A Trio of Brief Lesson Reports

[SaddlePsych'D]

It's my (30th!) birthday on Monday and I've got next week off so booked an extra lesson - was hoping for a hack with OH as well but then my car needed tyres so that's out (booo!) so there's a few reports heading your way this/next week, you lucky things OH will be off work too so is being dragged coming along to watch and be camera person for the next two and I'm looking forward to sharing some pics (and video too if I'm feeling brave) .

Firstly want to say how much I love this forum. A few different reasons but today it's the picking up tips and ideas around riding, both physical and mental changes to make to improve things for myself and the horses I'm riding. Equipilates and the spiky balls really do seem to have helped my hips. @Rosietaz tip from the 'robot riding' thread on not looking at the ground to help with speed perception (I know it's also just generally a good thing for balance as well) was something I focused on today and it did help! When I have my lessons next week being videoed I'm going to focus on riding as forward as I can for a change, to help with it as well. It will be interesting to see how we're doing - my instructor asked for more forwards in canter today and I was like "really?!" - obviously yes really so those videos are going to be useful I think!

Nothing massively exciting in terms of lesson content today as more working on position in WTC and leg yielding. But definite sense of progress in things. Our walk was much less shuffly, my hips were allowing my legs to move under me so that was physically easier, I'm actually breathing in canter and the looking further ahead thing really made a difference to my confidence too, my knees are still being naughty (tensing) but at least they weren't sore today. I suspect if I can ride forward more positively and get the transitions a bit snappier/more responsive this will help as it was most often a problem when using my legs.

O and I had a bit of a snoozy cuddle after the lesson as I scratched his nose after taking his bridle off and he seemed to quite like that. Wish I could have stayed a bit longer but then got really lightheaded from being too hot and decided it was probably best to go sit in the car and down my bottle of water! I know I like them all, because horses obviously, but O is a firm favourite. He looks after me but I know when I get my real riding forward mindset going he's got more in the tank.

So that's today, part two coming on Wednesday!

 

[MuddyMonster]

I love this update!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I love this update!

I like writing them. I know it's not much in the grand scheme of horse riding things but it's a nice bit of reflection and to share with others, plus such a bonus to pick up extra bits of advice/ideas to try. Also love sharing about the RS horses, I'd love my own one day but they really are superstars in their own ways and each teaches me something different.

 

[milliepops]

i enjoy your updates too. I was watching a webinar on developing your feel as a rider presented by Charlie Unwin earlier in the week, and one of the things he recommended was writing about what you had been doing in a session/lesson. it made me think of your updates, and the things I jot down after I have ridden too, I get a lot out of it and it seems you do too

 

[SpotsandBays]

Yay!! Glad it worked well for you!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Part two of this week's three part lesson report

Feeling a little tired today, birthday week going well - a little hungover yesterday from Monday eve but still got up and to my pole dance class for Tuesday morning then spent several hours helping a friend with their yard move. I don't ever want to look at a horse rug ever again after moving and organising so many! Job well done though and I got a good workout in the process.

OH joined me today to be camera person. I thought only right he meet the other love of my life, O, but today I had a new horse called B to get to know. I always feel like a numpty when I ride a new horse, it makes me feel like I've never ridden before. It would have been good to get some video on O because I've really felt the progress over the last couple of lessons with him and wanted to see what we look like.

Focus today was no stirrups trot work and lots of it, working on B's wibbly wobblyness and my position. I rode in a dressage saddle for the first time. The combo of this and B's lovely trot made me feel like I could have bobbed around in trot all day. I was working harder than B a fair bit but the difference from start to finish was clear and sitting down in trot seemed to help a lot. I still need to work on getting better reaction to leg aids but the exercises we did helped things feel more 'together', our turns smoother, and the trot a bit more active although probably still quite chilled .

Probably the less said about canter the better although at least I had a go, maybe there were a few strides each time, I didn't fall off in the process. I'll take that! It's hard when your legs are saying 'yes' but your seat is making more work by saying 'no!'.

Pics and videos uploading now so will have a look through and perhaps be brave and share some with you lovely people. Next lesson is tomorrow at the other RS I attend so looking forward to that.

 

[Wishfilly]

Part two of this week's three part lesson report

Feeling a little tired today, birthday week going well - a little hungover yesterday from Monday eve but still got up and to my pole dance class for Tuesday morning then spent several hours helping a friend with their yard move. I don't ever want to look at a horse rug ever again after moving and organising so many! Job well done though and I got a good workout in the process.

OH joined me today to be camera person. I thought only right he meet the other love of my life, O, but today I had a new horse called B to get to know. I always feel like a numpty when I ride a new horse, it makes me feel like I've never ridden before. It would have been good to get some video on O because I've really felt the progress over the last couple of lessons with him and wanted to see what we look like.

