mouth on the bit when refinding it it's still abrasive to him (whether it's his "fault" or yours)--you need to keep the contact steady no matter what.

Shoulder In
Sometimes when schooling you need to start with dishonest bend and try to make it honest (referring to more bend in the neck than is correct).

Other
-the horse's back needs to be warmed up through lateral work prior to using a big kick to ask for more
-"slap" a tight horse with the leg(s) because nudging gives the horse something to brace against
-an exercise she had this rider do was take the leg off and after the horse wasn't anticipating a kick when the leg was removed it suddenly turned bouncy and springy. It was very cool to watch, Courtney told the rider that she could stop and the rider kept going, wanting to enjoy the new trot she'd just found. It was really neat to watch the progression to that point in just a 30 minute lesson.

Saturday Afternoon-Getting the Most Out of Your Dressage Test: Tips to Help You Showcase Your Horse to Your Best Advantage
Horse 1-Danish Gelding from the day before

General
-work on things you *can* improve. For example, Courtney said that Idocus will never get an 8 on extended trot so she focuses more on the things that she can get 9's on than trying to fix something that is already so hard for him.
-pick up the stride *at* that letter, not when the hindquarters are at it; so ask a stride earlier; work it out at home how long it will take

Medium Trots on the Diagonal
Turn like a steamship (with little bend) in the corner when approaching the diagonal so that the horse comes onto the diagonal straight and ready to go, you lose precious time when you have to straighten the horse on the diagonal and then ask for medium trot.

Horse 2-Dutch Mare from the day before

Flying Changes
If the horse changes on its own without you asking for it, stop, pick up the correct lead, volte, and try again.

Miscellaneous
-really perfect going from halt to trot, it's a silly place to lose points in a test
-practice standing in the halt
-make transitions between gaits very clear (medium to collected, etc)

Collected to Medium Canter Tips
-be bold! Make sure the horse respects half halts; when collecting give as you collect so that you have something to take again
-if shoulder fore is lost then you won't have control over the outside rein to respond to a half halt

"It's not going to happen better in the show ring than it does at home"

Horse 3-Oldenburg from the day before

Miscellaneous
Whenever you're in schooling don't be committed to the movement, be committed to doing it right.

Beating Nerves (response to a question from the audience)
When going to a horse show ride to show off your horse; it's not a rider show, so just do your best to show off your horse...don't worry about others judging you and thinking badly of you.