First, I want to thank @seabreeze for her description of how her sensitive mare accepted the Haas brushes, this is what encouraged me to explore the Haas brushes. I thank you, and my lesson horse MJ also thanks you (or would if he understood.)
I had not had a lesson for two weeks, and MJ had at least one ride from his part-leaser. The young lady who helps me groom had few problems grooming MJ, he had just one spot that bothered him, the spot where the blanket tail cord hangs. Otherwise he just chilled out as she used the New Generation curry (the soft one), the Military, the Cavaliere and the Coat Gloss. It was cold this morning so his coat was not lying down enough to show a good shine, but MJ was happy with his life.
I was not expecting much at all from MJ since usually we have to take several minutes before he realizes that he can’t ignore me even if someone else rode him. Not today.
The Haas brushes did not do a miracle warm-up, but his movements improved quickly after I decided that today was the day to warm him up at a super-slow walk. He had no problems understanding my “slow down” leg aids (my reins were sagging) and he did not question my aids. He used this super slow walk to get his legs sorted out, get the kinks out of his leg joints, and then he was prepared for me riding him.
First time ever–I finally got a decent leg yield from him, crossing hind legs and all. He UNDERSTOOD me this time instead of going "What? What in the world are you asking for? and “Why in the h*ll are we doing this?” His turn on the forehand improved beyond belief, he “planted” his forehand by the second step and kept it planted without much aiding from me. This continued all through the 4 TOF I did with him, with light leg aids and usually without a hand aid beyond tweaking my sagging rein. My riding teacher liked his improvement today, and she liked that I was working on getting him to cross one hind leg over the other one.
Being groomed with the Haas brushes may not have warmed up his muscles, but in a way his brain was warmed up because I had no difficulties getting him to do what I wanted. Cooperative, always reaching forward with his muzzle, he “heard” and understood my aids quicker than before and he gave me much better results than usual.
The Haas brushes are making it easier for me to get a good ride from my lesson horse.