I was hoping to get to make a second post last week covering my lesson but I ran out of time, so let's get up to speed.
Sunday 1/20/2011: My lesson started out OK, but I was still having trouble getting Secret into her favorite corner. My trainer kept yelling at me about dropping my outside hand... I KNOW that I'm dropping it, I just don't know how to make it stop. I got really frustrated about this so we moved on to ground poles, but my whole lesson was tainted. Looking back on it now I feel like we have made ALOT of progress on two-point position and ground poles since we started on them just a few weeks ago. But, getting her on the rail and the canter, both the transition and my seat, need serious work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OaHuDVkyA&feature=autoplay&list=UL8_4IYp9Q6jk&index=1&playnext=4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1gwr_QL6K0&feature=BF&list=UL8_4IYp9Q6jk&index=2
After my lesson I went with my trainer to her place to ride one of her horses. This horse (Kahlua) had been broke to saddle three years ago and since then has been through a stream of riders who all quit because she bucked at the trot. When I first started riding her last summer EVERY time I asked for the trot she would buck. She had NO steering. She was stiff and her feet were stuck. I finally stopped trying to ride her through it and started doing alot of ground work... Clinton Anderson style! This horse is as stubborn as they come. I've literally BEATEN her with the stick and had her look at me like, "Whatever" My arms wore out before she did more than once. But I've finally gotten her yielding pretty well. She will back nicely and lunges quite well. It's not up to Clinton's standards, but its light years from where she started! I noticed when I lunged her with the saddle that she trotted with her nose on the ground. I don't trust her enough to let her get her head down like that when I'm in the saddle and I thought maybe part of the trouble is that she needs to stretch her back. So, lately I've been lunging her to let her stretch before I get on and it seems to really be helping. I've had two rides out of her now with no bucking and she's been very willing! I'm really pleased with her so that was a good way to end the day after a very frustrating lesson.
Sunday 2/6/2011: I was really excited for this lesson. I had just decided that I wasn't going to get frustrated or pissy and I would just go with it knowing that we are making steady progress. My trainer also decided that we would try using a bit. When I first got Secret they were riding her in a plain stainless O-ring jointed snaffle. When I rode her in that she had NO brakes. Everytime she would stick her head in the air, get it between her teeth and brace. So, to get more braking power I switched to an indian bosal. That put more nose pressure on so that she had to give at the poll and stop. After I got her brakes tuned up and working well I switched to a cross-under bridle for clearer communication while working and then to a side-pull for trails. But, no we're starting to ask for more sophisticated things in the arena that each rein needs to have its own meaning, so we decided to try putting a bit back on her. I was VERY apprehensive remembering her behavior last time and knowing she's not had a bit in her mouth in three years. So, I started with a rubber jointed snaffle.
I put it in her mouth, adjusted it, and she started chewing and looking at me like, "well... ok... if this is what you want I don't care" I just walked her a bit to let her think it over, then started with bending and backing so she could get the idea. She rode really well in it. When we started the lesson we were working on her favorite corner and FINALLY started to make some progress after my trainer told me to stand in my outside stirrup and push with my inside leg. Frankly, if she had told me that outside stirrup bit two weeks ago we could have saved everyone alot of aggravation! But at least its starting to get fixed! After doing a few circles in the corners we decided to switch her to a brass, egg butt, french link snaffle. She instantly relaxed and was REALLY working well by the end of the lesson. So well in fact that we almost got into that corner at the trot!
To round things out we worked on the canter... specifically transitions into and out of and keeping my ass in the saddle. All of which are improving! One piece seems to get better every time I ride... I just may take few weeks to put all the pieces together.
Overall my seat was better today, my hands are better but need work at the canter and forcing myself to not drop my outside hand, my legs are better if I warm up with them tied and I really felt like Secret did GREAT with the bit today.
A great lesson!
