Of course everything worth doing takes time and practice, but I want to be good now!!! I have the knowledge in my head, I know exactly what I need to be doing, but I just can't make my body do it for more than a moment here and there.
I look so dead. Saffy looks... mare-ish.
Even though I didn't have a great ride on Saffy, I came out of the clinic more determined to ride better.
I rode with Tina this week very briefly for a 1/2 hr group lesson on Tarik, a 15.2hh Andalusian X. I haven't had the chance to ride Tarik yet as he is SO popular with the clients. I think he is the highest earning horse here, which is saying something. He's not technically one of the 'advanced schoolmasters' but he has been trained to Advanced Dressage, and showjumps too.
I very much liked Tarik and can see why he's a favourite! His paces are extremely comfortable, as you'd expect from an Andy, and he is just so straightforward and easy to ride.
In the brief lesson, we did very straightforward exercises. Tina instructed us to think about what John said in the clinic, and put it into practice. Of course this meant I was focusing SO hard on keeping my wrists straight, thumbs on top, heels down and legs back.
Tarik was so comfy and forward that it was so easy to do! I came out feeling a lot more positive, and Tina didn't have many corrections, which means I did okay!
The second half of the session with Tina included the children's ponies and galloping around the field. My fav!
I was put on Toffee, who is the smallest pony we have (at around 11hh). I LOVE riding the ponies. I feel like I missed out as a child. I started riding relatively late (didn't ride consistently until I was around 12), so I had already outgrown pony size and moved right up to horse size.
We are all technically too big to ride Toffee, but he is an absolute shit of a pony and is constantly causing problems with the kids riding him, so he needs the odd ride with one of us to keep him obedient.
From left- Millie, Toby, Bronte, Toffee, Lilly
Lots of fun! Felt ridiculous. Loved every second of it.
Bronte beat us by a mile!
I rode Reg in Thursday evening class (love that granny horse!!) I know I'm limited in the amount of work I can do on Reg, so I opted to spent most of the lesson at the walk practicing my lateral work, and suppling/loosening Regitse's old bones and muscles. I started with some easy leg yields and shoulder-in, then moved onto half-pass to a half walk pirouette and half pass again the opposite way. Reg is just SO fantastic with these exercises. As soon as I get my positioning right, she just performs like the schoolmaster she is. In slow motion, I will admit, but it still feels amazing.
I joined back in the lesson for the canter, just because I wanted Reg to pick up her left lead. Nikki, who was teaching, obviously knows the horse too and we agreed we would be happy if she held it for three strides. She is notoriously bad on the left lead, so although she will canter the short side of an arena happily on the right, she just tends to bop up and down and refuse to canter at all if you ask on her left side.
Reg was feeling absolutely brilliant after 40mins of suppling exercises at the walk, and started pinging around the arena. Chucked in a buck too!!
I've heard that Reg used to be fiery, and has thrown off pretty much every staff member here. I was yet to experience one of her 'moods' but I have now! When that mare feels good, damn can she go.
We got waaay more than the three strides of left lead canter. We also got a lot of attempted bolts to the inside, and little humpy bucks, but we got the canter too. What a good girl.
Seriously love her. Love that even at her advanced age she can still ping around like a lunatic. Just shows the good care she has had her whole life!
Reggie schnozz!
I also rode Reg in a lesson with Wanda. I somewhat dread my lessons with Wanda (although love her as a person) because she is so tough on me!! I usually end the lesson feeling like a terrible rider.
Of course because I was riding my fav granny Regitse, I was feeling good. A few adjustments with my contact as per usual (reaaaalllyy gotta train my wrists!) and we had a fantastic lesson.
We did one of my favourite exercises, which is a leg yield from the center line, and mid-way through the leg yield the bend is changed to a half pass.
I find it really improves the flow of the half pass, and simplifies the whole exercise. Half pass IS just a leg yield with the bend in the opposite direction.
We also did a bit of work in counter-canter on a shallow loop. Of course just a few strides for Reg, but pleased to say we got both the leads without any fuss, and no bucking.
On a roll with Reg!
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