wing mirrors for horses?

[Tangle]

We've just started doing lateral work (to give us more "feel", apparently), so we spent most of our lesson last night trying to do turns on the forehand. Actually, that's not quite right - we spent most of the lesson trying to get a decent halt so that we could try......:o :D

Anyway, a common trait came up. As a relatively new rider (who needs to develop some "feel"), there was a very strong tendency to wait until horse picks up back leg, and then try and see where it was going to go (and I still couldn't see, cos it was under the horse :rolleyes: :p ). And it's so hard to focus on a pair of ears and not look. So I figured a pair of wingmirrors might be the answer - how about the ones they use for towing caravans?:D :D

[Silver1]

I can tell when ever my horse picks up any hoof, walk your horse and concentrate on the feel, try to, with out looking, feel which hoof is moving. You'll get there! :)

[sallym]

Try it with your eyes closed! That really helps with "feel".

Best wishes

Sally

[kedwards]

It's so hard to get past the tendency to want to peek, isn't it? You may find that you can feel the horse's steps better than you think, but it takes awhile to get to the point where you trust what you feel.

[Tangle]

Thanks guys - it was starting to work by the end of the lesson (although Lightning, bless her, had worked out what we were tyring to do by then - C: "That was really good - were you using your right leg?" Me: "I hadn't even asked yet :rolleyes: ").

I'll have to try and remember to shut my eyes (assuming we're doing more of the same - closed eyes on sitting trot going large doesn't sound cunning). Next lesson tomorrow - I'll let you know how it goes :P.

[Tangle]

Hmmm - partial success. Managed to remember how to do a turn on the forehand, but then discovered that Lightning is just a little too old and stiff to do leg yeild (the Plan) happily. So we went on to plan B - rising trot no stirrups in walk, rising trot no stirrups in trot, sitting trot & canter.

So, next week I'm meant to be riding Pip who's HUGE. Any one got a roll down ladder I can hang off the stirrups? ;)