Gingernags
Well-Known Member
Really enjoyed it though it was so hard!!!
Only 2 of us in it in the end, just flatwork. Started off working on an outline in walk - wasn't too bad just getting me to stop the orange one leaning and going too fast but using leg to get her working from behind. Seemed OK, took a little while...
Then trot. OMG I have never trotted for so long and worked so hard! All I kept hearing was "Leg leg leg" hold your hands, don't let her run through, leg leg leg!" Again took a while but DID get some nice trot out of her, not rushing, still a bit heavy on my hands but reasonable.
Then canter - OMG it was like the wheel of death! She was like a motorbike round corners, it felt so fast! But again, I had to make sure I wasn't reflexively "pulling" and just holding and rewarding her by lightening when she didn't lean.
Got a few circuits at the end that were much better!
Sister said we did actually do very well and she did look good, but that I was better when I wasn't trying too hard!
We spent almost the entire hour (I'd say a good 45 minutes) in trot and canter and my ankle was screaming at me after 10 mins but I just kept going. G is amazed that fat pony and fat me managed to keep going that long - it was hot and really worked us!
Yesterday all that ached were my ribs, but today its my shoulders and calves. Must have been a damn good workout! We only had a 10 minute leg stretch last night in our "new school" (grass with dressage markers) but she seemed to pick things up quickly.
So for all my terror about a lesson with a professional, it was really good, glad I did it, trying to arrange another before she goes to stud, then I've told G I'm pinching Byter as my new dressage pony while she breaks spotty in!
Only 2 of us in it in the end, just flatwork. Started off working on an outline in walk - wasn't too bad just getting me to stop the orange one leaning and going too fast but using leg to get her working from behind. Seemed OK, took a little while...
Then trot. OMG I have never trotted for so long and worked so hard! All I kept hearing was "Leg leg leg" hold your hands, don't let her run through, leg leg leg!" Again took a while but DID get some nice trot out of her, not rushing, still a bit heavy on my hands but reasonable.
Then canter - OMG it was like the wheel of death! She was like a motorbike round corners, it felt so fast! But again, I had to make sure I wasn't reflexively "pulling" and just holding and rewarding her by lightening when she didn't lean.
Got a few circuits at the end that were much better!
Sister said we did actually do very well and she did look good, but that I was better when I wasn't trying too hard!
We spent almost the entire hour (I'd say a good 45 minutes) in trot and canter and my ankle was screaming at me after 10 mins but I just kept going. G is amazed that fat pony and fat me managed to keep going that long - it was hot and really worked us!
Yesterday all that ached were my ribs, but today its my shoulders and calves. Must have been a damn good workout! We only had a 10 minute leg stretch last night in our "new school" (grass with dressage markers) but she seemed to pick things up quickly.
So for all my terror about a lesson with a professional, it was really good, glad I did it, trying to arrange another before she goes to stud, then I've told G I'm pinching Byter as my new dressage pony while she breaks spotty in!
