black_horse
Well-Known Member
Today started with delicia squirting me. (yuk!). The poor mare is now very heavily in season, but i am happy to report the Pure Horse feeds has meant she is not loopy in it. So i had to wash her back end, and as i was already running late thanks to birthday celebrations the night before i was panicing i wouldnt make the lesson in time!
Delicia was a good girl to get ready (no kicking the time) and we loaded up and set off to Angley Stud. I had hired out the indoor arena. I was hoping for a photo shoot today, but the bank holiday weather was dull and grey, and the lighting too poor so the photos are postponed for now.
I had an idea of what i wished to achieve, Delicia had an idea of what she wished to achieve. Discussions began quite early on. She was love in the wal and trot and i let her have a canter in the right rein. She did a lovely canter then broke out of it, deliberately. I growled at her and pushes her up into it, she put her ears back and i felt her hold her breath, but i circled and she forgot about the buck she was building up to
. After that, good as gold.
Clearlight had me focusing on myself. I have ridden that last 7 days without a break and tbh i was starting to feel it. It is the most consequative riding my leg has had to deal with. The lesson to start with was really nice, delicia was soft and forwards, but i never quite felt she was on my side. She was in my contact but i knew she could be more so. We did circles, changes of rein and transitions before i started to listen to my gut instinct. I felt my leg cramping and becoming useless once again. I knew what i had to do.
I took my feet out of my stirrups and cross my stirrups in front of the saddle.
This might not seem like much, but i am riding a horse notorious of bolting with me in the past. Who is now back in her snaffle after years in her double, and who was, in my opinion, rather strong and opinionated today. Clearlight thought she looked lovely, but i suppose i know how she can go. I knew delicia wasnt giving 100%, and in order for her to, i had to get over the pain in my leg, ignore it and give her 100%, therefore giving her the confidence to soften and relax.
The change was instant. Sure enough my pelvis was starting to soften and i sat deep in the saddle rather then perch on it. My right leg was useless. I had no use and no feeling in it whatsoever, expect this feeling of pressure, and every now and again a sharp stabbing feeling, as thought i was being stabbed with a hot poker. :S
But i ignored this. Clearlight helped me to focus on my position and ignore delicia. I was sitting correct and straight in the saddle, and picked a point on the wall to focus on to ensure my head was up as this improve not only delicia's way of going, but the overall pciture.
To begin with i worked in the walk. Changing delicias bend and head carriage so she doesnt become fixed, but remains loose and supple to me and my aids. I found myself giving her inside rein a lot as she is becoming more and more into my outside rein, and straighter (not overbent like she tended to be in the past). Without warning, i plucked up the courage and clicked delicia up into canter.
WOW is all i can say! Without my stirrups, my leg wasnt reacting to the sensation of the stirrup under my foot, so i was soft in my hips. This allowed me to sit into the saddle and into her stride. I rode her movement without over-riding it. I remembered to remain soft in my hands and to give my inside hand, making sure delicia was straight. Her canter was utterly fabulous ( ClearLight will tell you this!). It was very uphill, very controlled and beautiful to ride. All this was achieved by my ability to sit correctly in the saddle.
I have a show tomorrow and although a lot of people like to run through test etc before hand. I do not. I am of the opinion that Delicia can do all the tricks, its the foundations that need the work. I focused on getting delicia soft and swinging over her back, listening to my voice and my aids and responding off them in the walk and trot. I do not need to necessarily work in her canter, for the balance in that will come from the walk work and her rideability in the transitions up/down from canter to trot.
I am not going to lie. I hurt now. But i was worth it. I am starting to feel i am really riding delicia and achieving soemthing. Just a month ago i would not have ridden delicia today. When she is this heavily in season we spend a lot of time waving to everyone who will watch, and it is not fun for either the horse nor myself. But a combination of me letting go of the front end, delicias new feed regime, new training regime and perhaps a better understanding of how even the smallest things i do affect the horse in a big way, has meant that dee is utterly thriving on the workload.
I am so excited about the next few weeks. Clearlight thanked me for allowing her to teach me...(never had that before lol). But i want to thank her. I know how to ride my horse. I knew what i should be doing, but when i got ontop of her, her engine meant i became anxious and worried. This transmitted through the reins and delicia became almost unrideable. I have such a bond with this horse, and we are so intuned to eachother, unless i am correct, how could she possibly be?
Looking forward to my next lesson and possible photoshoot in the next few weeks.
