SaddlePsych'D
Well-Known Member
Happy Friday Folks! The sun has just come out here and following a fab lesson it's put me in the weekend mood. 
Back to my 'old' RS today - the idea has been to go to each one fortnightly so I ride every week but it's not quite been working out that way because of my studying and/or lack of funds at various points, so it's been a good while since I've been there. For some reason that made me apprehensive but as soon as I was chatting to my instructor it was like I'd never been away.
I was back on C today, who I have not ridden in a very long time. He's one I've struggled with in the past if I'm honest and ended up getting a little frustrated with him and myself (not to mention utterly tired out from trying to get him going). Today was different though. I decided to be positive about riding him and see where it took us. He is a bit sensitive in his mouth so ridden with a really light contact, I always want to shorten my reins but I think it's good to teach you to use your seat and C will certainly tell you if you have balanced on your hands which is good learning too!
My instructor had me do a couple of stretches and movements in halt to start with and this really helped with my legs. I'd also been rolling my seat bones over the spiky pilates ball in the car beforehand (see previous lesson report for context, haha!) and did a couple of other spiky ball exercises before leaving home to help my hips out. The combo of things seemed to make a difference but of course when one thing adjusts, another steps in to compensate...namely my knees. They're a bit sore so I can tell they've been working . I think overall my leg alignment was better today as I was focusing on bringing them under me after all the work in my last lesson but the knees they are a protesting!
I'm not sure my instructor was expecting such an enthusiastic 'yes please!' at the prospect of no stirrups work but I love it because you can feel the benefits right there and then, and I am sure the horses seem to like it as they seem to move forward more freely. I'd like to get back to being able to canter without stirrups again but I think we need to sort out the grippy knees in trot otherwise I'm predicting some dodgy moments in the upwards transition (knees are particularly enthusiastic when I need to use my legs). Progress was made today anyway and I'm always happy with that. We got some nice canter in at the end - short and sweet just a few long sides to get C and I going. The canter fear from falling off share horse has finally melted away, hurrah!
Here is lovely old boy C (I think it was nearly food time hence the alert expression!) who got lots of 'good boy' moments for his efforts today
Back to my 'old' RS today - the idea has been to go to each one fortnightly so I ride every week but it's not quite been working out that way because of my studying and/or lack of funds at various points, so it's been a good while since I've been there. For some reason that made me apprehensive but as soon as I was chatting to my instructor it was like I'd never been away.
I was back on C today, who I have not ridden in a very long time. He's one I've struggled with in the past if I'm honest and ended up getting a little frustrated with him and myself (not to mention utterly tired out from trying to get him going). Today was different though. I decided to be positive about riding him and see where it took us. He is a bit sensitive in his mouth so ridden with a really light contact, I always want to shorten my reins but I think it's good to teach you to use your seat and C will certainly tell you if you have balanced on your hands which is good learning too!
My instructor had me do a couple of stretches and movements in halt to start with and this really helped with my legs. I'd also been rolling my seat bones over the spiky pilates ball in the car beforehand (see previous lesson report for context, haha!) and did a couple of other spiky ball exercises before leaving home to help my hips out. The combo of things seemed to make a difference but of course when one thing adjusts, another steps in to compensate...namely my knees. They're a bit sore so I can tell they've been working . I think overall my leg alignment was better today as I was focusing on bringing them under me after all the work in my last lesson but the knees they are a protesting!
I'm not sure my instructor was expecting such an enthusiastic 'yes please!' at the prospect of no stirrups work but I love it because you can feel the benefits right there and then, and I am sure the horses seem to like it as they seem to move forward more freely. I'd like to get back to being able to canter without stirrups again but I think we need to sort out the grippy knees in trot otherwise I'm predicting some dodgy moments in the upwards transition (knees are particularly enthusiastic when I need to use my legs). Progress was made today anyway and I'm always happy with that. We got some nice canter in at the end - short and sweet just a few long sides to get C and I going. The canter fear from falling off share horse has finally melted away, hurrah!
Here is lovely old boy C (I think it was nearly food time hence the alert expression!) who got lots of 'good boy' moments for his efforts today