Lesson no. 2 *pics*

[kitcat2]

I got another lesson today with the woman who shares my friends horse! She is really good; helpful and she makes sure I understand what I'm doing (thats a problem with a lot of instructors I've had:o) We've just been doing a lot of flatwork, getting Ritchie a bit more flexible and me riding a bit better:rolleyes::p

I know my heels should be more down but I'm still getting used to such long stirrups:o I think my arms could probably be closer to my body but any other *constructive* critisism would be appreciated. :)

Edit: I know I had v little contact, it was for a reason:D! And I'll try and remember to stop spilling coffee! :p

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww151/kitcat2_2009/DSCF5826.jpg

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww151/kitcat2_2009/DSCF5827.jpg

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww151/kitcat2_2009/DSCF5828.jpg

[kitcat2]

and a few more...


http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww151/kitcat2_2009/DSCF5831.jpg

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww151/kitcat2_2009/DSCF5835.jpg

http://i715.photobucket.com/albums/ww151/kitcat2_2009/Pho.jpg


Sorry I went a bit pic crazy:p

[vimto92]

Awh, its great you have found an instructor that you click with. :)

Lovely pony!:)

Only criticism I have is that your stirrups do look slightly long, I'd be inclined to put them up a hole and I think then, your lower leg will be more secure and rising trot will probably be more comfortable if it isn't already. Also thumbs on top and hands as if you were carry a mug, by carrying them as you are now, you stop the elasticity in the contact that your 3rd finger should be allowing.

[kitcat2]

Thanks for your comment...apparently I have to have them long for the moment :rolleyes: I don't like it but I'm guessing its for a reason - probably I was too scared to go stirrupless!:p

And yup - been told that a thousand times and I still fall back into that habit. Any tips on how to stop it? (ive heard the coffee cup thing a lot!:o)

[vimto92]

Thanks for your comment...apparently I have to have them long for the moment :rolleyes: I don't like it but I'm guessing its for a reason - probably I was too scared to go stirrupless!:p

And yup - been told that a thousand times and I still fall back into that habit. Any tips on how to stop it? (ive heard the coffee cup thing a lot!:o)

Ah, right! Stirrupless is great, I love it! Makes riding with stirrups seem unnecessary and complicated!:p

To be honest, I just think it is one of those things you need to be constantly aware of and keep reminding yourself, and they'll soon be sorted. :)

[kitcat2]

Ah, right! Stirrupless is great, I love it! Makes riding with stirrups seem unnecessary and complicated!:p

To be honest, I just think it is one of those things you need to be constantly aware of and keep reminding yourself, and they'll soon be sorted. :)

Indeed - It is awesome. I wish I was brave enough to try it with Ritchie but I don't feel like I trust him enough yet and were beginning to get such a good bond I don't wanna spoil it:o Probably makes no sense but I'm a big one for doing things in my own time;):p

You're right about hand postion, just at the moment I'm also trying to remember elbows in, heels down! Hands get lost somewhere along the way :o All stuff I'm trying to work on which is why the feedback is good :D

[ilovejumbo]

just wondering haha, where do you ride ? I really recognise that arena and scenery !!!
and it looked like a great lesson :D glad that you have found a good instructor (:

[Mary Poppins]

I would say that your stirrups are too long. You are reaching down for them and I think that at that length is will be impossible for you to put any weight in them. I would put them up a couple of holes. If you riding instructor insists that it is these long stirrups or no stirrups, then I would ride without them. This will really develop your seat and your balance and you will learn how to use your legs much more effectively. In the long term, riding without stirrups will make you a much better rider.

I would also concentrate on having more of a bend in your elbow. In some of the pictures it looks like you are holding your arms out straight. This will have the effect of you locking your hands and not being able to feel the horses mouth effectively. Also, make sure that your tumbs are on top of the reins (like you are carrying a cup of tea).

You look like you are having fun and the horse is lovely.

[NightRider]

Cat you look great:) Ritchie too tehehe. Those stirrups are a bit too long for my liking but hey if it's helping why not lol. That last pic he looks like he is working wonderfully:D

[kitcat2]

Up one hole for next week then :rolleyes: I explained already MP why I didn't wanna go stirrupless ;)

I was looking at piccies thinking that but I hope once I get my arms closer to my body the elbows will fall into place:) And hands, I know! I did imporve a wee bit towards the end of the lesson but I just need to keep reminding myslef :o:) My instructor does often enough ;)

[m22]

Stirrups are too long - you do not have a deep enough seat to be able to ride at that length.

More bend in the arm and take up a contact.

Hands - get a jump whip and hold it between your thumbs and fore fingers i.e. so it is horizontal in front of you. That will teach you to keep your hand straight.

also, dont rise so high in rising trot - you seem to be standing almost straight which in turn causes you to have straight arms.