I am sorry i dont have any ridden pictures, but here is a picture of delicia saying hi
oh and a random one of the sheep in the XC field playing on a jump
Thank you for reading, easter eggs for all.
Delicia was a good girl to get ready (no kicking the time) and we loaded up and set off to Angley Stud. I had hired out the indoor arena. I was hoping for a photo shoot today, but the bank holiday weather was dull and grey, and the lighting too poor so the photos are postponed for now.
I had an idea of what i wished to achieve, Delicia had an idea of what she wished to achieve. Discussions began quite early on. She was love in the wal and trot and i let her have a canter in the right rein. She did a lovely canter then broke out of it, deliberately. I growled at her and pushes her up into it, she put her ears back and i felt her hold her breath, but i circled and she forgot about the buck she was building up to
. After that, good as gold. Clearlight had me focusing on myself. I have ridden that last 7 days without a break and tbh i was starting to feel it. It is the most consequative riding my leg has had to deal with. The lesson to start with was really nice, delicia was soft and forwards, but i never quite felt she was on my side. She was in my contact but i knew she could be more so. We did circles, changes of rein and transitions before i started to listen to my gut instinct. I felt my leg cramping and becoming useless once again. I knew what i had to do.
I took my feet out of my stirrups and cross my stirrups in front of the saddle.
This might not seem like much, but i am riding a horse notorious of bolting with me in the past. Who is now back in her snaffle after years in her double, and who was, in my opinion, rather strong and opinionated today. Clearlight thought she looked lovely, but i suppose i know how she can go. I knew delicia wasnt giving 100%, and in order for her to, i had to get over the pain in my leg, ignore it and give her 100%, therefore giving her the confidence to soften and relax.
The change was instant. Sure enough my pelvis was starting to soften and i sat deep in the saddle rather then perch on it. My right leg was useless. I had no use and no feeling in it whatsoever, expect this feeling of pressure, and every now and again a sharp stabbing feeling, as thought i was being stabbed with a hot poker. :S
But i ignored this. Clearlight helped me to focus on my position and ignore delicia. I was sitting correct and straight in the saddle, and picked a point on the wall to focus on to ensure my head was up as this improve not only delicia's way of going, but the overall pciture.
To begin with i worked in the walk. Changing delicias bend and head carriage so she doesnt become fixed, but remains loose and supple to me and my aids. I found myself giving her inside rein a lot as she is becoming more and more into my outside rein, and straighter (not overbent like she tended to be in the past). Without warning, i plucked up the courage and clicked delicia up into canter.
WOW is all i can say! Without my stirrups, my leg wasnt reacting to the sensation of the stirrup under my foot, so i was soft in my hips. This allowed me to sit into the saddle and into her stride. I rode her movement without over-riding it. I remembered to remain soft in my hands and to give my inside hand, making sure delicia was straight. Her canter was utterly fabulous ( ClearLight will tell you this!). It was very uphill, very controlled and beautiful to ride. All this was achieved by my ability to sit correctly in the saddle.
I have a show tomorrow and although a lot of people like to run through test etc before hand. I do not. I am of the opinion that Delicia can do all the tricks, its the foundations that need the work. I focused on getting delicia soft and swinging over her back, listening to my voice and my aids and responding off them in the walk and trot. I do not need to necessarily work in her canter, for the balance in that will come from the walk work and her rideability in the transitions up/down from canter to trot.
I am not going to lie. I hurt now. But i was worth it. I am starting to feel i am really riding delicia and achieving soemthing. Just a month ago i would not have ridden delicia today. When she is this heavily in season we spend a lot of time waving to everyone who will watch, and it is not fun for either the horse nor myself. But a combination of me letting go of the front end, delicias new feed regime, new training regime and perhaps a better understanding of how even the smallest things i do affect the horse in a big way, has meant that dee is utterly thriving on the workload.
I am so excited about the next few weeks. Clearlight thanked me for allowing her to teach me...(never had that before lol). But i want to thank her. I know how to ride my horse. I knew what i should be doing, but when i got ontop of her, her engine meant i became anxious and worried. This transmitted through the reins and delicia became almost unrideable. I have such a bond with this horse, and we are so intuned to eachother, unless i am correct, how could she possibly be?
Looking forward to my next lesson and possible photoshoot in the next few weeks.
I am sorry i dont have any ridden pictures, but here is a picture of delicia saying hi
oh and a random one of the sheep in the XC field playing on a jump
Thank you for reading, easter eggs for all.
. Thank you for your reply mik x
don't love the lack of pics though 
