Planning Your Lessons

[Brontie]

Do any of you plan your lessons? As in sort out a plan on what you want to do in the lesson? I know for a fact, If I actually was let loose in a school, I would only be in there for 15 minutes because I would die of boredom. So ive considered sorting out lessons plans as such, do any of you do this? I have a goal that I want to have won a rosette by the end of the year, this means I have to work on my jumping. And on my riding, so I was thinking If I have themed lessons, to vary it?
Do any of you do this? And can you give me some ideas to incorprit into the plans?

Thanks!

Nick.

 

[Lyndz]

I try, but by the time i get on, it all goes to pot! No help whatsoever, sorry!

 

[Taffyhorse]

My trainer normally discusses what he wants to work on in my lesson and then generally gives me some things to work on in between lessons which really helps.

If I am struggling with anything in between lessons, I'll discuss it with him and then he'll normally incorporate that into what we do.

I find it really helpful as it gives you focus and a bit of an 'action plan' too so that I'm not just bimbling aimlessly round the school

 

[MrsMozart]

Yup

.

There'll always be something we particularly want to work on, so will do the warm-up then move into whatever the movement or required response work is.

Sometimes we'll go in with our goal in mind, but it all goes to pot/or the ned would rather be out on a hack, in which case we'll get the cones or the poles out and make things more interesting for the neds.

 

[jesterfaerie]

Yes but it doesn't always go to plan.

I try work on things that needed improvement after the last session.
Last time he was meant to be practicing prelim 10, did the test once and ended up jumping.

I just try keep my plan as basic as possible (i.e. improve trot/canter or lateral work etc) and then just change it around depending on how well he is going or if that praticular day something else needs improving.
I find it is always best to have a basic idea but an open mind.

 

[scrumpygus]

I know this might sound really peculiar but sometimes i imagine that im someone else like Carl Hester or whoever ive watched recently do a really good dressage test and i try and think what he would be doing in his schooling session and how he would be riding and my god it really makes me work harder and venture into trying more difficult moves. I know that sounds weird and i dont know if anyone else does this but its improved my riding and schooling sessions no end!

 

[3Beasties]

I get very bored schooling, after 20 minutes I would be bored and would not really have achieved anything with my horse (it takes him about 20 mins to warm up!).

Yesterday I tried something different.

I did lots of warming up

then worked on transitions, circles, bending etc.

Then I went through a dressage test (It was a Pony Club eventing one that I had learn from teaching it to the children) a couple of times. It made such a difference as I actually had something to work on and by the end of it I actually felt we had got somewhere (still a LONG way to go

). Next time I school I am going to do the same thing, then maybe do the test backwards just so he doesn't start anticipating what comes next.

 

[cokelly]

Yep plan them all the time!

But I always have options- so basically 'if he does that right then we'll do this...' or 'if he doesn't do that then we'll go back to this...' etc

keeps me focused and you don't even notice the time going by! but then again I do like schooling lol

to make it more interesting why not do some pole work- like poles on a circle, elevated poles-trot and canter, ride between poles etc!