Mammoth Lesson

Lesson tonight SHOULD have been a 21st Century lesson with instructor coming early to watch, on the lap top, my videos of my dressage tests, go through my test sheets, watch strider and go through strider print outs.

In typical 21st Century fashion though, laptop wouldn't work, pffffffffft.

Instructor was really interested in Strider course and thought the print outs were really interesting. She watched a couple of videos on my phone too.

Off into the school then. Started with stirrups.

Trot

Need to get him really swinging in his trot. His trot is "nice" at the moment but apparently there is so much more that I just need to tap into. Need to keep his neck longer and softer. Think shoulder fore on the long sides. Needs to be a lot more powerful. Not faster but powerful. Need to ride more inside leg to outside rein. Use calves to "kick" rather than allowing heel to creep up. Shoulders back but meaning slight shift backwards on the vertical to keep straight. Push hands forward and ride him into the space I've created. Don't move hands vertically (either up or down) nor do I need to physically push my arms forward, just think about moving hands slightly forward to encourage him to work forward into the contact. What feels "messy" at the moment is a really swinging, working trot.

Walk

Don't let him flop back into walk. Ride the transition forwards. Result is a marching walk without him hollowing in the transition. We've done this before but I've let it slip. Naughty me.

Canter

Need to trust him to balance himself. He WILL slip/slide/motorbike/break the canter if I don't let him go forwards. Need to forget his "up/down" canter and maintain the forwards canter. Think seat bones connected to hind legs. Ride inside leg to outside rein. Half halt with outside rein as use inside leg. Result is that he stays with head/neck soft and round, he balances himself, I don't block him and he can't take a hold because I'm not restricting him. Downwards transition is also nice. Contrary to what was happening on Strider, I don't need to come forwards on T, N kept saying "back, back" - it felt like I was tipping right back behind the vertical but apparently I was no where near being behind the vertical.

Then onto no stirrups. Need to avoid letting the trot get too comfy for me. Comfy for me means he's not going foward enough. He's a big horse, altering his trot to fit my balance is naughty. My balance is actually fine even when he's working properly. Need to remember to keep lower leg relaxed. My shoulder round with no stirrups so need to remember Becky's description of "close armpits at the rear" to keep them square. Must not let his rhythm alter when coming off the track and changing the rein/circle. No sucking back. Legs legs legs legs to build on that swing. Not after speed, need to think about dancing with him, really get his arse swinging under me.

Didn't canter with no stirrups, still feel a bit unsure about that one. I don't want to do it and balls it all up.

Overall, have had a fab lesson with 50 mins in the school, poor pony. Finished with a couple of mins chat about next stressage. N really pleased me when she said I am riding a LOT better and that I really need to start thinking further ahead and of pushing ourselves because T is 11 this year and is capable of so much. Bless him. Discussed next stressage and which tests. I don't know why but I had ti in my head N would be a bit funny about me having done N37 and N38 because of them being so hard but instead, she was "funnier" about me planning on doing a prelim and N22 next outing. Asked me if I thought there was really much point in doing that? She said there is nothing in N37 that we can't do nor that we can't do to a perfectly acceptable standard, that the 60m tests and "busier" tests are a lot better for both me and T as they don't give us so much time to "think" so that's now REALLY confused me as to which to enter!

If I enter N22 and N35, or N22 and N37 I'm going to have hours wait in between them. Tempted to just go and do N37 - would save me having to learn another test? lol

After my lesson, mum also had a lesson on T. Only about 20 mins as I'd gone over. Poor pony was tired and he made mum work a bit more tonight. Wasn't quite so forgiving if she didn't do things right which meant him thinking up of his own entertainment ie looking for monsters but she did really well nonetheless and pony has gone out tonight very tired.

Think I may take him up the sheep fields tomorrow as a break from the school.

N rarely "pushes" someone/something on me, in fact I don't think I can ever think of her doing so, other than way of riding etc but tonight she was very very VERY much pushing me to go to Kay Humphries for a saddle. So unsure what to do. My only experience of her wasn't very good - a friend's saddle and there seems to be a real divide of people's opinions of her - either love or loathe. I don't think I can afford one of hers anyway but I really respect N's opinion. But then the sheer number of people who have had bad experiences with her means I'm more inclined to go with the "no".

Bah .... saddles are so complicated!

Next stressage ... one novice class or two ... hmmmm.....

Yard t-shirts are beginning to look amazing. Am very lucky to have a graphic designer for an OH. Once the designs are finalised, will no doubt be sharing it via facebook. Am excited! Also want T's cartoon on one too.