Well, today ended up being pretty bittersweet. I'll post the good news first as I'm quite proud. I worked on cantering with Mister today; we (all six of us) cantered at the same time rather than one at a time. One of the times I cantered him, I think I actually did it right. I allowed my lower half to move with him and I stopped bouncing. I think my upper half was leaning too far back but I was glad to feel how cantering's really supposed to be, rather than just bouncing.
I had some more problems with jumping this week. I don't quite understand it; before these past two weeks I've had all the confidence in the world with jumping and nothing has gone wrong. Maybe since I've been nervous the past two times, he felt it and is responding to me differently. Apparently, I took him too slow over the jumps. This week I was intentionally keeping him slow because last week he overjumped when he was going fast. In any case, I guess I was keeping him TOO slow because I didn't give him enough momentum to jump it well. Hence, the huge (at least they felt huge) yet slow jumps. This happened several times but luckily my trainer was very understanding when I changed the exercises up for myself. Most of the kids were cantering over the sets of jumps, but I'm not comfortable with doing that yet as I'm still getting the hang of cantering. They were also especially challenging to me because first we had a small crossrail, then two crossrails in a row (called a bounce I think?). So, we just trotted over the jumps and didn't add the second line that everyone else was doing. After I told her I was nervous, she took down one of the jumps for me so it wasn't a bounce anymore. Things went better after that. She helped me get him moving which proved to me that if he has enough momentum he does it right. At least I know what I'm doing wrong now, though.
After we jumped a few times, we headed out into the field. We just walked around to help cool them down, which was nice and relaxing. It's nice being out of the ring every once in a while. I then sponged him and put him in his stall, which took some effort. Usually he goes in without a problem yet today he gave me a fight.
The lesson wasn't as good as it could have been, and even though I was a bit shook up I did the canter right and learned what I was doing wrong with jumping. We also got the lease agreement to look over. Part of the reason I was nervous is because it's been a while since I've ridden, since last week's lesson was cancelled due to weather. I think that once I have some more consistency I'll do better.
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7 comments:
Good progress with learning how to canter! It's all about the rhythm and feel. It does get easier after awhile, and lots of practice.
Kate's right- it'll get easier. Just take it slow and do what you're comfortable with. Once you start riding more regularly a lot of that nervousness will decrease too!
It sounds like you're making a lot of progress - cantering and working on jumps!
When I first started back riding I had some confidence issues with cantering after all those years not riding. Take it slow and remember to breathe! I tend to hold my breath when nervous in the saddle and it just makes me stiff and ineffective.
Looking forward to reading more!
First off, let me tell you what a bounce is. This blog is about learning too, right?
A bounce combination (called a combination because the 2nd jump cant be jumped without the first jump. So if the horse refuses the 2nd jump, you have to do both of them again.) is where two jumps are close together and there is less than one stride in between the jump.
Anyway, learning takes time. It will start to fall together. It sounds like you have a good instructor.
Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I think I've just been in a rut lately. And piaffe, that's what we did. Glad I got the term right, I feel smart. :D
You know, its really hard to get the 'feel' of riding when you only ride once a week. I bet you will improve by leaps and bounds (ha ha) once you start leasing and riding more often.
YAY! Good for you, Morgan. You're getting there, and you'll continue to improve! I also agree with the others that it will come more quickly when you ride more often, too. Don't get discouraged. We all have to start somewhere, and we all progress at our own rate. Remember to have fun, too!
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