Assessment lesson - what do you think & how can I improve?!

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Sarah1

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Hi everyone

Yesterday I went for a riding lesson with a dressage rider on a riding school horse (despite having my own horse & instructor!).
I decided to book it as I've been feeling very down about my riding & haven't felt like I've been getting anywhere. I felt that I needed someone to say 'this or that is good but that needs work & here's how to fix it'! I, like many riders, concentrate so much on the things I can't do that I end up feeling that I can't do anything right & should probably knock it all on the head!
Anyway, the instructor was lovely, really put me at ease & I didn't feel silly or anything which I did feel before I got on board!
She said that I'm rolling my rigt shoulder, I don't keep my thumbs on top & I rotate my wrists so my fingers are pointing to the ground!?!?!?!?! In addition to this I open my outside hand before I should & as I ask the horse to move off I lean forward & give away the contact so the horse has nothing to walk into! She said I create lots of energy with my legs but it all goes out through the front door!
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So, any suggestions for correcting this? She advised that I'm mindful of it & realy concentrate & practice but just wondered if any of you guys had any ideas?
On a more positive note she said I have good balance & a good basic position & I'm brave/willing enough to give everything ago which obviously makes her job a bit easier! My position needs tweaking!
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Next time I'm on the lunge with no stirrups!
What do you guys think? Does it sound quite positive or did I ought to think about a different out of work activity!?!
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Thanks
 
If you ride on your own and have trouble "being mindful" of these things (because you begin to concentrate on other stuff) then I have had it suggested to put little notices up all round your riding area.

Then you can't forget!
 
Imagine you are holding two cups of tea (or whatever is your fav drink), one in each hand and you don't want to spill any. That can help keep your hands up the right way. I tend to do this, but only with my left hand. As a result, horse tends to fall through his outside shoulder on the right rein.

Also try and tuck your elbows in, as if your thumbs are not on top, more often than not you will have chicken wings!! If you have your elbows at your sides, it is far more comfortable to have your thumbs on top.
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I had the 'thumbs on top' problem for ages and still do the 'rotating shoulder'! The only thing for it is to keep reminding yourself "where are my thumbs? what is my shoulder doing?". It took me quite a few months but I finally corrected the thumbs, still working on the shoulder though! My instructor suggested this which was helpful: cut two long stalks of grass and hold them in your hands with the reins; if your thumbs are on top the stalks will stand up straight, if your wrists twist the stalks will touch each other, hopefully reminding you to correct.
 
Thanks everyone - your suggestions have been very helpful & once our school is finished I'll def. give the ideas a go!
Stencilface - my problem is the same, my left wrist rotates & I let Bailey fall out through his outside shoulder on the right rein! As a consequence I'm allowing him to throw me onto the wrong diagonal on the right rein & this coupled with the rotating shoulder (right shoulder leading so my shoulders aren't mirroring Baileys on the right rein) means that I'm really struggling to strike off on the correct diagonal! Have you found this problem at all?
 
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