Brief Lesson Report... Better!

[SaddlePsych'D]

Last lesson I totally catastrophised as a disaster (it wasn't, I got in my head and beat myself up for having a wobbly moment). Today my horse request wish was granted and I was back on one of my favourites, along with having put on some up-beat music in the car on the way over to get in the forward thinking mood! The mindset going in was already more positive despite some tummy butterflies and slight sense of doom when I set of from home...

Well we had some good forward trot, some without stirrups, and then quite a bit of canter which I haven't done over the last few lessons. We did quite a challenging exercise to change rein on long diagonal in canter with a lead change via trot at X. I found the corners tricky and we lost the canter a few times, especially coming off the track, but I did not stop trying which was possibly the bigger point for me! We were then going to do similar via figure 8 circles but I ballsed the first part up, was exhausted and just tripped that bit too far over into my limit. So we just finished with one more canter which I needed just to end on a feeling of having not completed opted out.

I've still got that handbrake on in canter (it's the short sides!) but I am looking forward to looking back at the video (maybe will share a snip if feeling brave) to see the better bits. The video does help with correcting some of my 'if I ride more forward I may die' perceptions because I watch back and think 'I really am kind of pootling along just there...'

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yay! All sounding so much more positive, so pleased for you ?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Yay! All sounding so much more positive, so pleased for you ?

This is one of the problems with fortnightly lessons, one 'bad day' can linger on for ages until the next chance to ride! I am going to pause my share search and use the money to up the lessons to weekly I think.

 

[Kunoichi73]

I started back riding a couple of years ago, after a 30 odd year break. I started going infrequently, whenever my RS had an offer on. I made slow progress!

During lockdown, I decided I needed to go more frequently to make better progress. I now do a 30 min private lesson once a week and book an hour private on days when I'm using up annual leave or time in lieu. It's made a big difference to my progress.

I'm starting to think I need to increase my weekly lesson to an hour. I'm just waiting for my RS to decide what they're increasing their lesson costs to.

 

[Red-1]

That sounds like a great lesson!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Ok being brave. Excuse the not great riding (what am I doing with my corners?!), this is why I'm having lessons

ETA - it was supposed to be long side canter, change on long diagonal but I kept losing it so the last one we went straight into the next one.

 

[Red-1]

That looks fabulous. I love the horse and think you underestimate your riding skill!

 

[J&S]

I think you are sitting the canter really well. Try steering with both your body and your mind, visualise the track you want to take and really push into those corners. Nice pony!!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

This is one of the problems with fortnightly lessons, one 'bad day' can linger on for ages until the next chance to ride! I am going to pause my share search and use the money to up the lessons to weekly I think.

Could be a wise move through the winter ? will save any potential issues getting to know a share horse at a grim time of the year!
Lesson looked good, sometimes it's easy to blame yourself but you sit nicely.
I think the horse has good tendency to fall in tho willing to go forwards, it's never easy to get everything right when they are not too helpful.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I took the video sound off but my instructor is basically saying 'more!' the whole time and in the lesson I felt like 'really?!' but watching it back I can see why. Hopefully I will have this horse again in another lesson and be braver to push on!

 

[dixie]

Oh blimey. From your posts I thought you probably bounced along in the saddle a bit but you sit beautifully.
It’s a sweet looking horse, No wonder you like her/him.
The school doesn’t look very big, I’m not surprised you feel like you’re motoring.
do you ever go out on a relaxing hack to have a bit of chill time?

 

[Kunoichi73]

I can't comment on technique but am so glad you're feeling happier about your lesson!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Oh blimey. From your posts I thought you probably bounced along in the saddle a bit but you sit beautifully.
It’s a sweet looking horse, No wonder you like her/him.
The school doesn’t look very big, I’m not surprised you feel like you’re motoring.
do you ever go out on a relaxing hack to have a bit of chill time?

I love her; I had my first lesson at this RS on her, after a bit of a mission finding somewhere after moving house. She got me hooked again!

I used to hack once or twice a week on my previous share horse and it was fabulous chill time. Very sadly had to give this up when I moved and haven't been able to find another share. My lack of confidence really holds me back and so narrows the pool of potential shares quite a bit.