Late lesson report

[scattymare]

Bit of a late report but we had our first lesson in 5 weeks on Saturday. Having only ridden a few times in that period we were both rather stiff and took a while to get going. So we worked mainly on asking Eddie to stretch and supple up again. Initially felt like we had taken a real step back but by the end of the lesson we were back on track.
Eddie was particularly stiff on her left side and wasn’t yielding well at all so we tried a different tactic and introduced some counter bend on a circle. Firstly in walk working from a 5 metre circle asking for a couple of steps of counter bend before switching to the correct bend and pushing the circle out to a large one and moving forward into trot. After a few hilarious attempts at this and much aching legs later, we started to get it and Eddie was starting to bend nicely – though she does have a habit of anticipating and was starting to produce her own bend without me asking! So we have to keep things very varied with her to keep her on her toes.
We finished up with a short session of canter work – again asking for a couple of strides counter bend in walk on a large circle then correcting the bend and a straight transition to canter. This has come on so much since we started – we were originally the horse and rider version of the wall of death, now I was able to collect her and lengthen her stride and even had her cantering on a circle giving the reins without her stride or stance altering. Joanne said she was really using her back end (I must confess I couldn’t notice the difference) and looked lovely. Though we do need some mud flaps as black rubber chipping dust is not a good look!!
We are still struggling to get the correct lead on the left rein. I may have to get my hunky back man back to check her sacro-whatsisname is all in order as he did work on this previously and said it would have been making it harder for her on that rein. That will be such a shame to see him again…..
So we’ve booked another lesson for this Saturday to get us fully back on track again before Christmas

Then Sunday we rounded it off with a lovely hack with Eddies friends Huffy and Cleo. Took it fairly easy but did manage a short blast to blow away the cobwebs – though that left Eddie chomping at the bit wanting more and we strode home metres ahead of the others (who are 15.3 and 16.1hh!!)

It’s great to be back in the saddle – though I hear theres more hard frosts and snow on its way so won’t hold my breath for too long….

[racaille]

Oooh, lucky you Scatty! It feels like MONTHS since P and I last had a lesson (oh, it IS months...) In fact, I could not ask P to work properly just yet, he is too stiff and porky.

And hmmm, this left lead canter thing. As you may remember, P hates left lead and will do anything to avoid it. Back man does his stuff blah blah but I've noticed that P has NO problem at all when he's flying around the paddocks. In fact, he does a very pretty flying change .....


What is interesting are all the different techniques different trainers use to 'encourage' a reluctant horse to take the right lead. I - under the direction of different trainers - have tried at least half a dozen 'tricks' ranging from counter incurvation (that sounds wrong in English ) to exaggerated bend, to tapping offside haunch with dressage stick to ... oh I forget. The only thing that really works with P is to put your aids in place firmly and pray for first strike but if not, bring him back and ask again until he gives in. I know him well enough now. He's just trying it on.

[maximum]

I have found that if a horse wont canter on the correct lead then bending them away from the correct lead - so to the outside- will help - it frees the inside shoulder to come up and encourages the rider to put weight on the outside seat bone.

If you think of the horse as a raft and each leg is a float at each corner of the raft, in order for the front inside float to come up (i.e for the inside shoulder to lift) the outside rear float (i.e the outside rear leg) must sink down.

Very often the horse wont canter on the correct lead as the inside shoulder is blocked- the tendency is to lean over the inside shoulder and block it further.

The aid needs to be clear and precise ensuring the horse understands you are asking for the strike off from the outside rear leg and if it is wrong quickly bringing them back to trot and ensuring the trot is re established. Developing the feel so that you can bring the horse to trot as he lifts the incorrect rear leg rather than having to allow him to actually complete a full phase of canter- it also helps to ensure you ask for canter at the optimum moment.

So many people dont seem to realise the importance of a really good energetic forward trot - the horse should be so full of energy and bounce that it feels criminal not to ask for canter!!

Understanding how the horse canters can help - its surprising how many people who are actually quite far along their riding path who dont know the sequence of legs in canter.

nicholnl.wcp.muohio.edu/DingosBreakfastClub/BioMech/BioMechCanter1.html

anyway I am rabbiting! Scatty - am uber jealous at your lesson!

[fleabitten]

Well done scatty!!! I rode like a bit of a numpty on Sunday (lol) and have another lesson on Thursday but dunno if i will get if it snows... boo.

[scattymare]

Maxi you are spot on as I know I do have a tendancy to sort of throw myself forward at her on this leg. Because the right lead she strikes off balanced and easily, I remain balanced too but because the left gets a bit rushed beforehand I am sort of 'geeing' her forward which of course puts my weight on her forehand. So I need to be very aware of what I am doing.
And Rac yes I have been taught many different ways to ask for the canter. It seems different instructors have different ideas. I do love J's methods and we always get results and we have come on leaps and bounds since that first lesson last year.
I do struggle to 'feel' if she is on the correct lead immediately and it takes a few strides or I have to look down - a big no no I know. Any tips on this much appreciated.

[maximum]

Its just practice scatty - every time you ride spend some time on your feel - ask yourself in walk when each leg is coming up and forward - can you feel the hind legs lifting the quarters and your hips- the very best way is to get lunge lesson and then just relax into the canter with your eyes closed and feel the outside hind leg lift.
Bareback is a good way to feel.

[brigadier]

Oh the joys of having a lesson- need to get my act in gear again!!!
Cant really add to the great advice from Max the Master in getting the correct strike off.
In regards to feeling for the correct lead she is again bang on- the amount of people who cant tell from the ground, let alone from the saddle never continues to amaze me, on the ground look for the diagonal pair of the inside hind and outside fore working together, as this sequence happens after the outside hind lifts the horse to free its shoulders, the inside hind and outside fore are the balancers and the inside for then takes the lead forwards giving the canter its name ie right or left canter. When you see it on the ground then imagine it happening underneath you, you feel that lift of the outside hind as the horse strikes off. Transfer this to riding. Then if you are unsure have a sneeky peek to check the inside shoulder is leading. Eventually you will just know and wont need to look for the inside forleg. But you must do this in this sequence to teach yourself to feel for the movement that happens before the inside forleg works. Sorry if thats rambled but typing whilst having breakfast!!!!! Bon Croissant!