need the application of a large boot please, any takers?!!

[ThePony]

Am being stupid and wet, so need a kick up the backside please! (if you could let me know you have felt the same and it will improve then I'd like that too!!).

Been having lessons on my mare for nearly a year now. The difference in us both is huge, and we have come on enormously. From can't ride a circle/won't trot large around the school (we really were that bad, in our defence though, hacking was grand!) to now where we are polishing up our lateral work in walk and trot and introducing it in canter, even getting a lovely counter canter sorted!! Feel like we have both learnt alot (she was green as grass and I had only ever been a happy hacker) so bouyed on by this (and lots of nagging!) I thought I would have a lesson on OH mare so that I could spend some time schooling her too as I enjoy it rather more than either my mare or my OH do so seemed a good plan! Well, it was a bit gutting tbh. Feels like I have gone back 6 months and can't ride one side of her!! We did loads of stretchy work which she finds really hard, but I just felt it took most of the lesson to get to grips with her buttons in walk and have her working into my choice of length of rein and taking the contact nicely forwards while staying softly flexible. Just a bit down really as I guess I was hoping the knowledge I had gained would be more applicable so that I could get her working nicely quicker and easier! Sure it will improve in time, and am sticking at the lessons with her, but does feel rather pants!

May the booting commence!

 

[**Vanner**]

Size 8s coming your way

Has she been doing this with your OH? Is this her normal schooling regieme? if not then it will take time. You haven't gone backwards it's just that no two horses are the same you just need to learn her buttons.

Stick at it!

When i first got on my boy (from doing lateral work etc on my loan horse) I honestly thought I had forgotten how to ride!

 

[ThePony]

Thank you, mega help, it's good to know you have found the same prob too! Makes me feel less of a pleb!

OH and I have v different ways of riding, he is more prescriptive and has more of a 'lets get on' attitude, and will accept different things as acceptable. Where as (particularly as I was wanting her to work correctly and softly which is her bete noire) I will ask and reward, then ride on, when she stiffens again I will ask and reward... etc and also concentrate more on the small but correct things without being so much fussed by the flashy stuff! He is a much better general rider (can get a dencent effort from most things with 4 legs!) but I think I try and tune in and approach it in more of a theoretical/thinking type way. We are just v different and each of us I guess has tuned our mares up to our way of riding! He has been doing pretty much similar stuff to what I was working on with my mare, but his mare still really stuggles with maintaining a soft outline and working over her back as she has a tendency to be stiff as a board! She is far too accomplished at just tucking her head in a 'pretty' outline and working like that. She gets away with it as she is powerful and short coupled so can hide the probs pretty well! As I quite enjoy the 'boring' stretchy stuff then that is my job with her now! I just couldn't believe how much I had to start again with getting used to the feel on her and her responses to every little thing! OH will ride her tomorrow, then I shall have a few practices at the weekend ready for our next lesson. Then it will either be better (yipee!) or I shall just have to get smashed and see if that helps!

 

[CHH]

HI, NO boot from me but a thumbs up and smile.

Well done for making huge progress and from my reading your developing some excellent skills for good foundational work.

however, this isn't a magic wand - all horses will not magically work to your requests - so patience is key here.

OH mare is clearly experiencing a new approach from the rider, so gie her time, also she may well end up confused if you ask one way, seek the correctness and OH is abit more casual about the correctness, so factor that into the equation.

I have nothing but praise for the progress and what seems your understanding of the fundamentals, you have done well!

 

[Nocturnal]

Its a new horse, give yourself time to get to know her a bit

 

[ThePony]

You're ace guys, thank you, v good balance of boot and boost!! I guess I was rather too wound up feeling rather smug at my mares and my progess, so it was a bit of a jolt back down to earth!

I really want her to work 100% correctly as I don't think the basics are toally in place. OH will accept this to an extent so long as she goes forwards and sideways when he asks. Since I am less bothered about the fancy stuff I guess it just makes me focus on the bits I like to work on! She is a love, and I know she is good to me. I think she sees me as a bit 'spechel' which is no wonder tbh as to her I am stuggling even to strike up a conversation! More work becons and a more positve attutude!

Can I offer you some cake and tea as a thank you? (my healthy lunch!!).

 

[Miss L Toe]

Can you imagine there are seven vehicles [aka horses] lined up for you to drive[ride], so you are used to driving a Kia and are asked to drive around your local town, all is fine.
Now you are put in a Sherman Tank and asked to drive round Catterick Garrison.
You would see that the roads are the same, but not the same, and the vehicle has changed too, and the darn gear need two hands, but still crunches
Next time you go for a driving lesson ..there is a Porche, and you go over the cliff, you end up in A and E, but are still able to go for your next lesson.
This time you are a quivering wreck, but hey ho, you are asked to drive an electric golf buggy, whew!