I think we should rename this blog - Pro and Skate, with guests periodically : )
I had a total crap ride last night. It makes me feel very disappointed in myself. I get the feeling something needs to change in order for us to ever improve.
Skate was just so fussy and perturbed for some of the ride I wanted to give up. I know its my fault, but I just cannot seem to fix it. I know there are so many things wrong with how I'm riding, but with 2 lessons max per month, I'm just not improving.
Here are the things that are going through my head:
- I know I need to ride more - I'm currently on a 3 day/wk schedule...I guess I need to bump it up to 4 or 5. Its difficult, as I'm sure everyone knows!
- Should I send Skate to a trainer to make this process quicker? Part of me really wants to do this, but the other part of me says, why would I? I bought this horse b/c he's fairly simple and I should be able to progress w/ him on my own. I just wasn't ready for it to take so long.
- Should I move to a barn with a full-time trainer? I really don't want to leave my barn. Its so close to my house, so reasonably priced, and I love the owner and care.
- Should I go back to jumping, or some other discipline? Maybe we're just not cut out for dressage. It's friggin hard and can be so annoyingly tedious. I think Skate would really prefer going around on a loose rein jumping crap : )
- Why did I buy this little horse when I was so focused on dressage? He's a cute little all-around type of horse, but dressage horse? Maybe not so much...
And here's a pic of us last night. This is the Baines Reflex - which is super close contact..and my stirrups are really short, huh? And yes, I look like a clown in this outfit, I know. Maybe my ride would go better if I didn't dress like a lunatic! Snicker...
I had a total crap ride last night. It makes me feel very disappointed in myself. I get the feeling something needs to change in order for us to ever improve.
Skate was just so fussy and perturbed for some of the ride I wanted to give up. I know its my fault, but I just cannot seem to fix it. I know there are so many things wrong with how I'm riding, but with 2 lessons max per month, I'm just not improving.
Here are the things that are going through my head:
- I know I need to ride more - I'm currently on a 3 day/wk schedule...I guess I need to bump it up to 4 or 5. Its difficult, as I'm sure everyone knows!
- Should I send Skate to a trainer to make this process quicker? Part of me really wants to do this, but the other part of me says, why would I? I bought this horse b/c he's fairly simple and I should be able to progress w/ him on my own. I just wasn't ready for it to take so long.
- Should I move to a barn with a full-time trainer? I really don't want to leave my barn. Its so close to my house, so reasonably priced, and I love the owner and care.
- Should I go back to jumping, or some other discipline? Maybe we're just not cut out for dressage. It's friggin hard and can be so annoyingly tedious. I think Skate would really prefer going around on a loose rein jumping crap : )
- Why did I buy this little horse when I was so focused on dressage? He's a cute little all-around type of horse, but dressage horse? Maybe not so much...
And here's a pic of us last night. This is the Baines Reflex - which is super close contact..and my stirrups are really short, huh? And yes, I look like a clown in this outfit, I know. Maybe my ride would go better if I didn't dress like a lunatic! Snicker...
8 comments:
Sorry your ride wasn't good. Don't get discouraged! Maybe just mix things up some? So if you want to ride 4 nights a week then 3 nights a week you work on dressage, and the 4th night you guys work on caveletti or jump around some. Just do something different and enjoy your pony one night a week. It doesn't always have to be work. Where are you based out of? Maybe you can find another trainer willing to come in and work with you if money isn't the issue.
Maybe this will cheer you up - CAN I TRADE LEGS WITH YOU!?!?!? I would die for legs that long! Although maybe I'd look ridiculous on a 14.3 Arab... ;) And Skate still looks like a wicked cutie, I love his face.
I feel you on the amount of riding - if I didn't have Andrea to help me out, I'd never get enough saddle time. As for the trainer, possibly? Make sure you get an honest trainer - Gayle outright told me that sending Pro to her place for a month would only make him respect her, and not me. She said my money (and again, this is only for Pro and me) would be better spent on lessons so that the two of us could learn together. Maybe more lessons would help?
Noooo don't change disciplines - we'd be sad! ;) But then again, I think that's a good question for a trainer who can watch him go and see if he's suited for dressage. And it can only help your jumping, remember that!
I wish you were closer to Gayle! :)
Oh and you don't suck!! The whole purpose of this blog is to motivate each other to ride (it's really helped me do that...everytime I think about skipping a ride I remind myself that my fellow blog members are holding me accountable!) and it ALSO serves to be a supportive group of riders who can share both their "yay!" and "I suck" rides.
I think I saw somewhere that around 80% of USDF's membership rides under (either under or at/under) Second Level. That should tell you something about what a hard sport it is!!
Ellen...I'm totally with you on this post. I've had some crappy rides this week with both horses, and I feel like our flatwork is stuck in a rut...but in different ways and places with the 2 boys. It's hard this time of year too...when you do get trapped in the arena so much due to weather, darkness, etc.
I second what the other folks have said...try to get out of the ring when you can. get outside, do something different, etc. Maybe even try some different lessons...maybe try some jumping lessons, since dressage and jumping arne't mutually exclusive :) Hey...if it went well, you could always come over to the dark side this spring...
If you are stuck inside, I've found that picking something to focus on (W/T or T/C transitions, shoulder in, halts, something like that) then warming up, working for 20 min or so on your focus, then cool out and be done can be helpful...keeps me focused and from really getting too frustrated...and keeps the work short (which, when trapped inside day after day is nice sometimes...an hour of flatwork in the indoor day after day sucks!) and keeps me feeling that a short focused ride is often more productive than the more wandering longer ride :)
Spring will be here soon...
Blame your mood on all this yukky weather and give it another few months. I think I personally would be bored to death just doing one style of riding. Maybe the reason you found Skate was so that you could do do dressage, jumping, trail, etc. What about some eventing? That would combine everything!
I hope you find what fits.
ellen...everyone is telling you to come over to the dark side...
It would be a sin for you not to do dressage with those legs. Mine are about half as long. Im so jealous.
Skate would be a cute jumper, but dressage basics are good for any horse.
I'm sorry to hear you are so frustrated. Don't be too hard on yourself, though! I would also suggest mixing up what you are doing to SEE how that would work for you and Skate. Like Hannah said, dressage and jumping are not mutually exclusive. Do some of both, and see how it goes. Maybe even throw in some hunter paces or something when the weather improves. How far are you from Yadkin Valley Hounds? Their timed ride schedule starts back up in March, and I would love a partner!
I am also among the ones who would kill for your legs! Long, lovely, and SKINNY! Hang in there, things will get better!
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