Sometimes you teach and you wonder how to get the information across to the student. The data clogs in my brain as I get so passionate about sharing what I know in a way that makes sense to the level of the rider. I want to be clear and concise but words fail sometimes especially when body language is the key. Then you just do an exercise that puts it all together. Mirroring is what the horse does. We can share this experience with our horses. Sometimes we shape around them but ultimately we would encourage that they shape around us. My student Sofia and I ended our lesson with some drill team exercises and the mere execution of it was such a perfect example of putting principles to purpose that I just kept my mouth shut (for the most part) and let the horses team up. One takes the lead, ever so slightly and the team syncs up as one mirrors the other and they get in step together.