Warm spring sunshine

We've been continuing the same over the last few days.
I've ridden Bonbon a couple of times in the school and she's getting the hang of halt /walk transitions and turning. I've been lungeing her before riding and that's been improving, especially the trot which is becoming more relaxed.
I've had a couple of sessions in the school with Remy, working on relaxation and softness. The reinback is coming much softer and we've been doing halt/reinback/walk on transitions to lighten the forehand. I have a habit of giving too much outside rein, but I'm making a conscious effort to keep it, and keep the contact soft. We seem to be getting the hang of it and he's relaxing more into the shoulder-in.
I'm still unbalanced in the rising trot, definitely need to do more. I can remember when trotting came easy and I could trot indefinitely without blowing a gasket! I might try shortening my stirrups a little, don't know if it will help with the balance, but worth a try.
I've been hacking him out more and it's really making him use himself. It's brilliant to feel the energy, and today I trotted him up the hill, which helped with his balance, and it felt like we were floating.
He did one massive spook when a truck used its air brakes.The track was running parallel with the road and it was partially hidden through the trees and really startled him. What I love, is that he doesn't make a big deal of it, and calms really quickly.
A little note popped up on my pc calendar. 10th March - one year since Anky died. Time really does fly.

Spring is here. The daffs are coming, buds on the fruit trees, I mowed the lawn for the first time today and graded my arena. It's good to feel the sun again.