27/02/2022
So pleased out has made a big difference. 😍
Friday's lesson report - today Jan Carter was coming to give us a lesson, she's ridden him for the last couple of week's so definitely due a lesson with her.
Now I don't mind admitting I'm a fair weather rider, as the horses live at home I can often put off riding or time my riding so I don't get wet, it's not really a very good plan as doesn't prepare you for a poor weather clinic or competition so when I looked at the weather report after looking at the horrible rain chucking it down earlier I nearly cancelled the lesson (the alternative is to get her to ride) but how is that going to help?
So I prepared myself for a wet weather ride - waterproof breeches (thank you PIKEUR) which do keep you warm and dry, erm coat yes ok slight fail there as my lovely (Pikeur) coat is in the truck which was waiting to be picked up after it's service so stable coat it is, which is a Musto which is also really good but it's the one I wear to muck out and do all the dirty jobs in so is a little grubby to say the least. But keeping dry was the aim.
Did his in hand exercises to encourage suppleness and he did give them a go bless him, and then thankfully before the saddle was soaked I got on, tbh it wasn't raining that much by this time. We worked on lots and lots of leg yield (I'm struggling to coordinate) and this was the week that I learnt that if he doesn't listen to a gentle ask then increase the ask, apparently my legs do work 😳 also shoulder in (same use your legs etc....) lot's of turn on the forehand but before you start he needs to stand still, he's getting a little too good at offering something and I've got even better at allowing him to step in. Lot's of self discipline needed here.
Then in the trot (right circle) transitions over the centre line and keep your line and allow him to go forwards, lot's of figures of eights and GO without pushing him out of rhythm and therefore on his forehand as the hard work is pointless if that's what I allow to happen.
The pluses in the lesson - I had to tell Jan to stop being so nice and push me more, she knows I can do it - I also need to step up and when she's nice stop wallowing where we are and work harder, it's a team partnership and I need to work harder than Jan.
I'm really developing feel for what's going on under me and making a difference in how I'm asking/what I'm doing.
My position and therefore effectiveness has improved immensely and I need to build upon it.
My confidence in knowing how to fix things at home is better, now I need some self belief and do it when out and about particularly at competitions, I can enjoy them without life ending (yes Frodo you did trot when I started enjoying my test).
The best thing about today's lesson is that actually it didn't rain hard for most of my lesson, tbh I think it was merely spitting when I got on and the newly regraded school felt much nicer underfoot. Thank you Simon from Arena Levelling & Maintenance certainly an improvement, it needs a fair amount of TLC to bring it back to life but this is a good start.
&maintenance
