Can't Dressage Today

It was 80 here in KY today! I rushed home early from work.... on a MONDAY no less..... and after taking the dogs for a swim I busted out that ol' dressage saddle, all pumped to work on bendiness and suppleness and half passes and the like. Well I get on and ask for Twister to jog on a loose rein to warm up and loosen up. I can tell he's a little stiff from his work out Saturday. We even stretched first. Well, he's sore in his right hind. Probably he was playing with the 3 year old like he's also a 3 year old and slipped in the mud and pulled something. He's not super sore, but he didn't work out of it either.

I tried my best to work on everything at the walk then. He was mister opposites today. If I said please step up under yourself and bend he said I'm going to be a giraffe limo. I ask him to half pass to the right and he kicks out and threatens to buck and goes left instead. I even had spurs and a dressage whip. Could I have been any more prepared for a difficult horse??!!

It was kind of a let down for a sneak out of work early and go riding while it's 80* ride. I finally got Twister to half pass on a loose rein left and right, But mostly just to the right. And when I asked for him to half pass in a frame (this is ALL at the walk btw....) he was fine to the right. Actually it probably looked half-pretty. But we had a big fight about going to the left in a frame. He'd stay round and under himself until I asked for a half and we halted like a giraffe. I called it a day. Will probably give him the next day off and try again Wednesday.... I'm hoping he's worked out whatever funk he's in....