Had a lesson last night...it sucked. I just couldn't get it together to do anything right. Skate wasn't particularly bad, but I just got the impression that he wasn't getting it (whatever it was I was attempting). So, my instructor hopped on and continued the conversation. She wholly agreed he wasn't getting it. He still seems to have no clue about connection...so I guess its time to change the game plan.
My homework is to get him to understand that his rear end is mine and needs to move when I tell it to. I'm supposed to do a nice long warmup each ride, then the working part needs to focus on quarter turns on the forehand, ie. squares, spiral ins to TOF, etc. Plus, some ground work to reinforce the move over cue.
The thing I'm feeling SUPER frustrated about is that he normally does TOF for me, just fine. Last night - he was friggin clueless. I felt like an idiot, b/c I kept wanting to argue and say - 'but he knows how to do that!!'. Instead I kept my trap shut. Obviously, my game plan hasn't been working b/c he still doesn't want to connect at all...I can get a few steps of something, but he immediately hollows and gets rushy. So, maybe she's right - I think he gets what my leg means, but he doesn't really fully respond. Ugh. So annoying. Still, here's where I can't make the connection: Once he understands he needs to use his rear end and step under w/ the inside hind and connect to my outside rein - how is he magically going to start working on the bit? I'm not seeing how this is going to work...
I'm going to do some internet research and see if I can get a better understanding of this. My engineering mind doesn't do well with the froo froo concepts of dressage. I need physical evidence and actual examples to get it. Sometimes I listen to people speak or write about dressage and feel totally annoyed with the abstractness of the description. I'm one of those people that does NOT ride better after reading Sally Swift. Thinking about myself as a dripping ice cream cone or an oak tree just makes me feel ridiculous.
Oh, and I started watching a video called "The Art of Traditional Dressage" narrated by De Kunffy. I fell asleep about 10 min in. The only entertaining part was when he was tottering around on his heels w/ his toes up trying to show how your heel should be down. Dang, that was funny.
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5 comments:
I'm sorry you are discourgaged. Sometimes you can overthink it. Getting his hind end engaged can be harder than it sounds.
I prefer to start with moving the shoulders around because they will have to sit down and move off their hindend to get it. They will need to be soft in your hand to move smoothly. So softness in the bridle and using their hindend tend to come hand in hand.
I will get my new pony tomorrow at the latest. You should come down this weekend!!
Sorry your lesson didn't go great. Apparently this week is the week for rude awakenings about all our progress from the winter. But spring will be here soon and the ponies will all learn to use their butts/backs together! Or something like that.
No no - not a crappy lesson!! Look at how much you learned. You're finding holes and weak spots, and that's really important in helping Skate build a solid foundational base. I can certainly testify to what happens when you try to move up without a very solid foundation. ;)
It's too bad you can't get a lesson with Gayle...she's fantastic at explaining the biomechanics for both horse and rider and I think it would make perfect sense to your engineering mind! :) She "waters it down" for me with analogies, but she can easily switch over into technical mode if that's easier for her student.
She's doing several clinics in March - maybe I could put you in touch with her, and you could ask if any will be near you?
Those communication breakdowns can be so frustrating. But at least it sounds like you have some good homework. I also have trouble conceptualizing a lot of those nebulous dressage ideas... must be my chemist's mind?
A while ago I was having alot of trouble getting the horse to take the left lead. Im a natural right sitter and he is a very sensitive horse. So I kept trying to get my weight to the left, leaning in the stirrup, and everything else, still couldnt get it for weeks. One day I was so mad that I couldnt get it, I said "forget this, Im doing how I know how to". He took the lead the first time. I was WAY over thinking it.
Dont be discouraged, there will be bad rides, they might be a bunch in a row, dont worry about it. Try to have fun and it will probably fix itself. I tend to be really serious about riding, and it becomes not fun to ride, so I have to take a step back and refocus.
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