I came back to lessons no worse the wear for taking a week off. And my practice is definitely helping! My legs stayed put, in a pretty correct position, nearly all of the time. I managed to use leg aids correctly maybe 70%. Rolling my toes out and heels in to squeeze is a hard habit to break, but I'm getting there.
My hands definitely suck. I'm going to have to do some serious trot work on Champ and work on feeling and following contact. Champ is going to be royally pissed about it, but he'll just have to cope. I'm not going to try to take up normal (light) contact anyway; I'm gonna try for super extra light contact, where I can just barely feel his mouth. He will have to deal with it.
Anyway, Hardy said he was perfectly pleased with where my legs are at this point in my riding. At some point, I'll work on riding with longer stirrups, but not yet.
I got Val into a trot fairly easily, and I managed to get some good bends out of her. And - AND!! - I applied the weird little set of dressage aids and got her to back up! Too cool.
Then we spent the rest of the day visiting with my parents, then visiting with Graham's mom. It was nice but pretty exhausting.
Great news..and it sounds as though you are pleased too!
ReplyDeleteI start my lesson this week with an outside trainer.
I will be riding in the arena tomorrow..no one around and the trainer is oof..oops...
well she is that too as well as off!
I have been getting some really nice contct with a lifted back in trots and walking..I know she can do it in the arena..gonna try..just won't fight. will stop and turn if she fusses..or turn then stop..or turn and turn..she'll hopefully appreciate going straight with all those turns and give fussing up.
Let you know!
I'm glad you're lessons are still going so well!
ReplyDelete