Laterally challenged...

FestiveFuzz

FestiveFuzz

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So M and I have been going from strength to strength recently. I changed him into a fairfax drop which almost overnight transformed our contact issues and thanks to many chiro/physio sessions I now have a horse who willingly works over his back without fixing his jaw. It was all kinds of wonderful and I've been merrily riding around in a happy little bubble. The icing on the cake was when my trainer not only mentioned she thought we were ready to compete, but also asked me to be one of her working pupils for her UKCC Level 3 course.

And then we came back down to earth with a crashing bump when she stepped up our lateral work and began trying to teach me half pass...It's safe to say I'm not particularly gifted when it comes to remembering my left from my right when I'm deep in concentration. I've also discovered that it is entirely possible to totally forget which leg does what when asked to change the rein diagonally whilst going from shoulder fore into quarters in...even if you've just spent the last 10 mins going from shoulder fore to quarters in along the long sides! I'm told I should imagine I'm balancing a bike...except this bike has a mind of its own! It's also highlighted a massive weakness in that I ride very heavily with my right hand, so even when I think I have him in both reins he's still leaning on the right.

I'm trying to look on the bright side and remember how far we've come...I mean it wasn't that long ago I was struggling to canter on the left rein without unplanned flying changes and now we're happily doing simple changes, flying changes and counter canter. In 6 months I've gone from riding at unaff prelim/novice to schooling at elementary/medium level so I know our hard work isn't totally in vain. But it feels like I've hit a block now and I'm beginning to feel a bit disheartened. My trainer has been great, she's reassured me that this is all totally normal and that all the building blocks are in place, I've just got to stop over-thinking things and then it'll all click into place...but it's hard waiting for that lightbulb moment and the more I try to grasp it the more I feel I'm undoing all the work we've put in :(

Can someone please give me the kick up the bum I need to just crack on...as I'm just feeling a bit rubbish at the moment :(
 
FestiveFuzz said:
I've just got to stop over-thinking things and then it'll all click into place...
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^^ this :) IIRC this was the same when you had that canter wobble :)

It'll come. Usually when you lose the air of desperation and go back to riding from feel rather than thinking of a dozen things at once. your trainer obviously thinks you are capable of doing this or she wouldn't have suggested it - take that as a vote of confidence in your ability to learn it, rather than meaning you need to be able to deliver immediately.

No kicks necessary, take a step back and approach it with a more positive frame of mind and you'll have it cracked in no time.I find it easier to think of what my inside & outside aids need to be doing - and why - than left & right. but a lot of it will improve speedily when you can discharge some elements to muscle memory leaving a bit of space in your brain to think about new things!

The thing that helps me the most is to always think about sitting *eversoslightly* toward the inside of whatever movement we are doing - and have the horse truly into the outside contact from your inside leg - that will get you 50% of the way without too much thinking.
 
milliepops said:
^^ this :) IIRC this was the same when you had that canter wobble :)
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You are indeed correct MP :) it's just easier said than done!

I think the hardest part was we had an amazing week before this blip where he was going fantastically. Admittedly that was also slightly frustrating as I couldn't suss out what I was doing differently so was convinced it was fluke, but it appears that at least for some part I'm now correcting certain elements subconsciously freeing up some much needed mental capacity! :D We were beginning to become more consistent in our quarters in in our last session, but then my trainer sat on him at the weekend and had to battle to stop him leaning on the right rein so I'm feeling a bit crap that I've created yet another issue we're now going to have to fix and now she's away for a week I'm feeling a bit like a ship without a captain lol.
 
ahhh I think we've all been there :) repeatedly!
rocketing along, then you hit a bump and come crashing to a stop again. It's like snakes & ladders! :lol: you have to be able to keep your eye on the longer term goals and progress and not let it deter you.

Maybe go back a few steps if you are really unsure, while your trainer is away? So some really positive confidence building sessions on transitions, or straightness, or suppleness... it's all money in the bank because you need those things to be really good for your lateral work.
 
It sounds like you've made incredible progress! Don't be disheartened!!

How about treating yourself to a couple of schoolmaster lessons so you can get a better feel for the movements without having to worry about the horse?
 
j1ffy said:
It sounds like you've made incredible progress! Don't be disheartened!!

How about treating yourself to a couple of schoolmaster lessons so you can get a better feel for the movements without having to worry about the horse?
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Fortunately M is a schoolmaster, so I'm in good hands. Unfortunately for the most part, I'm the only one who rides him so I've accidentally taught him a few bad habits in the process! My trainer is going to ride him once a week for the moment to keep him in check and make sure that we keep on the right path as sometimes I'm a bit soft on him as I'm not sure whether he's not doing what I've asked because he's misbehaving or because I've asked incorrectly. It's basically the old adage of you don't know what you don't know if you catch my drift!

