More amazing, John was teaching three extremely different horse and rider combinations. Not as a group lesson, but three private lessons at the same time. Each rider was working on something different, and John would keep his eyes on everyone. Pretty impressive teaching!
My lesson was on Saffy (insert eye roll here). Dear Lord that mare does my head in. She's such a beautiful, talented girl. But also so very hormonal and strong-minded.
Saffy
My written notes from the clinic:
- Question yourself as a rider- Is the horse responding? Is the horse supple? Forward? Am I riding effectively?
- Play with the aids and tools you have to try and improve the horse.
- Ride both legs to both reins.
- Outside aids to inside suppleness
- Horse's shoulders in front of their hips (i.e. straight)
- Thumbs on top- no twist in wrists (locked wrists)
- Elastic elbows, like a rubber band
- Horse must be forward before rider can balance.
I about died of exhaustion from the lesson. I was actually a little dizzy afterwards, which is unfortunate since I jumped off and immediately taught a beginner lead-line lesson. It's all go!
Saffy was having a difficult day. I really struggled to get her forward, so my position extra sucked. Pony-club kicking a horse is not helpful to a solid position- which is exactly what I had written in my notes. Without Saffy's back supporting me, I was being bounced around in between kicks to her ribs.
In a 45 min lesson, it took probably 35minutes to get her forward.
When I did get some kind of reaction to my leg, she just bombed off, threw her shoulders around and spooked. Good God why, mare.
Once she was forward, John had me take a rather firm contact on her to control her shoulders. Like, it was actually hard work to physically just hold the reins. To keep a consistent contact, John told me to lock my wrists. This is something I've been told about a hundred times since I've been here. I KNOW I hold the reins incorrectly if I'm not paying attention. However this is the first time someone has actually taken the time to explain WHY it is incorrect, and what a twisting wrist will do to the connection to the bit.
Next time you are holding a pair of reins, give this a go. Hold the reins with thumbs on top and straight wrists. Cool. correct.
Now rotate your thumbs inwards (I usually only do this with my left hand unconsciously). You will notice that the reins go slack by about 2 inches.
So by letting my wrists curl around, my contact is not just a little inconsistent, it's off by about 2 inches. So I'm losing the entire left hand side of the horse.
It also forces by forearms to do the work, not my core. This also effects the consistency.
So with a seriously firm and consistent contact on her mouth, and some forward activity going on, Saffy finally came together for the last 10mins, and I was able to ride like an actual horse rider, instead of a sack of potatoes. Just in time for the lesson to be over.
I think Saffy was just as tired as I was. Serves her right. Mares, I tell ya.
That being said, the few times I've seen Saffy being ridden by an advanced instructor (and looking/working a million bucks), they have been wearing spurs and haven't been soft with them. So that makes me feel marginally better.
In other news, went on an after-work hack the other day which is always fun. I rode Ted the TB, who showed off his racing skills. That horse is fast!!
Also rode in Jump Club again. Always good fun jumping Walter the great white beast!
That's all for now- stay tuned.
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