I would suggest lunge lessons - this will help you develop a better seat and more balance as you seem to be tipping back to keep your balance as you can no longer rely on the stirrups. When I started with one new instructor she lunged me on her big moving 17.2hh warmblood without reins or stirrups to help me develop balance and seat. You learnt pretty quick to sit up straight as it was a very long way to the ground!

[kitcat2]

Stirrups are too long - you do not have a deep enough seat to be able to ride at that length.

More bend in the arm and take up a contact.

Hands - get a jump whip and hold it between your thumbs and fore fingers i.e. so it is horizontal in front of you. That will teach you to keep your hand straight.

also, dont rise so high in rising trot - you seem to be standing almost straight which in turn causes you to have straight arms.

Rising I also noticed, possibly to do with longer stirrups:rolleyes::confused:

I know to have a contact but RI has me riding him on a loose rein atm - there was a reason I just can't remember :o

[joosie]

That last pic he looks like he is working wonderfully:D

Erm... are you sure about that??

[kitcat2]

Erm... are you sure about that??

Huh? We took the corner a bit sharp if thats what you mean :confused: My bad steering, not his fault:o It would help if you told me rather than leaving cryptic messages :rolleyes:

[joosie]

Sorry kitcat, it wasn't a criticism of your riding or your horse :o The comment was actually for Nightrider... just thought it was an interesting comment to make for that particular photo!

Re: riding in long stirrups because you're nervous about riding stirrupless - you will probably find that riding without stirrups is actually much easier and more comfortable than having them really long. With the long stirrups you are visibly stretching down to reach them, whereas if you didn't have stirrups at all, you would be more likely to have your leg in the correct place. In the photos you look a bit rigid and uncomfortable, and the stirrups are encouraging your lower leg to come too far forwards and your toes to stick out. You aren't going to be able to get your horse working nicely if you have your feet on his shoulders.

If your friend is trying to get you into dressage then yes, at some point you may want to be riding with longer stirrups than usual... but generally it's better to do it in stages rather than all at once! Train your leg to lengthen as it were. ((I know you see dressage riders with such long stirrups, but that comes after years of training and practise))

[kitcat2]

Sorry kitcat, it wasn't a criticism of your riding or your horse :o The comment was actually for Nightrider... just thought it was an interesting comment to make for that particular photo!

Re: riding in long stirrups because you're nervous about riding stirrupless - you will probably find that riding without stirrups is actually much easier and more comfortable than having them really long. With the long stirrups you are visibly stretching down to reach them, whereas if you didn't have stirrups at all, you would be more likely to have your leg in the correct place. In the photos you look a bit rigid and uncomfortable, and the stirrups are encouraging your lower leg to come too far forwards and your toes to stick out. You aren't going to be able to get your horse working nicely if you have your feet on his shoulders.

If your friend is trying to get you into dressage then yes, at some point you may want to be riding with longer stirrups than usual... but generally it's better to do it in stages rather than all at once! Train your leg to lengthen as it were. ((I know you see dressage riders with such long stirrups, but that comes after years of training and practise))

Ah ok! :rolleyes: Makes sense.

Your comment was really helpful - it made sense. I think they were a bit longer than she put them at for the first lesson as someone else had been riding him and so I put them back wrongly :o I'll put them up a hole and take some piccies then - hopefully I won't be so terribly bad then. I feel so sorry for Ritchie having to put up with me:o:rolleyes:.

I really appreciate everyones comments and advice:D:D Thanks. Only way I can improve is by people telling me what I'm doing wrong :rolleyes::D

[lauraandharvey]

your reins are abit long
lovley pony:D

[m22]

Rising I also noticed, possibly to do with longer stirrups:rolleyes::confused:

I know to have a contact but RI has me riding him on a loose rein atm - there was a reason I just can't remember :o

You should always ride with a contact - it is part of your communication with the horse. You have visibly baggy reins in some of the pics.

Perhaps she was trying to get the horse to stretch down into the contact but in order to do that, you need to have a lot more impulsion and for him to be working across his back.

It sounds like she is trying to fix too many things all at once. For now I would put the stirrups up and concentrate on hands. Try the exercise I posted above - it really will keep you focussed on keeping your hands level and together - I used to have a really bad habit of raising my inside hand to support my horse's shoulder. He in turn decided that he would just use my arms to carry him round the school. Riding with the whip in a lesson we were all over the place as I was forced to keep my hands together and he was forced to support himself. It is just the little things that make a huge difference.

The seat will come with more work and in time you will be able to ride longer. I really do recommend lunge lessons so you can forget about steering and just concentrate on yourself.

