Have you ever videoed yourself (or asked someone to video you) in the arena, to review the footage at home and see that you’re not straight in the saddle, that your horse wasn’t working correctly or that a movement could have been improved if a couple of adjustments had been made? Assessing in this way can be frustrating, as the moment has passed. Using mirrors to check at the time allows instant correction, leading to faster improvement…and using mirrors to do this allows you to check whatever you need to at the time, before you get used to (and train yourself to) the feel of the movement working on at the time.