Post by racaille on Jan 15, 2015 16:02:42 GMT
My coach E is back from her extended hols and I have put her to work straight away! Had a great lesson this morning in which some more things clicked into place - or are beginning to, at any rate.
I told her that Paco has made progress on right canter but left is still a royal battle and asked her to ride him to see what she thought. I've been riding him for nearly 11 years now and fear I may have forgotten what other horses are like! And let's face it, I have no finesse as a rider
She quickly identified his left resistance: he is fighting it even though he is perfectly capable of doing what is asked.
So I have a new series of exercises which are designed to make it much more comfortable for him to do the right thing. I was right to give canter a rest for a while, she agreed that I mostly need to do the exercises in trot. And generally I have to ask for more from him: did a great exercise which just showed him I am serious when I use my leg, he suddenly transformed into ...well, not Valegro exactly, but I got some fab extended trot. In fact, that is the basis of the new regime, he has to react to my aids instantly and energetically and he has to hold himself up, it's not my job to do so!
Funny that I've had this horse nearly 11 years and he's now an old codger and it's only now that I'm learning this stuff. How I regret all the wasted years when I didn't have a coach that was interested in me or P. Still, better late than never.
I told her that Paco has made progress on right canter but left is still a royal battle and asked her to ride him to see what she thought. I've been riding him for nearly 11 years now and fear I may have forgotten what other horses are like! And let's face it, I have no finesse as a rider
She quickly identified his left resistance: he is fighting it even though he is perfectly capable of doing what is asked. So I have a new series of exercises which are designed to make it much more comfortable for him to do the right thing. I was right to give canter a rest for a while, she agreed that I mostly need to do the exercises in trot. And generally I have to ask for more from him: did a great exercise which just showed him I am serious when I use my leg, he suddenly transformed into ...well, not Valegro exactly, but I got some fab extended trot. In fact, that is the basis of the new regime, he has to react to my aids instantly and energetically and he has to hold himself up, it's not my job to do so!
Funny that I've had this horse nearly 11 years and he's now an old codger and it's only now that I'm learning this stuff. How I regret all the wasted years when I didn't have a coach that was interested in me or P. Still, better late than never.
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
