hmmm... interesting lesson on Friday.. got my wheels turning... in a good way... I guess. When Elizabeth is talking to me, I concentrate and think of when I'm riding at home... that's when she tells me to look up and stop staring at the horses's ear's, or they will catch on fire ;-p
Friday I worked more on the canter, which I can say I dont' do enough... having my un-even ring really makes you ride. Maybe I'm being lazy. Friday I worked on the 20 meter circle at a canter, and going over some poles... hmmm... it was great to get out of a boring walk and trot, and break into a faster gait...
I rode Libby, who i ride the most when I don't bring my horse Asher. Libby is something like Asher, but I have more time to correct things, as she is not as fast.
Alot to work on before the snow flies with Asher... but all will be good :-)
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Lessons before the show
I have my weekly lesson with Elizabeth tomorrow... won't be bringing Asher... Hope to ride Corey, her TB/cross mare, who you really, really, have to ride correctly. Been told some stories, but she was fine the last time I rode her :-)
I hope to practice my test before October 4th; I only get anxious before I enter the "show" ring; nothing else really bothers me. I dont' think of being the "center" of attention, but how Asher will be. or maybe how I will be? Remember... remember.. use my seat, let go of the reins, move him forward... otherwise he'll be like a racehorse ready to go...
I hope to practice my test before October 4th; I only get anxious before I enter the "show" ring; nothing else really bothers me. I dont' think of being the "center" of attention, but how Asher will be. or maybe how I will be? Remember... remember.. use my seat, let go of the reins, move him forward... otherwise he'll be like a racehorse ready to go...
Monday, September 7, 2009
Riding at home.... With Annette
I've know Annette for a while now... She taught me alot, and this year I really "let go" and took her advice and listened. She is my trainer at home, and has been for a while now...
Our last lesson? Nervous? Hell yeah! What did we do? I gave him all the rein he wanted, used my "seat" and rode him until I got it. What's "it"? Asher was round as a basketball... okay, not that round, but after 10 minutes of leaving his head alone, he was so relaxed... round, soft, forward. yeahoo!!! Ride him on the friggen buckle if I have too. It's not easy riding in my ring. Any eventer could ride it with ease. But, you really learn how to ride, that is the good thing.
Stop fussing over the reins. They are not there to hold onto. They are not there to make your horse go round. Use your reins for that and you will have a hollow back. No arguments there. Nuff said!
Our last lesson? Nervous? Hell yeah! What did we do? I gave him all the rein he wanted, used my "seat" and rode him until I got it. What's "it"? Asher was round as a basketball... okay, not that round, but after 10 minutes of leaving his head alone, he was so relaxed... round, soft, forward. yeahoo!!! Ride him on the friggen buckle if I have too. It's not easy riding in my ring. Any eventer could ride it with ease. But, you really learn how to ride, that is the good thing.
Stop fussing over the reins. They are not there to hold onto. They are not there to make your horse go round. Use your reins for that and you will have a hollow back. No arguments there. Nuff said!
Elizabeth, my trainer, riding Asher
Elizabeth trained Asher years ago, when my friend Karen owned him. I brought Asher back for the first time in a few years, the beginning of summer. WOW... all I can say. She rode him like he never left her place.
My lesson today, September 7, 2009
I had a valuable lesson today at my trainers, which is near by. I bring my horse there once in a while; Asher is a Thoroughbred. I did not buy him off the track, but a friend did. He had training at my trainers barn.
Keeping up with training is not easy. Not if you are not doing it the correct way.
Today I rode one of my trainers horse's, Corey. Now, seeing other advanced riders ride her, I knew in my heart it would be a while before I would have that chance! But, it happened today!
She is not a big mare; part Thoroughbred, not sure of the other "half". Being told she can be "hot", wasn't sure what to expect. I was told she is better than what she use to be :-)
Riding her, yes, nervous. her size didn't scare me, but what I didn't know about her. Would she bolt if I used leg? Would she rear if I pulled back? hmmm... I wouldn't know unless I did that.
I didn't get to ride her around the entire ring (which is pretty large) but I rode at one end, near my trainer. Do I trust my trainer? yes... very much so.
Within 10 minutes of riding this mare, I knew I would live through the lesson and not fall... (or hope)
Extended trot, a little massage of the inside rein, outside leg, inside leg, outside rein. Sound confusing? It can be... when you are trying to get the horse soft, round, and use their back. There is no forcing of any of this, which some riders confuse when trying to ask for these things.
Don't give up on the first try asking your horse correctly how to do something. Remind the horse constantly... be soft about it and don't be harsh.
Keeping up with training is not easy. Not if you are not doing it the correct way.
Today I rode one of my trainers horse's, Corey. Now, seeing other advanced riders ride her, I knew in my heart it would be a while before I would have that chance! But, it happened today!
She is not a big mare; part Thoroughbred, not sure of the other "half". Being told she can be "hot", wasn't sure what to expect. I was told she is better than what she use to be :-)
Riding her, yes, nervous. her size didn't scare me, but what I didn't know about her. Would she bolt if I used leg? Would she rear if I pulled back? hmmm... I wouldn't know unless I did that.
I didn't get to ride her around the entire ring (which is pretty large) but I rode at one end, near my trainer. Do I trust my trainer? yes... very much so.
Within 10 minutes of riding this mare, I knew I would live through the lesson and not fall... (or hope)
Extended trot, a little massage of the inside rein, outside leg, inside leg, outside rein. Sound confusing? It can be... when you are trying to get the horse soft, round, and use their back. There is no forcing of any of this, which some riders confuse when trying to ask for these things.
Don't give up on the first try asking your horse correctly how to do something. Remind the horse constantly... be soft about it and don't be harsh.
September, 2009
I've been riding since I was about 10.. Now that I am "40" something, I have been taught important riding values this past year. (1) ride your horse. This doesn't mean to get on and be a "passenger" but to ride.
(2) Riding Dressage is not too different from some other riding styles; however, having different instructors for many years, most good, some bad, some "okay", you cannot force your horse to do something he/she doesn't know what you are asking.
(2) Riding Dressage is not too different from some other riding styles; however, having different instructors for many years, most good, some bad, some "okay", you cannot force your horse to do something he/she doesn't know what you are asking.
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