I had a decent lesson on Saturday after my crap ride on Thursday. My instructor agreed the saddle on trial is too big for me - so its going back today.
Skate was decent, considering the wind gusts and nutty horses acting foolish in every pasture around us. I just knew he would spook at the tarp over the shavings lifting 10 feet in the air and flapping. Of course, he didn't care about that, but spooked at the cat. He never spooks at cats. Make up your mind on what's scary and what's not!
This lesson turned into a major position adjustment for me. I know these things, but I can't consistently do them: Head up, Sit up. I have got to fix my friggin leaning forward thing. While it's better than when I started, it's still an issue. I find that posting brings out the leaning...I do it during other gaits, but not to that extreme. My instructor is constantly saying "ride his back end". I like this thought, but it seems I can hold it for maybe two strides them I'm back over his front end.
Next lesson - let go of the inside rein. Looks like Kate and I will be fighting the same urge this year - to pull and tug on that rein : ) My instructor had me pick up outside rein only. I was only allowed to use the inside rein as a positioning aid - then let go. Man, this is hard, especially in Skate's weak direction, where he likes to bow in with his shoulder and point his little nose way to the outside. I spent a lot of time trying to keep him at the walk. His reaction when something is hard is to speed up and transition up. Trotting in a smaller circle is hard? Lets canter and see if its easier? Yikes!
Then we moved on to sitting trot. I much prefer a sitting trot to a posting trot as I feel like I have every stride to control the situation as opposed to every other with posting. Plus, I can keep my position much better without the evil urge to lean. Anyway, we did spirals in, while forcing Skate to use his inside hind and connect to the outside rein. We were great in one direction but when we turned around to go the other direction everything fell apart. This is when I learned my most valuable lesson of the day: Sometimes you have to just MAKE the horse do it. Skate did not want to use that inside hind as it's weak - so he fought me every single step. It wasn't until I just sat up and half halted like a mo fo about every stride until he finally gave up his fight and used that lazy leg. We ended on that. Phew - my shoulders are actually sore!
So, we had a discussion about how I have a tendency to stop asking Skate to do something when he fights back as I just assume I'm asking wrong. Still, Skate just has to do it sometimes, regardless of my less than perfect position, b/c he's is an amateur's horse and chances are, it won't always be perfect with me! My instructor was saying that I'm asking him clearly enough for what I want, I'm just not following through with my demands. Skate will never improve if he doesn't do these hard things b/c he'll never strengthen those weak parts. I need to demand the tempo I want, demand the size circle I want, etc. Most of the time, I just have to ask nicely, but sometimes, when Skate thinks something is hard, I have to really demand. I noticed today, that once he quit fighting and realized I would get off his case when he did it, he relaxed immensely. See, Skate - if you just do it the first time, I won't keep annoying you!
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7 comments:
I am SO glad you had a good lesson! It sounds like you covered a lot of important things...like trusting your convictions and keeping at it until Skate follows through. You can do it!
I have the leaning problem, too! Somehow my default position (when I'm thinking about the bajillion other things I'm trying to do with my body/horse, or if I get distracted) is to lean forward and bury my hands in my crotch. Not really a useful position for anything, really (well, maybe bronc-riding? Though I think they lean back, too). I've been trying to break myself of this habit for months (probably years)...it's tough!
Glad to hear your lesson went well.
Glad to hear the lesson went well. Let us know what saddle you try next.
Just remember ATM when you are trying to get Skate to do something.
Ask
Tell
Demand
That lesson of "Just Do it" is so valuable...something I need to keep in mind sometimes!
Glad to hear your lesson went well!
I have a hard time with the "Just Do It" part of riding as well. I was a little too proud of myself for being a "nice" rider when I was younger and now I have a hard time figuring out when is a just do it moment and when's an "ok, what am I doing wrong when I'm asking?" moment. That's where instructors are helpful. Glad you got in a good ride, sounds like you've got plenty of good advice to work on till the next one.
I like the "just do it!" mentality. And I think we should form a support group for the inside rein dependence. I feel like I need clinical help to get over that habit! ;) Hannah????
Sometimes visualizing "sit up straight" doesn't really help - I know it never helped me. Gayle's shown me how to visualize my shoulder blades sliding down my back, as if they were melting.
I had to laugh at him spooking at the cat - too funny!!!!!
I'm glad you ended your lesson on a good note!
I also have trouble visualizing "sitting up straight" ... So whenever I leaned forward at the posting trot, my old coach would tell me to bring my stomach "up and out" with each rise. Somehow that made more sense to me than the tired old "roll your shoulders back" instruction. It's neat to hear what works for each rider.
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