SaddlePsych'D
Well-Known Member
I will not think about my bank balance, I will not think about my bank balance... haha! Second lesson of the week today, back at 'old' RS. Back on B, who I did not mistake for D this time and looking again am kind of amazed at how I managed to genuinely not realise I'd gotten on a different pony and ridden for half an hour but still needed to be told I'd never sat on it before. In fairness I've not been there for a good few months.
Anywho! Really pleased with improvement on last week on the steering/straightness side of things. Last week I thought 'have I forgotten how to ride?' as all the turns were wibbly wobbly, we were falling in, falling out, and my boot leg got dragged on the arena fence at one point. Today much better, instructor pleased with improvement to rhythm in trot too (less rushing). Still need to work on bending the right way but again improved on last week. I need to ask my instructor a bit more about what 'seeking the contact' means but he was doing more of this today which I think is a good thing (?)
We worked on leg yielding - interesting experience and great learning for me...initial attempts in walk (after establishing we could do a reasonably straight 3/4 line) involved instructor pushing him over as there was no response to my leg at all. Tried in trot and it was still tricky but we got a little closer and a little closer each time - I'm not very good at feeling the correct movement, but any sideways response away from my leg (instead of into it on the one rein!) was progress. Hurrah!
We also worked on canter - I am so, sooo pleased with this! I fell off share horse a while back cantering the first loop of a serpentine and this knocked my confidence quite a bit as I'd lost my balance a bit and he spooked (although since seen he has a bit of a thing of spooking at not a lot, and watching them I feel less surprised that I came off!) Anyway today really felt like I could trust my own balance in canter, which I needed to as B needed help around the corners. By the end we were cantering 25m circles and I felt the learning from lessons on share horse come back into play as we did so much canter work!
Super pleased, booked in again for next week. Will probably go have another lesson at other RS in a couple of weeks (probably do need to think a bit about my bank balance!) and looking forward to taking up an offer for a walk out on a friend's horse in the coming week or so
Anywho! Really pleased with improvement on last week on the steering/straightness side of things. Last week I thought 'have I forgotten how to ride?' as all the turns were wibbly wobbly, we were falling in, falling out, and my boot leg got dragged on the arena fence at one point. Today much better, instructor pleased with improvement to rhythm in trot too (less rushing). Still need to work on bending the right way but again improved on last week. I need to ask my instructor a bit more about what 'seeking the contact' means but he was doing more of this today which I think is a good thing (?)
We worked on leg yielding - interesting experience and great learning for me...initial attempts in walk (after establishing we could do a reasonably straight 3/4 line) involved instructor pushing him over as there was no response to my leg at all. Tried in trot and it was still tricky but we got a little closer and a little closer each time - I'm not very good at feeling the correct movement, but any sideways response away from my leg (instead of into it on the one rein!) was progress. Hurrah!
We also worked on canter - I am so, sooo pleased with this! I fell off share horse a while back cantering the first loop of a serpentine and this knocked my confidence quite a bit as I'd lost my balance a bit and he spooked (although since seen he has a bit of a thing of spooking at not a lot, and watching them I feel less surprised that I came off!) Anyway today really felt like I could trust my own balance in canter, which I needed to as B needed help around the corners. By the end we were cantering 25m circles and I felt the learning from lessons on share horse come back into play as we did so much canter work!
Super pleased, booked in again for next week. Will probably go have another lesson at other RS in a couple of weeks (probably do need to think a bit about my bank balance!) and looking forward to taking up an offer for a walk out on a friend's horse in the coming week or so
