Training Log: Schooling

We are having friends over for dinner tonight so I've been chained to the kitchen.  I only had time for a short ride between working on the main dish and the sides.  Sometimes, the short rides are the most effective.  If my time is limited I am more focused - especially when I have a lesson scheduled for the next day.  I was much better at riding every stride and catching Jackson in the moment when he started to drop his back, or lose his bend, or lose impulsion.  I wasn't as stellar at keeping an eye on myself.  I have a tendency to grip with my knees when we canter and I don't keep my thighs rolled on - I'd prefer to toe out like a western gal.  I did manage to keep my elbows in during the canter transitions.  I'm part chicken.  My elbows want to flap around like chicken wings in the depart.  So, I was good with that today but when I finished my tall boots were half way unzipped.  That's a sure sign I wasn't rolled on correctly and I was gripping.  Rats!  One of my goals is to finish a schooling session and have the zipper all the way up still.  Jackson was much better with the ice boots.  I put them on him as soon as we got to the tie rail.  So he wore them while I took off his tack and groomed him and gave him his apple.  He didn't try to kick them off this time -- he just stood with his back legs spread.  It looked like the dressage police had come up behind him and said "Spread 'em!"  After five minutes he got up the courage to put his legs back together.  I must say he is the most entertaining horse I've ever had!