Danielle B asked:


I know I have asked this before, but either I am not getting it, or none of the exercises work for my horse. I have tried canter to lengthen, leg yield to lengthen, and shoulder-in to lengthen, both down the wall and across the diagonal.

The most I can get out of my mare (10yr old Gypsy drum) is 2-3 strides, and then she falls apart into a faster working trot. She does stretch down and lengthen her body easily, but can’t get the extra freeing shoulder/flicking out forelimbs that a lengthening shows. Her back is supple, she is using it, and she listens well to half halts,seat, and leg. She is built for, and more naturally collects, but lengthenings are supposed to be 1st level movements, and not that hard.

The woman I get lessons from occasionally, who has shown grand prix, doesn’t get why my horse can do an trot extension-like movement in the spanish trot, but not a normal lengthen trot. We have tried everything and nothing is working for more than those couple strides.

She can passade (not as exaggerated as a warmblood, but she’s doing it) for 10 strides or so, spanish trot, and spanish walk- all that includes more front leg “up” movements, sitting on the haunches, and freeing up the shoulders.

So why can’t we figure out lengthenings!?

Sorry for venting my frustrations, and I am sure it is something that I am not cueing her right for, as it is usually the rider’s fault

Anyone have any tips/advice that I can try?
Oh- my cues- to ask for it, I do a slight half halt to raise her front end, sit deeper in the stirrups, move my legs back slightly to curl around her barrel, and drive with my seat.
She is in a french link D-ring snaffle.

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Japhet asked:


I want to study the French and Spanish languages. I started out by studying Latin online (a friend of mine told me that if I want to study European languages, I should study Latin first.) After the twelve sessions on Latin, I will study Spanish then move to French.
But, I do not have the material to work with yet. Can you give me some sites that give free, but good, Spanish and French lessons?
Also, can you give me some pieces of advice about studying foreign languages? Thanks…

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