only_me
Well-Known Member
off to pony club rally tonight in gilford (20mins away) for a lesson with steven smith. there were only 5 of us in the ride, but the other 4 where riders who had been at open level for years and are potential jrn team members for this season! so there i am, only at PN and hoping to move up to novice later in the season, so we are a long way off
so already i was intimidated as i think that they are all soo much better riders than me!
so lesson started well, as i asked merlin to trot and he did!! first time i asked! this amazed me as tonight we had energy and he was fab to ride as he was altogether and up in front - usually i have to nag a long lazy horse along so this was a nice surprise
and did walking then trotting poles, to which i was told not to be so sloppy and long, so felt small in front of others.
jumping wise we were jumping "lanes" of fences set at different strides, small 3 striders at first, then a lane of bigger 2 striders and a lane of one strides. horse at first found it all difficult and so did i! but we got through it and made all the distances and he didnt touch a single pole all night. got told off for giving too much with my hands
but he was fantastic! he was really rounding - more than the only showjumper's horse!! and he was clearing them by miles and he was making them look easy, and was really trying hard to please me! so at the end was talking to instructor, and saying how much merlin has changed in the past 2 months i am finding it difficult to keep up! but then he said that i rode really well and that out of all the horses there that night, he had the best bascule and jump out of the lot! so of course i was very proud as i had worked very hard to improve his jump
so now i just have the bursary competition to worry about on friday - the jrn eventers are going
sorry for self indulgent post
so lesson started well, as i asked merlin to trot and he did!! first time i asked! this amazed me as tonight we had energy and he was fab to ride as he was altogether and up in front - usually i have to nag a long lazy horse along so this was a nice surprise
jumping wise we were jumping "lanes" of fences set at different strides, small 3 striders at first, then a lane of bigger 2 striders and a lane of one strides. horse at first found it all difficult and so did i! but we got through it and made all the distances and he didnt touch a single pole all night. got told off for giving too much with my hands
but he was fantastic! he was really rounding - more than the only showjumper's horse!! and he was clearing them by miles and he was making them look easy, and was really trying hard to please me! so at the end was talking to instructor, and saying how much merlin has changed in the past 2 months i am finding it difficult to keep up! but then he said that i rode really well and that out of all the horses there that night, he had the best bascule and jump out of the lot! so of course i was very proud as i had worked very hard to improve his jump
sorry for self indulgent post
