Making schooling fun?

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A1fie

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I am a novice rider who has just started to share a beautiful horse. The hacking is amazing but until I have got more competant I prefer to spend time in the school. The horse I ride is very sweet and honest. she has not done much schooling as her owner has mainly used her for endurance and hacking. Because I'm spending time in the school with her I want her to be happy and not be bored silly. She is always very patient with me and willing and I really don't want to do anything to ruin this. Bearing in mind that I am a real novice does anyone have any suggestions to keep her happy there until I can hack out? I am having lessons on her every fortnight. I just worry that she will start to think 'oh no here's the numpty who just makes me walk and trot around and around and around . . . . . . . .'
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Any suggestions gratefully received.
 
OOO I didn't realise you got a loan, lucky you. well when schooling just try to vary paces, trotting poles, serpentines and cricles just keep everything varied should make it more fun.

Whereabouts are you based then? Pm me

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when i loaned a horse like that i did a lot of figure of eights changing the reigh etc..
I also did trotting exercises like trot two paces walk two (or something similar) it keeps the horse listening to you and your action and prevents them getting too bored... it worked with the one i loaned and she hated the school!
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Just keep it really varied everytime you ride and she'll love it
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Create yourself a simple obstical course. If there are any weaknesses in your riding try and make obsticles that will help improve those asspects. If you have problems riding into the corners put cones in each corner to ride round. If you need to improve your steering make narrow ally ways using jump poles placed beside each other. As you become more confident you can make the gap narrower or the corridor longer. You can do this in walk, trot and even canter. If you have enough poles set up a little course, just laying the poles on the floor. So it looks like a flat jumping course. Then practice riding around the course, making full use of the school and aiming for the centre of each pole.

If you don't have anything to use to make obsticles imagine them or draw them in the sand of the school before you get on. Just give yourself targets to help improve the accuracy of your riding.
 
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