We had another fun lesson last week - and my legs are getting back in shape! Yay! Good to know my muscles remember what they're supposed to be able to do rather quickly! :)
We started off with a normal warmup and then trotted in and cantered down the outside line - in what should have been 6 strides, we got 7 the first time, but then got back on track and did it in 6. I'd say the best part of the lesson was that Simon finally lengthened his stride - without getting carried away and crazy fast. When we cantered down the line we got 5 strides like the "big" horses should (instead of our normal adding to be 6) and we did it again on the diagonal line. We also managed to maneuver around the tight corner from last week without any bucking episodes :) .
I think it is a combination of Simon having more energy, and me feeling a little more confident going forward. I'll always remember (probably 20 years ago! OH I FEEL OLD!) when I was riding "Monday" and we took a really big spot and she did what I asked, but ended up crashing through the fence, and landing on her knees and falling hard... Anyways, that one incident is burned into my mind pretty well - so I tend to be cautious with the bigger spots. But Simon has taken such good care of me so far - and he knows what he can and can't do - and corrects my errors. He'll add a stride if he needs to, and occasionally takes a big jump when he sees a better spot than I do. But overall, he really has protected me from my errors so far. :) I'm very lucky that his owner lets me ride him in lessons! :)
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Finally Riding Again!
Yikes! My last post was early December - I did manage to have one more lesson before the holidays, but I have been sick for several weeks with a cough and just now getting back into riding again!
I started working out again on Monday riding the stationary bike, then went to the gym on Tuesday to do cardio and weights, just in time for my first lesson in about a month on Thursday. I wish I could do more to prepare myself for the long bouts of standing in the saddle in 2-point! I had no trouble posting the trot as normal, but what wore my legs out was standing in 2-point for the canter during our warmup. They felt a bit like jelly before we went over our first jump! :) But when I start jumping, something else kicks in and I forget about what my legs really feel like.
We warmed up over a small gate, and then trotted in and cantered out a line that should work out to 6 strides, but of course, the first time through we always add. If I don't squeeze every single stride, he always adds - still! :) Even though I was carrying a crop. It takes several warm up fences before Simon is finally in 5th gear and ready to go. And once there, I give the crop back to Kim since then we have plenty of energy! (Of course, I think Simon is on to me that I won't actually use the crop on him anyways)
After getting the 6 strides a few times, we then did that line to a fence on the diagonal, which was after a tighter corner than usual. I sat down in the saddle to make the sharp turn and Simon "wound up" and bucked a little - whatever it was I did, he didn't like it. Same thing again. Finally, I stayed up in 2point, and used both hands to steer and tried to make the turn more gradual, and we went over the fence no trouble.
After the lesson, talking to his long-time trainer, she said that Simon does not think he should ever be an equitation horse, and that flying changes should be considered "gifts." :) He actually did one for me on course without much prodding from me - I would be satisfied to break to a trot and do a simple change (Especially after the last time I rode him and asked for a change and he bucked right into it! :) )
Anyways, totally fun lesson. Exhausted legs.
And then this weekend I got to ride Rocky! Yay. We had a great ride just working on the trot and bending, and having fun. He's such a character. All the horses are in their own way for sure. And after my ride everyone got a few treats before I turned them back out. For a horse person, there's something special about all the horses in the barn sticking their heads out for attention and being able to walk up to each one and give them a treat and see how much they enjoy it. :)
I started working out again on Monday riding the stationary bike, then went to the gym on Tuesday to do cardio and weights, just in time for my first lesson in about a month on Thursday. I wish I could do more to prepare myself for the long bouts of standing in the saddle in 2-point! I had no trouble posting the trot as normal, but what wore my legs out was standing in 2-point for the canter during our warmup. They felt a bit like jelly before we went over our first jump! :) But when I start jumping, something else kicks in and I forget about what my legs really feel like.
We warmed up over a small gate, and then trotted in and cantered out a line that should work out to 6 strides, but of course, the first time through we always add. If I don't squeeze every single stride, he always adds - still! :) Even though I was carrying a crop. It takes several warm up fences before Simon is finally in 5th gear and ready to go. And once there, I give the crop back to Kim since then we have plenty of energy! (Of course, I think Simon is on to me that I won't actually use the crop on him anyways)
After getting the 6 strides a few times, we then did that line to a fence on the diagonal, which was after a tighter corner than usual. I sat down in the saddle to make the sharp turn and Simon "wound up" and bucked a little - whatever it was I did, he didn't like it. Same thing again. Finally, I stayed up in 2point, and used both hands to steer and tried to make the turn more gradual, and we went over the fence no trouble.
After the lesson, talking to his long-time trainer, she said that Simon does not think he should ever be an equitation horse, and that flying changes should be considered "gifts." :) He actually did one for me on course without much prodding from me - I would be satisfied to break to a trot and do a simple change (Especially after the last time I rode him and asked for a change and he bucked right into it! :) )
Anyways, totally fun lesson. Exhausted legs.
And then this weekend I got to ride Rocky! Yay. We had a great ride just working on the trot and bending, and having fun. He's such a character. All the horses are in their own way for sure. And after my ride everyone got a few treats before I turned them back out. For a horse person, there's something special about all the horses in the barn sticking their heads out for attention and being able to walk up to each one and give them a treat and see how much they enjoy it. :)
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