A GOOD lesson today!

[Cobgirl]

Today I had a really good productive lesson. Have been working on Mollie's outline, transition stand to trot, half-halts and lots of pole trotting without stirrups. Grief my legs ache! My groin strain is ok, I can still feel it there but as soon as I got uncomfortable, I called it a day.

The pole trotting is great and we are going to raise them next time. I don't have a fear of jumping because that is what I did all those years ago, mainly XC, jumping and hacking. It's been the menage work that has been a revelation:D

Before I rode, I went into the menage and watched all the little ones having their lesson, so sweet some of them were only about 4 years of age. Then there was a young girl on a beautiful grey horse that had to be 16.2 or 16.3 and big with it, I would say part Percheron due to his short back, deep girth and really powerful back end. His canter was AWESOME just like a proper rocking horse and he arched his neck and really flew. Lol, nearly wet myself with fear because she just about stayed on! Everytime she came past me, I could feel the back draught from him:eek: Afterwards, my friend told me that on Friday, a woman had fallen from him and was taken to hospital by ambulance:eek: He was beautiful but hey, I wouldn't want to be on his back!

[Shire Monster]

Hey well done you, sounds like you had a great time, nothin better after a not so good lesson (won't say bad cos there was some good bits :D) than a super fab lesson, sounds like you did exactly what you intended to do, no mention of anyone trying to push canter onto you either.
Glad you had a good one and you are still able to ride with the groin strain.

That big grey sounds like my kind of boy, what I wouldn't give to ride a fella like that!!!

[cwb]

Well done - it's great when it all goes well! I really love poles - both in trot and canter - especially the raised poles.

The grey sounds like Cleo - a huge rocking horse!

[Rebecca1969]

Good for you. Everyone needs a good lesson after a fall! Mine was good too, I'll post later.

[gemkat]

hi
Pleased you have had a good lesson..
you need this to build your confidence.. :)and I do admire your determination and passion
May I ask a stupid question.. why is the child put on such a large horse cantering, when she could barely sit on it?:confused:
Surely she should be riding a pony at her age.. and it would be easier for her to control.. just wondering.
Liz

[Peanut]

It's so satisfying when a lesson goes well. Well done :)

[Cobgirl]

Thanks guys, I sort of got my confidence back, well a little of it, lol! Gemkat, sorry if I didn't put it correctly but the girl on the big grey guy was around 17 years of age. She was a good rider but that horse looked powerful! We had about three lessons going on in the menage on Sunday. There were the little ones (and one little girl who was around 7 years of age was fantastic. Riding a good 13h pony and her riding ability was second to none!! Then some slightly older ones and the young girl on the grey.

I have my next lesson on Thursday and hopefully will do the raised pole trotting. Nothing too strenuous but I am getting there!!

[Tally.]

Sounds like a great lesson to me, and im also glad to see there was no hint of a canter in it. Must be nice to stay on ;)
Your better than i am doing trotting poles with no stirrups and a groin strain :eek:
Good luck on your next lesson, make sure you keep us posted!

[coverblown]

Oh well done. Nothing is better than one of those lessons that goes really well> Fantastic!

[Cobgirl]

Sounds like a great lesson to me, and im also glad to see there was no hint of a canter in it. Must be nice to stay on ;)
Your better than i am doing trotting poles with no stirrups and a groin strain :eek:
Good luck on your next lesson, make sure you keep us posted!

Tally, hi - it's not easy for me to stay balanced, but my friend Jenn who is a RI in America gives me lots of little tips;) She says the key to being balanced especially stirrupless and also bareback is to 'feel the horse beneath you' - stay relaxed, let your legs hang long and heels down, also look ahead which I find very difficult.

I thought I would overdo it with the groin strain but as soon as it got uncomfortable, I dismounted. Stayed on for about 40 minutes. It was not all hard work, did lots of walk-halts, half-halts and only did the pole trotting at the end. There was one point when Mollie really picked up her feet and I could feel myself unbalanced as she had got up a real trot:eek::D but I didn't panic and just kept relaxed, which for me, is not easy!!

Will let you know how Thursday goes as the poles are being raised:eek:

[Cobgirl]

Oh well done. Nothing is better than one of those lessons that goes really well> Fantastic!

Thanks, it has done a lot to boost my confidence. But I am realistic enough to know that a not so good day will appear again - but at least I am loving the good days!:D