Post by scattymare on Mar 1, 2010 11:14:01 GMT
Well woke yesterday to a deluge of rain once again. Was really peed off as thought that my lesson would be cancelled. Anyway phoned Joanne at 8.30 and asked if we were still on. She said she was happy to if I was. So off we went. We were drowned rats by the time we arrived but thankfully it eased a bit when we got there.
Eddie was an absolute superstar. As soon as we got in the menage she seemed to change. Everything we were asked to do she tried so hard - what a difference when I finally push the right buttons. We worked on collection - that really amazed me. Eddie would really collect and slow by just holding in my tummy muscles and sitting a bit deeper. I have never been taught that before and was amazed how such a subtle action can have such a useful effect. We are to work on that one whilst hacking.
I need to work on my hands in trot. I know I always have a problem of keeping my hands lifted - I get lazy and end up dropping them to the withers so we worked on this - again, showing me the difference it really makes. And also to soften them a bit, I go a bit rigid in the arm when trotting I need to relax at the elbow more. Also allow Eddie forward more - her natural trot pace is much quicker than I was allowing - feels like I'm rising far too fast! Oh yes, to get used to a pony trot again.
We did lots of transitions and circle work using my body weight only - I trotted a 20m circle with no reins (OK it may have been more like a wavy oval rather than a circle but for first go I was so pleased)
So yeah I was really chuffed. We've got lots of homework and I'm going back in 2 weeks. I was so pleased with Eddie, she really did try her heart out. Joanne said she is a very nice pony and thinks she's done dressage in the past or at least been very well flat schooled. Like me we need to work on building the correct muscles again.
We've both had a well deserved day off today - if she feels like me her legs will be aching!
Oh and her white socks have gone a lovely shade of silver from the rubber chip surface! We were covered in the stuff where it had splashed up. I'll be brushing it off for weeks!
Eddie was an absolute superstar. As soon as we got in the menage she seemed to change. Everything we were asked to do she tried so hard - what a difference when I finally push the right buttons. We worked on collection - that really amazed me. Eddie would really collect and slow by just holding in my tummy muscles and sitting a bit deeper. I have never been taught that before and was amazed how such a subtle action can have such a useful effect. We are to work on that one whilst hacking.
I need to work on my hands in trot. I know I always have a problem of keeping my hands lifted - I get lazy and end up dropping them to the withers so we worked on this - again, showing me the difference it really makes. And also to soften them a bit, I go a bit rigid in the arm when trotting I need to relax at the elbow more. Also allow Eddie forward more - her natural trot pace is much quicker than I was allowing - feels like I'm rising far too fast! Oh yes, to get used to a pony trot again.
We did lots of transitions and circle work using my body weight only - I trotted a 20m circle with no reins (OK it may have been more like a wavy oval rather than a circle but for first go I was so pleased)
So yeah I was really chuffed. We've got lots of homework and I'm going back in 2 weeks. I was so pleased with Eddie, she really did try her heart out. Joanne said she is a very nice pony and thinks she's done dressage in the past or at least been very well flat schooled. Like me we need to work on building the correct muscles again.
We've both had a well deserved day off today - if she feels like me her legs will be aching!
Oh and her white socks have gone a lovely shade of silver from the rubber chip surface! We were covered in the stuff where it had splashed up. I'll be brushing it off for weeks!
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
