I had a lesson last night and Skate did really well. He started out tense due to the sirens blaring from the volunteer fire department (sounded like an air raid!) so we worked on getting him to focus with shallow serpentines down the long side of the arena. This was not his best move; he gets stiff and tries to protect himself from the bit. We decided getting him to turn is like trying to move a barge - his rear engine slows to a crawl and his head just sorta cranes around...so funny! To fix this, we moved on to figure eights. I spent that time at the walk keeping his butt marching forward and turning off my seat, not my hands. This required some reinforcement with the whip, which I hadn't used up until this point, but he took it well.
We then moved on to suppling..Yay! My instructor was very happy with the progress we've made in just a week. Skate's little head is actually pretty steady now and the nervous gnawing of the bit has subsided. We got our rythym going at the trot and then asked him to spiral in using only outside rein and inside leg to bend. Once he was seeking (or at least accepting) outside contact, I began pushing him forward asking him to stretch down with inside rein massages. The first few times I saw results, I'm pretty positive it was a coincidence. After about 4000 circles, his little brain finally got it and he really got a good dramatic stretch down and softening - so we quit!
We spent a lot of time discussing my issues with him - how I need to get comfortable with his forwardness and make it MY idea. How I need to learn not to compare one ride to another...I need to compare Skate's actions at the beginning of an exercise to the results from the end. And..how I need to get used to the idea of having to 'train' him. With Hobbes I felt like I was just trying to release his knowledge that was already there (although my instructor pointed out I am training with every stride - no matter if it is Skate or Hobbes); with Skate I'm having to give him the knowledge and that really intimidates me. I've never felt like I'm patient enough or have enough of a 'feel' to really train a horse correctly. I tend to get too focused on the end result I want and get panicky that we're nowhere near that. I must stop getting upset that we can't have a collected canter and focus on getting him on the outside rein for today : ) The collected canter can't even begin until that one is there!
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"We spent a lot of time discussing my issues with him - how I need to get comfortable with his forwardness and make it MY idea. How I need to learn not to compare one ride to another...I need to compare Skate's actions at the beginning of an exercise to the results from the end. "
Ahh...this sounds familiar. After Quincey (the ultimate not-forward horse) it took a long time for me to get comfortable with Sprite's forwardness...and then Huey's "sportscar" forward "gears". I had to convince myself that forward didn't equal being run away with...and forward was OK :)
As far as the not comparing one ride to another...that's another problem I have. I always go back to what Jimmy Wofford told me the first time I rode with him -- "You and your horse need to exist in the same place in the space time continumum" -- and I got a lecture from him about riding the horse you have right now, at this moment, not riding the horse you rode yesterday or riding the horse you wish you were riding at that moment - and all you can do is ride the horse you have right now, correct what is there in this moment, and move on to the next moment and ride that one :)
wow! it sounds like he has improved alot since your last post. Its great that he isnt chompping on the bit as much. Which bit did you decide on?
Training a horse can be frustrating. Take it one day at a time and make small and achievable goals. As you get to know him, youll know his limits and where you can push him and when to stop. Oh, and my pet peeve, always end on a good note.
YAY! You'll get it, too. It sounds like Skate is making good progress quickly!
Hannah - that makes me feel better that someone else has been through this! And...got past it! Its ridiculous when his canter is nice and forward and my brain keeps telling me he's bolting down the long side. No, idjit, he's cantering like a normal horse.
Piaffe - I'm using the plain snaffle right now, but I ordered a mullen mouth to try. My instructor thinks he will like a flash, too, since it will keep the bit nice and quiet.
I like that, Hannah - "ride the horse you're riding now". Good advice!
Gabby, Gayle has talked before about forwardness and how it's NOT a natural feeling for most riders. So don't worry!! You're definitely not alone. I think you're making great progress.
The one thing you're doing WRONG is that you're not posting enough pictures of your darling new boy! We demand more pictures on this blog. :) I love reading about your new progress, especially since it seems like you're making such great progress in your lessons, but now we need pictures!
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