Chavhorse
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I have been riding (Dressage for over 30 years ). Long story (and a whole other thread!) I have a 5 year old Dutch Warmblood x Appy who has been broken and brought by on a Western Trainer.
I have now had a lot of lessons on both a Western Lesson horse and my own youngster and have mastered the basics in steering (sidepass, backup, disengage the hip) etc in Walk. and also have mastered the cue's for Jog, Trot and Lope, halt and back up
So here is my question (finally!) I am now at the stage where I can start to ride him on my own and I have no idea at all of how to put together a 45 minute session using all the movements that I know (let me loose Dressage and I can fill hours)
Can anyone suggest a book or point me in the direction of a website so that I can work out a lesson plan for myself and my boy. I very much like to go into the arena with a totally clear idea of what I am doing, what is coming next and where I want the session to go.
At the moment I am;
Walking him on a loose rein both left and right
Steering figures of eights, straight lines to markers (ensuring I sit still and leave him alone ....vvv hard for an ex Dressage Diva!)
Walking triangles
tight circles on both reins with a disengage of the hip
Tight circle with a half pass back onto the main track
halt and stop
Halt and rein back
Halt and tight turn right (using outside leg so he keeps his shoulders stright and steps under himself.
Ditto above on left rein.
Then into jog concentrating on myself relaxing and keeping loose, keeping his head down and his head bent slightly to the inside.
Figure of eights in jog with side pass back to the outside track
Ditto above in a more "working" trot but incorporating some small circles with half pass back to main track
Lope transitions in jog, working trot and if both going well then from walk.
Obviously all of the above on both reins with little more emphasis on the right as it is his bad side.
Cool Down with walk on long rein with large turns and halts and rein backs or halts and turns left and right.
Finish with a halt and a 2 minute stand still with bending head to my boot left and right rein.
How far off am I?
I am loving it but it is like learning a new language sometimes
Apologies for the Novel!
I have been riding (Dressage for over 30 years ). Long story (and a whole other thread!) I have a 5 year old Dutch Warmblood x Appy who has been broken and brought by on a Western Trainer.
I have now had a lot of lessons on both a Western Lesson horse and my own youngster and have mastered the basics in steering (sidepass, backup, disengage the hip) etc in Walk. and also have mastered the cue's for Jog, Trot and Lope, halt and back up
So here is my question (finally!) I am now at the stage where I can start to ride him on my own and I have no idea at all of how to put together a 45 minute session using all the movements that I know (let me loose Dressage and I can fill hours)
Can anyone suggest a book or point me in the direction of a website so that I can work out a lesson plan for myself and my boy. I very much like to go into the arena with a totally clear idea of what I am doing, what is coming next and where I want the session to go.
At the moment I am;
Walking him on a loose rein both left and right
Steering figures of eights, straight lines to markers (ensuring I sit still and leave him alone ....vvv hard for an ex Dressage Diva!)
Walking triangles
tight circles on both reins with a disengage of the hip
Tight circle with a half pass back onto the main track
halt and stop
Halt and rein back
Halt and tight turn right (using outside leg so he keeps his shoulders stright and steps under himself.
Ditto above on left rein.
Then into jog concentrating on myself relaxing and keeping loose, keeping his head down and his head bent slightly to the inside.
Figure of eights in jog with side pass back to the outside track
Ditto above in a more "working" trot but incorporating some small circles with half pass back to main track
Lope transitions in jog, working trot and if both going well then from walk.
Obviously all of the above on both reins with little more emphasis on the right as it is his bad side.
Cool Down with walk on long rein with large turns and halts and rein backs or halts and turns left and right.
Finish with a halt and a 2 minute stand still with bending head to my boot left and right rein.
How far off am I?
I am loving it but it is like learning a new language sometimes
Apologies for the Novel!