I have been thinking about having a couple of lessons on a mechanical horse though as I think it might help shed light on exactly what I'm doing wrong.
 
milliepops said:
ahhh I think we've all been there :) repeatedly!
rocketing along, then you hit a bump and come crashing to a stop again. It's like snakes & ladders! :lol: you have to be able to keep your eye on the longer term goals and progress and not let it deter you.

Maybe go back a few steps if you are really unsure, while your trainer is away? So some really positive confidence building sessions on transitions, or straightness, or suppleness... it's all money in the bank because you need those things to be really good for your lateral work.
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That's definitely a good shout and probably the best use of my time this week. I might also up my no stirrup work now 5 mins on each rein is getting easier.
 
Auslander said:
Does your head cope with quarters in down the long side?
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Generally yes, although sometimes I get excited we've "got it" and then it kinda goes to pot! My left leg seems to be weaker than my right for no real reason. I'm trying to fix this with fortnightly sports physio sessions, but I definitely find it harder to step down and back when on the right rein and when I do I don't feel like I'm that effective, as in M doesn't seem to really respect my leg even with spurs. I've tried to back up my leg aid with the whip but again I just seem to be a bit special with my left side in general which I'm sure doesn't help matters.

It's frustrating as I understand in theory what I'm meant to be doing but it just doesn't feel like my body is willing sometimes. For example, unless I really concentrate I seem to throw away my inside rein in quarters in even though I know that's the opposite of what I should be doing, it's like I have a mental block where I can't step back with my outside leg and still keep the inside rein.

ETA - Essentially I feel the issue is that I don't always have him through in both reins during the movement (mainly due to not being able to break the habit of relying more on my right hand) and him having learnt that hanging on my right rein means he doesn't have to work correctly thus it's easier for him. I know I need to find a way of mentally connecting my hand to my leg aids, but when I'm concentrating this goes out the window a bit which again is only making things more difficult.

Apologies if I'm making myself sound like a complete numpty now. Despite originally being classically trained I've spent the best part of the last 15 years of riding without much input (previous trainers were happy with me just looking pretty in the saddle), so the last year or so has been a complete eye opener in terms of plugging the gaps and developing a better feel for everything.
 
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I can remember it took me ages to really nail doing half pass .
Can you consistently nail your leg yields ( including those in counter flexions ) your shoulder in including changing and varying the angle and flexions and the same in the travers .
If so the half pass should be easy.
A lesson a horse who has all there would be a good investment to nail coordinating everything .
 
FestiveFuzz said:
Apologies if I'm making myself sound like a complete numpty now. Despite originally being classically trained I've spent the best part of the last 15 years of riding without much input (previous trainers were happy with me just looking pretty in the saddle), so the last year or so has been a complete eye opener in terms of plugging the gaps and developing a better feel for everything.
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not a numpty, you've identified the problem and now have to retrain your body and brain to do it differently :) I'm helping someone else who is going through a similar process (same right hand problem!) and I can feel your frustration just dripping from your post :)

Try to be patient with yourself :) GS's suggestion of leg yields is a good one to help connect from your leg into the contact, you can to this on straight lines, along the wall, around circles until that connection is really secure, and then if you can maintain the feel in both hands it should be easier to not get drawn into old habits of focussing on the right rein :)
 
milliepops said:
not a numpty, you've identified the problem and now have to retrain your body and brain to do it differently :) I'm helping someone else who is going through a similar process (same right hand problem!) and I can feel your frustration just dripping from your post :)

Try to be patient with yourself :) GS's suggestion of leg yields is a good one to help connect from your leg into the contact, you can to this on straight lines, along the wall, around circles until that connection is really secure, and then if you can maintain the feel in both hands it should be easier to not get drawn into old habits of focussing on the right rein :)
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Haha is it that obvious?! It's just annoying as I know what I should be doing but my body just doesn't want to play ball. Leg yield and shoulder fore I seem to get, so will keep playing with those to reinforce the leg/hand connection. I still struggle to consistently change the depth of the angle with SI/QI. Again I think this is just a case of me needing to be a bit firming and making sure M is sharper off my aids as I know he can do it, he's just a lazy bug and will offer the bare minimum unless he's told to work properly! He felt amazing after my trainer rode him at the weekend, super quick off the aids and really pushing through into the contact so I just need to work with her to ensure I keep that feel and don't let him flatten as I know that will only make it harder to grasp the lateral stuff.
 
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