VioletStripe
Well-Known Member
As title really! 
as me and the family have come up to the Cotswolds for an Easter break, we booked a riding lesson to keep me entertained! No pics though, as am on phone!
So it started with me getting on a very sweet mare called Hazel, and going out in the arena and warming up and doing my own thong so he could see what I could do etc.. Then pulled me up, asked how I though she was going, and what did I think I needed to do to improve her. So as she was a bit stiff and sluggish I said lots of circling and transitions etc. He then gave me an exercise to circle by K, go up the diagonal to X as if changing the rein, circling at X as if on a different rein, and then going along the diagonal back on the right rein to M and circling there in another 10m circle, and then cantering at C down to A, collect and then trot and start again.
Did that make any sense?!
and then I did it several times with no stirrups, and then finished by taking back my stirrups and working on a 20m circle to cool off and overall review what I'd done, and practicing leg yielding in and out of the circle. I am slightly embarassed to say that I was exhausted by the end of it!! it was my first lesson in 3 weeks or so to be fair,but I really felt I made some progress, because where I usually ride I ride in a pony club rally, so it was good to get some different instruction for a change! 
but apparently I'm tense when I ride and grip a lot with my knees or thighs, and get quite tense through my lower back, stiffening up my arms. Whch is strange because I never feel nervous or anxious when riding!! So does anyone have any tips or advice on relaxing my back and legs? Because that's the only issue I really need to get over! So, enough rambling! If you read this far, chocolate biccies for you! If you can offer advice hot chocolate also!! xx
as me and the family have come up to the Cotswolds for an Easter break, we booked a riding lesson to keep me entertained! No pics though, as am on phone!So it started with me getting on a very sweet mare called Hazel, and going out in the arena and warming up and doing my own thong so he could see what I could do etc.. Then pulled me up, asked how I though she was going, and what did I think I needed to do to improve her. So as she was a bit stiff and sluggish I said lots of circling and transitions etc. He then gave me an exercise to circle by K, go up the diagonal to X as if changing the rein, circling at X as if on a different rein, and then going along the diagonal back on the right rein to M and circling there in another 10m circle, and then cantering at C down to A, collect and then trot and start again.
Did that make any sense?!
and then I did it several times with no stirrups, and then finished by taking back my stirrups and working on a 20m circle to cool off and overall review what I'd done, and practicing leg yielding in and out of the circle. I am slightly embarassed to say that I was exhausted by the end of it!! it was my first lesson in 3 weeks or so to be fair,but I really felt I made some progress, because where I usually ride I ride in a pony club rally, so it was good to get some different instruction for a change! but apparently I'm tense when I ride and grip a lot with my knees or thighs, and get quite tense through my lower back, stiffening up my arms. Whch is strange because I never feel nervous or anxious when riding!! So does anyone have any tips or advice on relaxing my back and legs? Because that's the only issue I really need to get over! So, enough rambling! If you read this far, chocolate biccies for you! If you can offer advice hot chocolate also!! xx
thanks once again, I look forward to hearing that exercise!