[kitcat2]

I don't really want a lunge lesson if im perfectly honest. Had one once and I just hated it:o

I know contact is important but I'm sure she had a reason behind it.:rolleyes: I'm gonna work on this stuff, thanks again but any chance I could have some positives? Or aren't there any?:confused:

[m22]

he is a very nice pony - I have a soft spot for duns. In the second last pic you look much better.

You sit up and dont look down - those are both good things and most people do one or both and they are both hard habits to break. I have a tendency to look down in the school - I know I am doing it I just cant help myself unless someone is shouting at me from the ground to look where I am going.

I love lunge lessons - really gives you a chance just to feel the movement. I had them regularly for 6 months.

[twigs]

Im in no position to give critique being a novice but you look well together, and the pony is gorgeous!:)
Id love some pics of myself riding but dont have anyone to take them, and wont ask the YO:p

[kitcat2]

Im in no position to give critique being a novice but you look well together, and the pony is gorgeous!:)
Id love some pics of myself riding but dont have anyone to take them, and wont ask the YO:p

Aww thank you :D:D Is there noone you could drag up to the yard for an hour or so? Or maybe ask another livery?:o

[kitcat2]

he is a very nice pony - I have a soft spot for duns. In the second last pic you look much better.

You sit up and dont look down - those are both good things and most people do one or both and they are both hard habits to break. I have a tendency to look down in the school - I know I am doing it I just cant help myself unless someone is shouting at me from the ground to look where I am going.

Cheers. I love him to bits. Ill try and take on board all of your suggestions and post some more picces;)

[starrynight]

Ritchie looks lovely!!! It sounds like you are enjoying the lessons too!

I echo what everyone has said about the stirrups! I would honestly try riding without stirrups when you feel you are ready as it really does help. Maybe try a lesson or two at a riding school on a steady horse who is used to that sort of thing just to get your confidence going before trying it on Ritchie if that is what is worrying you. I always find that after i've ridden without stirrups i can feel myself sitting much better in the saddle and much more secure (and generally my stirrups end up feeling too short!) so i really think its worth it. Lunge lessons can be helpful, you could maybe do 5-10min at the start of your lesson just to work specifically on your position etc without having to worry about where Ritchie is going lol!

m22 - yes having a contact is important but i also think it is important, especially when starting out that you learn that you don't always need to rely on having a contact. Its important to learn that you can control the horse by using your legs and seat rather than just hauling on a horses mouth to get it to turn a corner or slow down. Think about all the transitions you make and movements you can do, especially downwards transitions...you have to use your seat and your legs. Its a good thing to be able to slow a horse down by just being able to use your seat, i think it makes it easier later on :)

[m22]

m22 - yes having a contact is important but i also think it is important, especially when starting out that you learn that you don't always need to rely on having a contact. Its important to learn that you can control the horse by using your legs and seat rather than just hauling on a horses mouth to get it to turn a corner or slow down. Think about all the transitions you make and movements you can do, especially downwards transitions...you have to use your seat and your legs. Its a good thing to be able to slow a horse down by just being able to use your seat, i think it makes it easier later on :)

Having a contact doesnt have anything to do with steering. A contact is used to ask the horse to soften and relax its jaw, and to ask it to flex and bend (together with leg and seat aids). In order for the horse to be able to work correctly from behind and across its back it needs to have a contact to work into - there is no point in creating energy behind and letting it all out the front so that the horse runs onto the forehand.

[twigs]

Aww thank you :D:D Is there noone you could drag up to the yard for an hour or so? Or maybe ask another livery?:o

Ill get around to it sometime, but have no horsey friends at moment:o:rolleyes:

[starrynight]

Having a contact doesnt have anything to do with steering. A contact is used to ask the horse to soften and relax its jaw, and to ask it to flex and bend (together with leg and seat aids). In order for the horse to be able to work correctly from behind and across its back it needs to have a contact to work into - there is no point in creating energy behind and letting it all out the front so that the horse runs onto the forehand.

Thats true but from a beginner and novice riders point of view i think that reins can be thought of as a steering aid when its far more complex than that. Also i don't think its important when you are learning to worry about the horse being in an outline, working from behind and into a contact etc, i've always been taught that is more important to get the basics right and to me that starts with your legs and your seat- you cannot get a horse to work well/in an outline without good leg and seat aids (well i definately can't anway!). Loads of people have jumping lessons where the RI takes the reins away thats all about balance and learning to control the horse using other methods.

(please don't think i'm trying to pick a fight, i'm not, i actually just think its a really important aspect of riding!)

[kitcat2]

To be honest I don't think I'll be going around like that for the rest of my lessons with her!:confused: It is just for a few sessions (she did explain why - just brain like a seive:rolleyes::o) I know about contact and its purpose:) just doing something a bit different for a bit.

I'll put my stirrups up a hole and remember my arms/hand thingy too - she has been nagging me about them don't worry ;):p