Pilates for riders and a schooling video

[pboy]

Firstly apologies for the links to photos, for some reason I can't directly display the pictures in my photobucket account even though they're public - any ideas welcome!! I'm coping and pasting the IMG code with no success.

Last week we had a lovely pilates teacher come to HK to do a pilates for riders session. Sally used to live in HK but has been back in the UK for the last few years, she pops over every few months and this was my second session with her. We started with an hour on the mats (in riding gear!) then an hour on the horses. I could really feel the improvement in my seat after the exercises, I'm not sure the horses were so impressed though, they were like

Crazy ex-racehorses...

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Classy wondering what I'm looking at:

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Classy: "Listen woman, you might put your legs in the right place but you're far too heavy to be a jockey."

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I've been trying to do some stretches on and off the horse before schooling, mainly with the aim of keeping my knees down and back as I have an annoying habit of curling up my leg when I use it. I can feel that it's getting better but there's still a way to go - I've been doing work in walk and trot standing upright which has also helped.

My mum is visiting and I roped her into doing some videoing today. I've not had a lesson for a while as I'm keen to sort out my leg issue (my instructor's great but tends to focus on the horse more than my position) so CC is very welcome! Classy is much happier on the right rein as you can see, he's better balanced and freer in his paces as a result (I know I'm in a somewhat bouncy sitting trot on the left, however he is the same in rising trot and I clearly need to practice my sitting ). He has a much thicker neck than most TBs I know so doesn't tend to be as 'round' as others I ride - if you ask him to get rounder he'll tuck behind the vertical which is something I've worked very hard to stop him doing.

The canter felt good but I'm disappointed to see that I'm lifting out of the saddle quite often - more suppleness work is clearly needed!!

So, all tips and thoughts are welcome. The guy on the bay horse wasn't helping matters by nearly squashing us at one point

[racaille]

I knew at once that it was a guy on that bay just by the way he was riding - he reminded me or a particularly uppity you man down here ...

Brilliant idea about the Pilates , love to try that.

[pboy]

The Pilates was great. We focused a lot on increasing flexibility in the hip joints, finding a neutral pelvis position and using the right core muscles to stabilize the pelvis, which allows you to separate your seat and leg aids. Now I need to work out which are the few most effective exercises to do before riding (then remember to do them ).

[brigadier]

Ho Pboy- loved watching your video and the elegant Classy- so well named. I used to do the legs up exercise all the time- not sure I could now! ha ha! Although I see what you mean about him being freer on the right I thought initially he looked hurried and dropped onto the forehand a touch, but then made better steps, so I think a half halt or two when doing a transition from sitting to rising and change of rein might help him re-balance in prep.

Your position is great, your hands almost always level and sympathetic but because you are so established its easier to be nit picky! I noticed some tension in the shoulders, one is always slightly higher than the other so something is out of balance- will have to have another look to see if I can pinpoint it and remember which one but it may account for you being unable to totally sit through the canter, maybe some resistance mid spine area causing this but without asking what you are feeling at the time it hard to establish, it could also be that one hip joint is less elastic than the other, but it could also relate to the horse as well. Your left leg(I think (must write this down as Im watching) is less stable and shows the odd bit of tension so it maywell be this hip that is the problem. See if any of that makes sense with what you remember you were feeling as you rode.
But must repeat Im nit picking as i thought you looked very nice.

[solomon]

Fab video and pics, well sat spook by the way! Classy is lovely! He seems slightly behind the leg? Apart from when he shot forwards of course? A credit to your riding keeping the rhythm if he is a tad lazy. My old instructor used to say imagine a banknote under your seat to help keep me in the saddle. I too lift up in canter. I also find thinking shoulders back helps a bit. Like Brig looks great just nit-picking.

[pboy]

Thank you both for the CC!! That's interesting re the shoulder - I hadn't spotted that so I'll try focusing on it tomorrow. My RI has mentioned it once or twice and I did notice today that tended to lift the right rein at times so it may be that shoulder?

He is VERY behind the leg, but very resistant to a whip. I've been working on sharpening him up to the leg in the last few sessions by being very tough with him if he doesn't respond immediately (eg, if he doesn't respond to a squeeze he gets a big kick and I push him into a canter, with little contact to make it VERY clear that I want him to go forwards). It's not pretty but it seems to be helping, however I have to be disciplined myself as it can result in some hairy moments! He used to buck every time I asked him to go forwards so we've made good headway.

He's generally very easy to switch off at home. I find that, at the moment, I can get either relaxation and or responsiveness. Given the classical principles of a relaxed, loose horse it's a bit of a dilemma. My Spanish trainer would push for the responsiveness but my German trainer would go for the relaxation first. However I much prefer riding my Spanish trainer's horses so I guess that's the way I should go?!

[brigadier]

But with a TB I would go for relaxation every time then as they learn to really chill and trust push for the responsiveness. Basil over reacts and I think Im going to have to lose the whip when I finally get him going again! I did notice the right rein thing once but it was such a tiny lift I didnt think it was too significant. He works well though, especially when being attacked by other horses! Could even do polo!

[pboy]

Fair point on the relaxation. I'll carry on working towards the middle ground, I do get a bit frustrated at times as there are moments when it feels like we could be doing so much more but I've never had the inclination (or ability ) to rush a horse.

The annoying thing with the whip is that if I do groundwork or lunging he's not bothered by the whip at all, but as soon as I use one under saddle (even just slapping it on my boot), he'll stop, hump his back and buck so it ends up achieving the opposite of what I want to achieve! The joy of ex-racehorses

[brigadier]

I know, and they are so intelligent it can take an age to sort each issue, or you just end up working around it! I think it is a sign of ability not to rush a horse- its so tempting to do that little bit extra, or force that bit of extra roundness. Like with your fella you know he could go rounder, but he is not really built for it and if you ask too much he drops behind. True ability is to say Im happy with this at this stage.

[solomon]

The ex-racers are sensitive aren't they? Reminds my why I have a Dutch barge pony!