E_Lister
Well-Known Member
Following on from my "Schooling exercise advice please" post the other day, I decided to ask my instructor for another lesson, to see what she suggested.
It was brilliant. I loved it, and came out on cloud nine!
As usual, the original walking round was a bit stroppy as I warmed her up. After this though I was working on getting her to move straight through her circles, serpentines and corners... which we cracked, and soon Ellie toned down the sulkiness. And I also managed to improve my position through the bends and not collapse into my inside hip like I normally do!
In trot, she tried to do her "grab the bit, lean into it and TANK" trick, but I managed, not only to work her through that, but get her to trot slowly, carefully and eventually she was nearly tracking up... (or so my instructor said!) We even did some more extended AND in control trot, which is something I have not managed to do before
I then brought her back down to walk, to give her a couple of minutes breather and so I could discuss what I had learned with my instructor. She asked me to gently feel alternately with my hands and keep my stomach control to how it was. Lo and behold Ellie came into a lovely and natural outline, she carried herself beautifully and only stopped when I lost my attention (was too elated and shocked to keep it up for very long!) From then on, instead of a strong, out of control, stroppy cobby cowface (like normal
) I had a responsive, obedient and best of all softmouthed pony... well... at least in walk and trot!
Finally, after about 40 mins of working on walk and trot it was crunch time. Canter is my weakest gait. Everything I know about riding seems to fly out of the window and I generally end up with a hunched back, leaning forwards with my arms locked, pooing myself!
BUT, I kept it together far better, and on one rein I didn't even feel nervous (as I am apt to do when Ellie rushes off), Ellie was balanced and I was able to stop her from motorbiking too much, tummy control was totally forgotten, but I managed to keep my hands soft, and stayed sitting straight without leaning forwards. My other rein still needs work, because that is Ellie's stronger rein and doesn't she know it. According to my instructor I was quite funny to watch on that rein as I was trying really hard to ride like I had on the other rein, but every few seconds nerves kicked in and I ended up going back to my old habits, till the brain kicked in and I would return to riding properly, which would last till I panicked (etc. etc.)
She then gave me some exercises to work on in walk and trot, and a mantra to say to myself in canter ("sit straight, elbows towards you, inside leg, supporting rein") which should hopefully work as instructions to me, not to mention keep me distracted from the nerves.
I finished by cooling down, where once again Ellie carried herself wonderfully and my instructor finished by telling me she was incredibly impressed with how well I was coming on. Not bad at all considering I had been on holiday for the past two weeks, and Ellie was only ridden once in that time!!
Sorry this is so long, I am just incredibly proud of myself and Ellie and there is no-one here that I can tell. It is probably going to be the last proud type post I do for aages!
It was brilliant. I loved it, and came out on cloud nine!
As usual, the original walking round was a bit stroppy as I warmed her up. After this though I was working on getting her to move straight through her circles, serpentines and corners... which we cracked, and soon Ellie toned down the sulkiness. And I also managed to improve my position through the bends and not collapse into my inside hip like I normally do!
In trot, she tried to do her "grab the bit, lean into it and TANK" trick, but I managed, not only to work her through that, but get her to trot slowly, carefully and eventually she was nearly tracking up... (or so my instructor said!) We even did some more extended AND in control trot, which is something I have not managed to do before
I then brought her back down to walk, to give her a couple of minutes breather and so I could discuss what I had learned with my instructor. She asked me to gently feel alternately with my hands and keep my stomach control to how it was. Lo and behold Ellie came into a lovely and natural outline, she carried herself beautifully and only stopped when I lost my attention (was too elated and shocked to keep it up for very long!) From then on, instead of a strong, out of control, stroppy cobby cowface (like normal
) I had a responsive, obedient and best of all softmouthed pony... well... at least in walk and trot!Finally, after about 40 mins of working on walk and trot it was crunch time. Canter is my weakest gait. Everything I know about riding seems to fly out of the window and I generally end up with a hunched back, leaning forwards with my arms locked, pooing myself!
BUT, I kept it together far better, and on one rein I didn't even feel nervous (as I am apt to do when Ellie rushes off), Ellie was balanced and I was able to stop her from motorbiking too much, tummy control was totally forgotten, but I managed to keep my hands soft, and stayed sitting straight without leaning forwards. My other rein still needs work, because that is Ellie's stronger rein and doesn't she know it. According to my instructor I was quite funny to watch on that rein as I was trying really hard to ride like I had on the other rein, but every few seconds nerves kicked in and I ended up going back to my old habits, till the brain kicked in and I would return to riding properly, which would last till I panicked (etc. etc.)
She then gave me some exercises to work on in walk and trot, and a mantra to say to myself in canter ("sit straight, elbows towards you, inside leg, supporting rein") which should hopefully work as instructions to me, not to mention keep me distracted from the nerves.
I finished by cooling down, where once again Ellie carried herself wonderfully and my instructor finished by telling me she was incredibly impressed with how well I was coming on. Not bad at all considering I had been on holiday for the past two weeks, and Ellie was only ridden once in that time!!
Sorry this is so long, I am just incredibly proud of myself and Ellie and there is no-one here that I can tell. It is probably going to be the last proud type post I do for aages!
