Lesson report *pics in photo gallery*

[fleabitten]

Had my lesson with Yvette today and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I had booked for a group lesson and tbh I think it was just as good as a private lesson really as there was only 3 of us. I was actually quite nervous as i thought there would be a whole load of dressage people and fancy horses but from what i saw this morning it seemed mainly liveries and staff with ordinary horses and cobs - in my lesson it was one of the instructors and her daughter and me.

Yvette was really nice and it was a lovely relaxed lesson. She started off by asking me about my horse and my riding experience - I had to tell her I knew nothing about the horse except he was a school horse and I had only sat on him once before lol!

We worked on getting the horses to accept our legs as they were all quite sensitive and getting an outline and softness.

The main things she was telling me was about my rein contact. Cos whenever he came round then my reins ended up like skipping ropes lol! However this improved during the course of the lesson. Also getting consistency in the outline as well - she was telling me that I needed to have an 'elastic contact' and ask him to keep his head down, think she also said something about give and reward when he rides nicely. he kept putting his head back up but by the end of the lesson he was getting a lot better. And i was able to put my leg on a lot more and he didnt feel so rushed like he did when he had his nose poked out - she said when i get the outline then i can ask for a bit more energy in the trot.

Exercises we did included leg yielding out onto a 20m circle and flexing the head to the outside and leg yielding from 3/4 line to the track. He started to anticipate this in trot and rush sideways and i struggled a bit here to keep it together lol! It was easier in walk.

One thing I really did feel about the lesson was that you kind of needed to know stuff and be able to ride very competently and I kind of felt that at times I was a little out of my depth in that respect as sometimes I didnt really understand what I was trying to do. Like with the contact thing - elastic contact, give and reward, and knowing when to use leg and hand etc etc. I felt like you already had to know how to work the horse correctly and understand it in order for Yvette to be able to help you progress. Having said that it didnt diminish my enjoyment of the lesson or the sense of achievement that I got. I did feel like I learnt things and that she was helpful and very encouraging. I am glad that I have learnt a good bit about working the horse the past wee while in my normal lessons as I feel that helped me a good bit in this lesson today and to get the most out of it.

Anyway, theres pics to follow!

I think she may be coming back in August so I might go back for another lesson.

;D

[haffyfan]

Sounds like a very interesting and productive lesson Flea. Difficult as well on a horse you've only sat on once before as you have nothing to work from/use as a guide to that improvement. well done!

[fleabitten]

Thanks haffy! Im really glad I did it, looking forward to doing more of that sort of thing!

[racaille]

Sounds like a really interesting, challenging lesson. And I think she was only telling you things that she thought you could do so even if you felt a bit overwhelmed you obviously got there, so you've learned quite a lot in one lesson. And on a strange horse! It might have been pretty new for him too!

It's always a bit scary when something is explained but you can't do it perfectly straight away but it's the same for everyone I think (well it's like that for me anyway!) I was being told something a little while ago that I really struggled with, but then I 'felt' it really strongly and although I can't reproduce it all the time yet, I certainly can feel when I've got it right, so I count that as great progress!

Onwards and upwards for us, huh? ;D

[fleabitten]

Thats what its all about rac! ;D My regular RI was talking about that kind of lightbulb moment, when you get a feeling you know when you get it right and the more you practice at reproducing it the more you progress with your riding.

Its so much fun learning stuff and theres such a vast amount and variety of things to be learned in the sport, I just think its great! ;D

[kitcat]

Your lesson sounds really good. It's interesting that these are the kind of exercises my instructor has me doing with Cav. The elastic contact and give slightly with the reins to reward as his head comes down nicely also ring lots of bells for me!

As others have said, doubly difficult for you with a strange horse and different instructor but it seems you have taken lots on board from it.

[zara]

Well done Flea, sounds like an excellent lesson. Just remember that you are paying for your instruction and you need to get as much out of it as possible so don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask if you don't fully understand what you being asked to do. There are some excellent books out there to give you some background knowledge. One of my favourites is "Centred Riding" by Sally Swift, its quite old now but she uses analagies to explain contact and position etc, really useful. The other is "Enlightened Equitation" by Heather Moffett, superb book to help you progress your riding and the horses way of going. Good luck xx

[fleabitten]

Thanks kitcat and zara I like the leg yield circle exercise, never done it before but never really been on a horse that goes off your leg as well before! Yes zara, I must remember to ask - I was afraid to ask about the inside leg to outside hand thing for example. Thanks for the book recommendation, will have to keep an eye out for them!

[fimacg]

Well done flea, the whole elastic contact is quite a difficult thing to explain, as different horses react differently to different levels of contact,but once you get to know the horse you know how much contact he needs, my instructor explains it to me as the elasticity coming from your elbow and following the movement of the horses head in the different gaits, so walk and canter your hands will move forward and backward more than in trot when the should pretty much be still.

If you go back try and get the same horse again so at least you can build on what you have done already

[fleabitten]

Thanks fi, I think I remember somebody trying to teach me about following with my hands once but it was quite tricky - dunno if the aim behind it was to teach about elastic contact or whether I was having problems elsewhere! lol

Yeah, its a shame Im not in a position to be able to practice away on the horse myself though ;D

[scattymare]

My mantle for the elastic feel is 'chicken arms'!! I am quite guilty of getting a bit rigid with my contact - it's a catch 22 with Eddie as she's quite strong so its tempting to take hold which of course just makes her worse. So I try and tell myself 'chicken arms'. This reminds me to relax my elbows and almost let them feel like they are flapping. Of course you don't want them flapping about but when I have that feeling I know I have relaxed them and that will in turn give you the 'give and take' that is important for the horse. I then relax my weight into my elbows which then gives the steady but light contact and still with movement. It's working for me!