vikkiandmonica
Well-Known Member
Well, I had a lesson today from my YO, basically my first in about 4 months. I warmed up while he was mucking out his horse, so we could make the most out of my lesson. He came to the arena and asked me to have a play so he could see how we were going. Almost straight away, he made me come back to walk and tell me to use the corners of the arena more, as I wasn't really riding a rectangle, more of a stretched oval. So, I really worked into the corners in walk, on both reins, then was told to trot.
Now, Wings has a big trot, and basically, I had asked him to trot too fast, so I really had to slow it down but keep the impulsion. YO actually said it was good that I had worked him in a faster trot, as he was off my leg, meaning when I slowed the trot, he was still moving forwards, but without the speed, whereas if I'd always asked him to trot slower, he might duck behind the leg and be very stop/start.
Once we had a very nice, established trot, working on straightness through his body, but also a bend on circles etc. (including dropping inside rein so it was solely from the outside hand), we moved onto leg yeilds to get him more supple. We first did it from the 3/4 line to the track in walk on both reins, then from centre line to track. I had to make sure I kept him straight through his neck with only a slight bend, as otherwise he would lead massively with his shoulders. We then moved into trot and did the same, before going from the track, to the 3/4 line or centre line, then back to track, and he was pretty darn good. From there, we moved into canter, again, making sure it wasn't too fast, but with big strides, and he was very good!! He sometimes just ducks behind the vertical and going overbent, so I need to make sure when he does this, I need to lift my hands up to encourage him to lift himself up.
So, overall it was a great lesson, and I just need to work on keep him straighter, preventing him ducking behind the vertical, riding into my corners, and making my movements more accurate, such as circles, changes of reins etc. Think I will get a lesson in a fortnight, as I love lessons, and will try and get pictures then
(sorry for the length, chocolate trifle if you got this far!)
Now, Wings has a big trot, and basically, I had asked him to trot too fast, so I really had to slow it down but keep the impulsion. YO actually said it was good that I had worked him in a faster trot, as he was off my leg, meaning when I slowed the trot, he was still moving forwards, but without the speed, whereas if I'd always asked him to trot slower, he might duck behind the leg and be very stop/start.
Once we had a very nice, established trot, working on straightness through his body, but also a bend on circles etc. (including dropping inside rein so it was solely from the outside hand), we moved onto leg yeilds to get him more supple. We first did it from the 3/4 line to the track in walk on both reins, then from centre line to track. I had to make sure I kept him straight through his neck with only a slight bend, as otherwise he would lead massively with his shoulders. We then moved into trot and did the same, before going from the track, to the 3/4 line or centre line, then back to track, and he was pretty darn good. From there, we moved into canter, again, making sure it wasn't too fast, but with big strides, and he was very good!! He sometimes just ducks behind the vertical and going overbent, so I need to make sure when he does this, I need to lift my hands up to encourage him to lift himself up.
So, overall it was a great lesson, and I just need to work on keep him straighter, preventing him ducking behind the vertical, riding into my corners, and making my movements more accurate, such as circles, changes of reins etc. Think I will get a lesson in a fortnight, as I love lessons, and will try and get pictures then
(sorry for the length, chocolate trifle if you got this far!)