A very happy lesson report!

T

Thelwell_Girl

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Well, today, after a month and a half break, I have finally had a riding lesson... And what a lesson!

I've finally been moved up a group, to a more advanced one, and I am quite happy :)

I was terrified when I walked onto the yard, but the instructor is one who knows me well. She is tough on me, but I think I need that!

I was on Dawi, the incredibly bouncy Welsh D, who I normally struggle the most with.

He started off very sluggish, and behind my leg, but this was likely me after having not ridden for so long. We battled a little, but eventually got moving, and got into canter, however he kept cutting corners. I tried to make sure my reins weren't getting too long, keeping my outside one a little shorter, and kept my leg on, and eventually he got the message that cutting the corner was not acceptable!

After a few more struggles, we both got into a rhythm, and had a fantastic canter down the long side, really getting him going, and we both loved it! :D

Then, I was told to try a walk-canter transition... Well, that was fun!

Id not tried it before, so thought I should give it a go - and on the second try, we did it! We did a good few more, then settled down, and started cooling off.

Overall, a very tiring lesson (my legs are still shaking!) but I am very very happy - it was hard, it was tough, but I did it :D

As always, thankyou for reading, and any advice on keeping heels down, and good walk-canter and canter-trot transitions would be welcome.

TG x
 
Hey you :p I was wondering were you had got to!! Sounds like a fab lesson with much to learn. I always find trying to get a walk-canter out of a RS horse is like drawing blood from a stone lol Cant say i miss those days ;) My wee sister also has heels up disorder :rolleyes: She blames the gaiters haha But i always find doing a walk to canter that if i sit up, take my time then ask for my canter its perfect ... I used to rush the transition which resulted in me leaning forwards when i asked for the canter which resulted in a trot- canter!! Going from canter to trot I usually sit up, try and collect the canter a little so i would hold infront and give a bit of leg which usually gives a nice fluent transition and stops the horse falling into trot. Hmmm im not very good at describing things, am i :p But tbh atm my canter to trots are ... well lets say not always nice as im on an unbalanced baby :p Well i like to use that as my excuse ;)
 
Nice to see you back - have missed your lesson reports! I am learning to keep my heels down by cantering with a light seat, so the weight is really down to the heels. No tips for walk canter transitions though so i'll look forwards to reading others :)
 
Sounds like a really good lesson :)

Canter transitions in general - it helps if you think about the sequence of footfalls in canter. A canter stride starts with the outside hind hitting the ground and the other three legs coming off the ground, so if you can ask for the transition when the outside hind is coming up into the air then you're going to get a faster, cleaner transition. This is not as tricky as it sounds if you're listening with your bottom - the horse's hindquarters rise and fall as their hind legs rise and fall and this translates through to your bum, so if your outside buttock is being pushed up, then the outside hind is coming off the ground!

Trot to canter - you've probably been told this a million times, so forgive me for repeating, but make sure the trot is balanced, not rushing. If you get a faster trot when you ask for canter, half halt and rebalance before asking again. Again, you can use your seat to help; tense it slightly against the horse's rhythm rather than going with it and s/he will slow down.

Walk to canter - I was once lucky enough to do these on a dressage schoolmaster and it was the best feeling ever when it went right! I was told to concentrate on making sure my stomach muscles are engaged, this lightened my seat and then the leg aid squeezed him up into my seat and rounded him underneath me. Again, it's all about the timing of asking when that off hind is in the air.
 
Ive just got back on here and have been trawling through pages and pages of post trying to find something from you, i was very much a lurker on here but always enjoyed reading your posts! Well done on the lesson and glad your getting back into it! Best of luck and look forward to reading more from you now! x
 
Sorry I haven't responded earlier :o

NicoleS_007 said:
Hey you :p I was wondering were you had got to!! Sounds like a fab lesson with much to learn. I always find trying to get a walk-canter out of a RS horse is like drawing blood from a stone lol Cant say i miss those days ;) My wee sister also has heels up disorder :rolleyes: She blames the gaiters haha But i always find doing a walk to canter that if i sit up, take my time then ask for my canter its perfect ... I used to rush the transition which resulted in me leaning forwards when i asked for the canter which resulted in a trot- canter!! Going from canter to trot I usually sit up, try and collect the canter a little so i would hold infront and give a bit of leg which usually gives a nice fluent transition and stops the horse falling into trot. Hmmm im not very good at describing things, am i :p But tbh atm my canter to trots are ... well lets say not always nice as im on an unbalanced baby :p Well i like to use that as my excuse ;)
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Thankyou :)

miskettie said:
Well done! Sounds like a very rewarding lesson :)
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It was :D

shysmum said:
Well done TG !!! You just know you're gonna get loads of replies - you've been missed, lovely !!! :D
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Hehe, I've missed it!

Mrs C said:
Nice to see you back - have missed your lesson reports! I am learning to keep my heels down by cantering with a light seat, so the weight is really down to the heels. No tips for walk canter transitions though so i'll look forwards to reading others :)
Click to expand...

I'll try that tomorrow :)

CarolineJ said:
Sounds like a really good lesson :)

Canter transitions in general - it helps if you think about the sequence of footfalls in canter. A canter stride starts with the outside hind hitting the ground and the other three legs coming off the ground, so if you can ask for the transition when the outside hind is coming up into the air then you're going to get a faster, cleaner transition. This is not as tricky as it sounds if you're listening with your bottom - the horse's hindquarters rise and fall as their hind legs rise and fall and this translates through to your bum, so if your outside buttock is being pushed up, then the outside hind is coming off the ground!

Trot to canter - you've probably been told this a million times, so forgive me for repeating, but make sure the trot is balanced, not rushing. If you get a faster trot when you ask for canter, half halt and rebalance before asking again. Again, you can use your seat to help; tense it slightly against the horse's rhythm rather than going with it and s/he will slow down.

Walk to canter - I was once lucky enough to do these on a dressage schoolmaster and it was the best feeling ever when it went right! I was told to concentrate on making sure my stomach muscles are engaged, this lightened my seat and then the leg aid squeezed him up into my seat and rounded him underneath me. Again, it's all about the timing of asking when that off hind is in the air.
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Thankyou - lots to think about!

Cavblacks said:
Well done! Sounds great, so nice when you get back on after a break and it all works out!
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Yep! :D When are we gonna have our jumping lesson together, eh? :P

jo_currie said:
Ive just got back on here and have been trawling through pages and pages of post trying to find something from you, i was very much a lurker on here but always enjoyed reading your posts! Well done on the lesson and glad your getting back into it! Best of luck and look forward to reading more from you now! x
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Thankyou! x
 
Walk to canter!!! Well done you are really making progress with your riding! That transition is quite hard to do, but it does wake them up a bit afterwards which makes life easier!

Nice hot bath for those aching muscles now!
 
It felt fantastic - I feel like I'm actually getting somewhere! And it was on a horse I normally struggle with, am dead proud of him :)

He felt a LOT more awake afterwards :D
 
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