Ever feel like you are utterly sh1t?

[ceej]

Went to the local dressage this morning as L was doing intro B on her 4 year old - came 6th out of 22 first ever time out (and her fisrt time in years) so that was really good - got me all inspired so came home and schooled M.

Now, excuses first -

• part of the trouble is i dont have a school at the moment, just a field, which is flat but lumpy.
  
• Willow was also in the field munching haylage so she was a bit grumpy about having to work and clearly wished she was on the haylage too.
  
• I havent schooled or had a lesson for about 6 months
  

OH came out and filmed (and no, Im not putting it on until I can put it wioth a before and after vid) but it was awful!! It is horrid watching vids back but it does help doesnt it - next time my arm and hands will be better as its too painful to look at!!!

She wasnt listening to me at all, and after playing the vid back to myself i think that:

• I may have taken the relaxed long and low too far and now my hands have dropped and she is falling onto the forehand rather than working into it...
  
• my legs more secure than they used to be but my outside leg in unsupportive
  
• my hands are too low and my arms too straight
  
• I seem unable to maintain a consistent contact and this is my biggest problem
  

So I feel like im utterly sh1t!!!

There is a sand school being completed down the road that i can have lessons in soon, but I wont be going out in public just yet! I had improved so much last year too...you gotta keep it up havent you!

heres a couple of SHAMEFUL pics



look at those arms!!!! and I gave a nasty feeling OH was taking the 'better' pictures - there would have been several with ones nose higher in the air than this. OUCH

But mark my words, we will compare this in 6 months time!!!

[solomon]

You are too hard on yourself! It's all about the journey. Y ou look great!

[racaille]

We all have days/periods like that! It won't take you long to find your form again. ;D

[fimacg]

You are far to hard on yourself you are still build a bond with Mariah and yes we all slip into bad habits but you are not repeat NOT sh1t

[brigadier]

Ceej- if I could be bothered to type the journey Im on at the moment with Basil then you wouldnt feel so bad. But in an nutshell.... When I was at 'awful yard' I was contemplating putting him straight into novice classes as he was doing great. Now bringing him back into work is proving dreadful, so on the forehand, strong in the mouth, heavy in the hand. And my riding is dreadful, everyone thinks Im a novice its that bad! Im not exactly regretting our year or two out doing endurance and playing about but the effect on us has been really detrimental. But Im having to stay mentally positive otherwise Id give up!
So just carry on with the excellent progress you have made so far- there is always a step back or two when there is a major transition in a horses situation.

[fleabitten]

Ceej you sound exactly like me lol!! I am extremely hard on myself all the time and seem to feel like im sh1t every now and then.

For example, did the riding school dressage league there and came last so felt like a complete knob. Making matters worse was the fact that the week before i had forgotten my test and the week before that I was riding a cob that pretended to be scared of the markers etc - the most reliable riding school cob you would ever know!
Then was jumping like a beginner on Friday - lost my stirrup and was just all over the place - the horse was scrambling over jumps and running out and knocking them down.

But you havent had her that long so dont be so hard on yourself - just think of the progress you have made already!

[FirenLady]

I think your being hard on yourself too. (I think this may be a winter thing all horse riders feel!). I had a lesson on my ri horse a few weeks ago trying to learn the aids for things like leg yield etc before we try and teach them to Trav. I was so rubbish tho! hands all over the place, toes pointing out and trotting in circles made me exhausted.

Spring weather, longer days and more riding/lessons I'm sure you'll be right where you want to be. The pics don't look bad though.

[maximum]

its all very well having the lerfect position but needs must - if you had to have your hands too low in order to encourage her to become long and low then so be it - its like Brigs monkey riding - its not correct but it is a means to an end and now its time to tidy it up! you are not foul smelling poopy - your partnership is a work of art in the making.

For the hands and consistancy in the contact think of the straight line from the bit through the hand to the elbow - bring the thumb to the top and that will help stop you 'breaking' in the wrist! Shorten the reins and allow more with the hand to help keep the contact - softer through the shoulder and elbow and be ready to allow with the hand when she takes the contact forward.
The leg try and think of bringing the toe up - I think if you are told to put the heel down you will end up pushing the lower leg too far forward. It will help soften you through the knee.

Not having seen the video its hard but from the photo's I suspect you have got a wee bittie hung up on the front end and now you need to ride the hind legs forward - the energy you create from your legs goes BACK - over the quarters through the hind end up the neck and through the poll and ends in the mouth where you hold it in your hand

and I will shut up now!