Talland Diary

brighthair

brighthair

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 August 2008
Messages
4,169
Location
Preston, Lancashire
www.wannabeadressagediva.wordpress.com
here goes
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I am off tomorrow to start my journey of improving my riding, kicking my nerves in the balls and to have fun
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Set off at 11am tomorrow - big thing for me as this year panic attacks have crippled my driving especially long distances and it's going to be about 3.5hrs. I've never been on the M5 before either
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First lesson at 9am Monday morning so here goes...! Hopefully my dongle will work there and I can post updates
 
right first lesson over - I was SO nervous! Rode a horse called Cormac - 16.2ish bay gelding who has worked up to Medium level. I got on and warmed up and then the instructor came in. Cormac was lovely in walk and very soft but I struggled in trot - he ithe bounciest horse EVER! I was expecting to be nagged about my upper body position as I tend to tip forwards but he concentrated on my hands.
Apparently my contact is too strong and waggly, I am moving my hands even when I don't think I am, so I need to work on a softer but more still contact
Oh - french toast and syrup for brekkie this morning!
Next lesson at 1.30pm - a lunge lesson on a horse called Jacob
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I feel more confident now having ridden one of the horses, he was so good and tolerant of my nerves and didn't try to take the piss as all. Instructor said I was starting to get it just at the ens=d of the lesson. I even cantered which is a big thing for me on a new horse, but they said if I just wanted to walk and trot that was fine
 
Right just had my lunge lesson on Jacob. What a star horse - apparently was Charlie Huttons and was working at Prix St George level. The lunge lesson helped SO much. I had my reins and stirrups taken away - even in canter! And I was veyr brave. I learnt that I need to sit on my seat more, and when I think I am behind the movement, thats when it's right. Also keeping my thigh soft, using my shoulders to follow around the turn and keeping my toes forward but relaxed

Such a good lesson I have just booked another one for Thursday as my Dad offered to pay. I only told him afterwards it wa £49!
My left shoulder is very sore and I think I will ache tomorrow so going to have a sleep for a bit
Tomorrow - sidesaddle at 11ish then jumping - BRING IT ON!!!
 
ugh. Am writing this from a heap on the sofa with a dog next to me :-)

Sidesaddle - rode Romany and was taught by Patti. I've only done sidesaddle twice, about 10 years ago for 10 mins in walk so thought it would be interesting! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it - my left thigh didn't fit properly under the pommel though so I have a big bruise! I managed walk, trot and canter :-) so am v v proud of myself. Apparently my right leg behaved which most people doesn't, and all I needed to concentrate on was my hands and sitting up tall - which is issues I have sitting astride anyway. Romany was very patient and put up with me clamberinhg around her

Next lesson - a jump lesson with Brian Hutton on Harry. I was very scared about this. Background is sometimes I get so nervous that just getting on a new horse freaks me out. I am so happy this week that I have got on and cantered on every horse.
Harry was lovely, home bred and very honest. He was quite laid back and straightforward, but got more impulsive when we started cantering
I did a pole exercise which was a pole, a canter stride, a pole, 3 strides, a pole, a canter stride, then a pole. That got built up so the first and third poles were a jump. Comments were I need to soften in my hand more (yes that again!) and keep my leg on and give a squeeze, 3 strides out. Was happy that I was cantering around grinning my head off!
Then we worked on coming into a jump off a corner. This was hard as ifI didn't get the exact line, the striding was off, and I had to hold him into the corner and collect him more. We came to a sticky stop, and Harry put his head up for me so I didn't fall off, just landed gracefully on his neck
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I started getting scared then but got a grip, came round and did it perfectly a few more times. Finished at that as I have another jump lesson this week and have requested Harry again
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I am absolutely loving it but I ache in places I didn't know existed. I'm finding the horses very good and very honest. I've seen some which are more lively but they match horse to rider really well
 
Oh I really want to do one of their courses but was too scared (and poor!) to go on my own! Sounds fab, I haven't acctually ridden since our last uni competition back in may! eugh
 
Seriously I would recommend it to anyone. I know Weezy My Dad was like how much?!
Don't be scared to go on your own, I have hung around with everyone, but also took my laptop so I could watch dvds. I've watched Charlie schooling this afternoon and played with some Lab puppies :-)
Just need something to do tonight, I feel I should get out and see the area but my body is screaming for me to lie down ;-)
 
today woke up and OW, every muscle is screaming in pain! My back, shoulders, thighs, stomach....

Rode Amigo this am in a group lesson, first time riding in a double bridle. TBH I am so sore (to the point of painkillers!) that I just pottered. He has the bounciest trot on the yard or so I'm told.

Next is Cormac again, in a group lesson....
 
Is Jacob quite a heavy set chesnut? I rode him when Chralie was trying for juniors on him, he's super
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Sounds like youre having a great time- have you had a lesson with Brian yet?
 
Bossanova - yes he is, he's lush! See 10th post from the top for my jump lesson with Brian
BugseyZ - no, I just booked lessons as I needed them

Right - rode Romany this afternoon, not Cormac. She was v good, really laid back (almost too much) and lots of PC style kicking! Just did flat work, bit of leg yield, not concentrating too much on my position as I just needed her to go forwards

Words of advice for anyone planning to come

* bring wine, painkillers, deep heat
* don't bother with fancy clothes
* but you WILL need a clean top for every lesson!
* you will find yourself living in pjs and jodphurs
*don't go mad and book 4 lessons on the same day - you will kill yourself and not be able to ride for the rest of the time!
*have a mixture of lessons so you are working different muscles
 
Lesson this am was a jump lesson with Brian on a horse called Woody. I was SO nervous at first, Woody is lovely but felt v uncomfy. I got him more forward and something seemed to click. I did grid work again and found Brian a sympathetic and inspiring teacher.
I quote this on my Facebook yesterday -Somewhere between the rider you’ve become, the hours of practice you’ve put in and the instructors that have pushed you is the little girl who fell in love with the sport and never looked back. Ride for her.

and today I found that little girl. I found it in flying round the large outdoor, in forward seat with a massive grin on my face, no worrying about tripping, falling off, my position. Just great rhythm and a brilliant time
Brian was v complimentary about my position, basically that is it really good and I don't need to change anything. He also said I have a very good eye for a stride which is half the battle
So I learnt - a jump and a pole are the same principle, you need rhythm and impulsion. Once you have that, it doesn't matter if it is a pole or a wall, it's all the same. Also practiced over a jump, and coming off the long side at the exact right time for the perfect stride
I am literally grinning from ear to ear :-)
 
off for a lunge lesson now with Rupert and I'm riding Jacob again
I will post later about it, as when I finish my lesson I am setting off home
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I have had the BEST time here and don't want to leave. In fact I'm close to tears - mainly of happiness as I can't believe how much I have achieved in such a short time
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I spoke to Mum today and she asked if I had said I was coming back in Spring , I said I hadn't as I need to save up, but then Mum pointed out it's my birthday in March...
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