went for a ride last night. I didn't do too much, since I had ridden him the day before and he actually does better with an every other day schedule. So, we just did about 20 min. of real work. I did a new exercise (thanks Kate) of serpentines down the whole arena with the almost walk immediately back to trot each time we crossed the centerline. I need to work on that. Hobbes managed to turn it into a new way to get MORE on his forehand, if that's possible. Downward transitions are SO hard for me...I can't get the timing of the aids right to get a downward without wiping out into a sluggish slower gait. More leg, less hand, I know....but I can get Hobbes to stop by just using my seat and we STILL get a sluggish transition.
Oh well. Need lessons. Speaking of lessons, I'm now scheduled for a lesson with Lynn Leath Sunday morning on the RPSI gelding. I am thinking for the price of one lesson, I will likely be ready to go Grand Prix immediately afterwards...or at least Prix St. George : )
This will be me Sunday afternoon (actually it could be me,
Oh well. Need lessons. Speaking of lessons, I'm now scheduled for a lesson with Lynn Leath Sunday morning on the RPSI gelding. I am thinking for the price of one lesson, I will likely be ready to go Grand Prix immediately afterwards...or at least Prix St. George : )
This will be me Sunday afternoon (actually it could be me,
right as the horse is about to do a giant buck and launch me!) :
10 comments:
If you're not going at least Fourth after your lesson, I'm removing your authorship rights from the blog and we'll all shun you!!! ;)
Okay, just off the top of my head (feel free to disregard/modify any of these, of course!!!), here are a few suggestions...
1) I took a few lessons from Jan Jacobsen (local 'R' judge) awhile back, and Pro had gotten quite dead to my leg. Jan had me stand next to her, and put my leg on to move him over. Nothing. So she punched him in the side (right behind where my leg was). His eyes nearly bugged out of his head and he MOVED his haunches. She had my apply my leg again. He hesitated and didn't move. She punched him again and he MOVED. Then I put my leg on a third time and he MOVED. It was "YES MA'AM" for the rest of the ride. Same for the other girl in the lesson who was riding a semi-sluggish TB.
2) Do you ride with your leg "on" all the time, and then squeeze to go forward, or is it "off"? I used to ride with it on but now Gayle has me ride with my lower legs off, unless I'm using them, at which point it's a "whomp" and then back to off. Getting rid of the squeezing and lower leg contact has (for Pro, maybe not for everyone) helped Pro differentiate between "go now" and "good boy".
3) When you do the almost-walk, are you REALLY asking for the GO when you go back to trot? Big posting, whomp-whomp legs with whip? Maybe instead of the almost-walk it should be more of a "squeezed-up/collected stride" of trot so that he's not lazily going into "walk mentality"...I'm not sure.
4) Have you tried lighting firecrackers and shoving them up his butt?? ;) Hahahahaha...
Oooo, yay for the lesson with Lynn on the RPSI! She really is good. I hope it goes well!
Have fun at Lynn's -- just remember to pick Larry's feet before he leaves the arena (ask Patricia...she'll explain!) -- you will work your butt off with her!
Tell her Hannah says hi :)
Why? According to her website I pay 15 dollars for a ring fee! I can take 15 dollars worth of rubber footing, by golly!
Hee hee...
I can't wait to hear about your lesson. I am with Kate though, if you move up to 4th level I'm not reading your posts anymore. HA
Ha...Alex, she said she won't read my posts if I DO move up to 4th! So I'm doomed either way...you'll shun me if I make it there and she'll shun me if I don't.
Sorry! Read that wrong, I will be an EVIL GREEN ENVY MONSTER if you move up to 4th after 1 lesson though!
ha ha ha...don't you worry. Seeing as I'm struggling with training level right now, it would be a freaking miracle to manage first level!
Oh please- forget 4th level. With Lynn you'll be going Grand Prix and WINNING after your first lesson.
Then I will have a reason to hate you EVEN MORE!!!
So when do we all get to come ride this new non-pony pony? :D
when I first saw your post, I saw the picture first and I was thinking "omg, thats the horse she is trying out!! I want him".
Good luck on your lesson. How exciting!
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