Focus today was no stirrups trot work and lots of it, working on B's wibbly wobblyness and my position. I rode in a dressage saddle for the first time. The combo of this and B's lovely trot made me feel like I could have bobbed around in trot all day. I was working harder than B a fair bit but the difference from start to finish was clear and sitting down in trot seemed to help a lot. I still need to work on getting better reaction to leg aids but the exercises we did helped things feel more 'together', our turns smoother, and the trot a bit more active although probably still quite chilled .

Probably the less said about canter the better although at least I had a go, maybe there were a few strides each time, I didn't fall off in the process. I'll take that! It's hard when your legs are saying 'yes' but your seat is making more work by saying 'no!'.

Pics and videos uploading now so will have a look through and perhaps be brave and share some with you lovely people. Next lesson is tomorrow at the other RS I attend so looking forward to that.

Dressage saddles take a bit of getting used to, don't they? But it's all good experience and well done for having a canter!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Dressage saddles take a bit of getting used to, don't they? But it's all good experience and well done for having a canter!

Thank you Yes the dressage saddle did feel quite different. I think it was helpful for working on my grippy knees and generally my legs just sort of felt a bit happier hanging down than they usually do.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Here is beautiful B!

I'm feeling a bit shy about sharing video on the open forum (I did email the RS to check things like videoing and social media and no issues raised) but put a few short clips together if anyone is interested and I can send by PM - (gentle!) comments welcome

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Part three!

Over to the other RS today and back on D who was the first RS pony to help me back into riding after a big break. It's been a while since I've had a lesson on him. Today I asked to work on my position (as always!) and working on getting myself thinking forwards and improving the responsiveness in transitions, so I'm using my legs more effectively. We had some fun doing gradual and direct transitions (correct terms? can't remember!) and enjoyed much more successful canter work than yesterday. I think my position is looking better, although wondering if I'm moving about in the saddle too much, and it was great feedback to hear my instructor comment on me riding more positively/purposefully.

Not sure when I'll be riding next due to lack of funds from an expensive month but have booked an RS hack next month as they do canter hacks and thought this would be a good goal plus help my confidence when I hack out with my friend. Maybe I could turn out to be up for a bit more than plodding who knows?!

Here's yesterday's video (screw it, why not!) and today's on the way

Have tried to include a bit from the beginning, tiny bit of canter, no stirrups work and then the end after taking stirrups back. It felt more different start to finish when I was actually riding but watching the video didn't seem to reflect such a difference as it felt.

 

[milliepops]

progressive transition, possibly, rather than gradual?
Looking good

 

[Wishfilly]

Part three!

Over to the other RS today and back on D who was the first RS pony to help me back into riding after a big break. It's been a while since I've had a lesson on him. Today I asked to work on my position (as always!) and working on getting myself thinking forwards and improving the responsiveness in transitions, so I'm using my legs more effectively. We had some fun doing gradual and direct transitions (correct terms? can't remember!) and enjoyed much more successful canter work than yesterday. I think my position is looking better, although wondering if I'm moving about in the saddle too much, and it was great feedback to hear my instructor comment on me riding more positively/purposefully.

Not sure when I'll be riding next due to lack of funds from an expensive month but have booked an RS hack next month as they do canter hacks and thought this would be a good goal plus help my confidence when I hack out with my friend. Maybe I could turn out to be up for a bit more than plodding who knows?!

Here's yesterday's video (screw it, why not!) and today's on the way

Have tried to include a bit from the beginning, tiny bit of canter, no stirrups work and then the end after taking stirrups back. It felt more different start to finish when I was actually riding but watching the video didn't seem to reflect such a difference as it felt.

He looks like a lovely sort and your trot without stirrups looks great!

I definitely think hacking is the way to go with getting confidence in canter (although that may be just personal preference). I think it's much easier to canter in a straight line without having to worry so much about corners and balance. Also much easier to grab hold if needed if they are basically following the one in front!

Glad you've had some positive rides recently and the confidence is coming back.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

progressive transition, possibly, rather than gradual?
Looking good

Yes like halt to walk or walk to trot?

He looks like a lovely sort and your trot without stirrups looks great!

I definitely think hacking is the way to go with getting confidence in canter (although that may be just personal preference). I think it's much easier to canter in a straight line without having to worry so much about corners and balance. Also much easier to grab hold if needed if they are basically following the one in front!

Glad you've had some positive rides recently and the confidence is coming back.

Yes B's trot was very comfy, perfect for practicing! Her canter less easy for us to achieve but much easier with D today - he found the walk to canter transitions were fun I think. Nearly finished my video, it's so helpful having so much to look back at - to see what we look like and also hear the instructor's feedback again for reminders.

I agree hopefully the canter hack will help confidence with cantering generally as well as with me being out of the school and riding in a group - I'm so used to being in the school in a private lesson.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

A bit of warm up, our best walk to canter, and our improved transitions at the end

 

[Wishfilly]

A bit of warm up, our best walk to canter, and our improved transitions at the end

He looks very sweet! And that looked like a pretty crisp walk to canter to me!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

He looks very sweet! And that looked like a pretty crisp walk to canter to me!

I hold him fully responsible for me recatching the horse riding bug last year! Bless him.

We had fun with the walk to canter ?