Post by scattymare on Apr 5, 2010 18:50:25 GMT
Lesson number two happened on Friday.
Another great session albeit very painful!
We worked far more on me this time. Apparently I am far too tense in my legs and generally trying too hard to keep them in the right place which means I am gripping and tense in the thigh instead of being loose and relaxed. So you can guess what happened next - yep my stirrups came away!
Honestly you would think that if someone told you to relax and let it all hang it would be relatively easy - well I've obviously developed far more 'grippy' muscles than I realised! Even when I felt as though I was relaxed Joanne would say 'I can see your muscles working still' and I would realise I was still tense in places.
We did some horrible excersises lifting my thigh away, back and down to get my seat in the correct place. Very painful and I felt totally unnatural when I was actually sitting correctly. I felt as if I lloked like I was ski-ing! Though J assured me I looked 'correct' and actually it was incredible how Eddie softened and relaxed too.
I really like the way everything J teaches is very much from the seat and posture. As she says, if the rider is balanced and correct, the horse will naturally be the same. And it's so true. The slightest thing I do can have such an effect in Eddies way of going.
So my stirrups have gone down two holes - very alien but getting used to it slowly - and I've got to ride as much as possibly safe without stirrups - in all paces - and relax relax relax - I've got a flash strap attached to the pommel to pull my bum down!. She said don't worry what you look like, just bounce and let your legs feel like jelly!
So I've been merrily bouncing where possible over the weekend and I can already feel my legs getting longer and more relaxed (though I think a seat saver is definately in order!
.
I have also ordered on her advice a gym ball to just sit on whilst watching TV.
Oh yes and I have to do that nasty excercise every time I get on and after trotting/cantering to make sure I'm sitting correctly on my seatbones
Another great session albeit very painful!
We worked far more on me this time. Apparently I am far too tense in my legs and generally trying too hard to keep them in the right place which means I am gripping and tense in the thigh instead of being loose and relaxed. So you can guess what happened next - yep my stirrups came away!
Honestly you would think that if someone told you to relax and let it all hang it would be relatively easy - well I've obviously developed far more 'grippy' muscles than I realised! Even when I felt as though I was relaxed Joanne would say 'I can see your muscles working still' and I would realise I was still tense in places.
We did some horrible excersises lifting my thigh away, back and down to get my seat in the correct place. Very painful and I felt totally unnatural when I was actually sitting correctly. I felt as if I lloked like I was ski-ing! Though J assured me I looked 'correct' and actually it was incredible how Eddie softened and relaxed too.
I really like the way everything J teaches is very much from the seat and posture. As she says, if the rider is balanced and correct, the horse will naturally be the same. And it's so true. The slightest thing I do can have such an effect in Eddies way of going.
So my stirrups have gone down two holes - very alien but getting used to it slowly - and I've got to ride as much as possibly safe without stirrups - in all paces - and relax relax relax - I've got a flash strap attached to the pommel to pull my bum down!. She said don't worry what you look like, just bounce and let your legs feel like jelly!
So I've been merrily bouncing where possible over the weekend and I can already feel my legs getting longer and more relaxed (though I think a seat saver is definately in order!
.I have also ordered on her advice a gym ball to just sit on whilst watching TV.
Oh yes and I have to do that nasty excercise every time I get on and after trotting/cantering to make sure I'm sitting correctly on my seatbones
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
