Pics from latest Nervous Riders Seminar

[JaniceH]

Well I'm back - and it was just terrific, more than just terrific actually, I think it will make a tremendous difference to how we all ride, and for some of us, help us make big decisions about our horses and help us deal with the fears we have while riding. We watched the videos that we had brought with us, and Heather gave us tips on how we could improve our riding. We had discussions on saddle manufacture and how the stirrup leather position completely alters your balance and your position in the saddle, we saw Heather ride her beautiful horse Fanta, and show us how we can learn to absorb the movement of the horse and even move our horses by just using our seatbones. We then had lots of practice on the simulators, I for one, thought I would not be able to conquer my fear of losing my balance and just falling over the side, but with the help of Heather and the other girls - thanks! I actually managed to absorb the movement in sitting trot at quite a speed, and as the others know, I found it quite an emotional experience! We also went on the canter simulator, a person driven spring horse, and everyone said that that it was incredibly like a real canter movement, we were all shown how to move with the canter and not block it, while Heather was able to move our backs into just the right position. We then experienced the difference between conventional saddles and conventional saddles with the HM seatbone saver, and how, without the SBS you cannot sit in the deepest part of the saddle, which makes the stirrup bar position really cause problems. So if you had no choice in which saddle you had to ride in, having the SBS makes your position better and makes you so much more comfortable.

Whilst we were there we saw the third prototype of the new treeless saddle, and I know for one that I will be placing an order when I get my own horse as it is sooo comfortable, and more importantly, will be so good for our horses backs.

I just wanted to say thank you for such a great time Heather, and it was lovely to meet Debbie and Remmel (I don't know if that's spelt right) and your working student. I felt a real wrench coming home, as I wanted to carry on learning, and that's a sign of having a great teacher!

Heres a pic of Heather and Fanta in her indoor school (lucky thing)

[JaniceH]

Pic of riding on the simulator

[galadriel]

Absolutely terrific for you :)

[nutkin]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I bet you can't wait to put it into practise in your next lesson. I wish i could have had a go at the equisimulator when i was learning to ride. I bet it makes a huge difference to how fast you learn.

[HairyCob]

I am green with envy! Glad you had such a wonderful time!:D

[$@R@H]

Oh wow!
Sounds awesome!!!
Glad you had a good time!!:D

[kyanya]

Janice, I am really, so very, very jealous. It sounds like you had a brilliant, both socially and with your riding.

I really don't have an excuse for not booking myself up on a course, other than the fact that I'd need to save up.

[KarinUS]

I am green with envy! Glad you had such a wonderful time!

Me, too! Too bad you guys are so far away!

[chev]

Sounds fantastic! Good to hear you had such a positive experience.

Have to admit, attending one of Heather's courses is fast becoming an ambition of mine!

Have you been riding again since? (Wondering how you feel the benefits in a lesson back home...)

[shandy84]

Hiya,

It's great that it went well, and was fun too! Wonder what the school horses will think of you now, big question though - do you feel more confident about going into canter?

[judyl]

I can echo about the simulators being really useful. Since being on one of Heather's seminars, I can now easily sit the canter and absorb the movement completely. It has made a huge difference in my riding. All thanks to Heather and her imagination and commitment.

:D

[JaniceH]

I have not been riding since I got back as I don't have my lesson until Friday, so we shall see! Even though I could use Heather's canter simulator machine, and I can sit to a normal canter - yay! However Heather discovered that the lesson horse I ride canter's totally on the forehand, so instead of a slightly uphill movement, she flips me up from the back, my balance cannot adjust to this type of movement, so I fall off the front over the shoulder. Heather suggested that I work on lateral movements and sitting and rising trot, and wait until I can school a horse of my own, so that I will be more confident in canter.

As for having to save up to go, believe me, my Disability income does not stretch very far at all, and I have been saving for months to go, but it was worth every single penny!

[Hyper]

Heather,

Has your equine contact resulted in you growing your upper leg length - in which case tell the rest of us how to do this - or are you an evolutionary natural???? Actually if I said this as it's supposed to be spoken (in the evolutionary dictionary) I'd say something like: "Are you a mutant?" BUT in conventional speak this WOULD appear to be 'though not at all meant to be very rude!!!

Sandra

[Yann]

LOL!:D

[Heather]

Hi Janice!!

Thanks so much for such a lovely report- I am so glad that you enjoyed it, and feel that it gave you more confidence. I am so lucky in that every one of the riders who has been on these workshops, whether the 3 day seminars or Nervous Rider ones- has been a delight to work with. It does make the job so much easier when working with riders who really believe in what you are doing!!

Given Janice's problems after her stroke, she has overcome them extremely well, and is a lot more capable a rider than I think that she ever imagined!- with a very supple back and despite having to concentrate very hard, she managed to absorb the movement better than many that you will see who havent had a major health setback like Janice!!

Now all she needs is a nice horse of her own to practise on- anyone know of one that might suit, a bit later in the year, please let me know so that I can suss it out for Janice - must be well mannered and well schooled, especially in canter- no on the forehand plods- an elderly ex show horse on loan to begin with might be ideal!! They are used to having all sorts of judges ride them and have to be well mannered and well schooled!!

Keep us posted as to your progress Janice- you were a pleasure to teach.

Heather

[Heather]

HI Sandra (Hyper)-

Think it must be the angle Janice took the pic! Fanta is only 15.1hh and I am 5'8", and yes I do have long thighs, but shorter calves!! - another two inches on those and I might be better in proportion!!


Heather

[JaniceH]

Hi Heather
You're obviously up as late as me! Thanks for your kind words Heather, I have written to you as well! I had my lesson on Friday and it went very well, considering that my legs and head normally refuse to co-operate in the cold, I was determined to ride! Apparantly I was the only one to show for a lesson all morning! My instructor put me on a dependable ploddy, rather than my normal Tammi, as Tammi had a bit of a hissy fit when she saw the snow and my instructor decided that she was rather I was safe! I did a bit of sitting trot and the movement of my seatbones was rather more choppy than the simulator, it felt like when you are sitting on the floor, doing the walking along on your bottom exercise but without moving anywhere! But I was still, and didnt bounce at all. I even had my instructor ask me how exactly are you doing that then.... (She does sitting trot with the nodding head syndrome) I will be lending her your book. I did show her how to always go into rising trot on the right diagonal, I think she is impressed! My instructor is one of those people where you plant an idea, and you just let her think about it for a while, and then all of a sudden she is asking for more information, hee hee.

My instructor has said that I seem really determined, and even more enthusiastic since I came back from Heathers, I now have another movement to add to my list of two: walk and rising trot, I can now do sitting trot!! Canter will have to wait, as even though I could do the movement on the simulator, the thought of doing it on a horse that is on the forehand (like the one I normally ride) still gives me that sick feeling.

If anyone does know of a suitable horse, please let Heather know, believe me, it will be one loved and appreciated four legged friend, and have a 5* home.

I'll keep everyone posted as to how its going. In the meantime in between my degree studies I have started doing the BHS Horse Ownership Certificate, so that will give me a horsey fix for a while! lol

[Heather]

HI Janice,

Great!! Glad that your lesson went well- often a ploddy horse with a short choppy trot will not give you much sensation of movement, but it is not a bad thing to start on a smaller mover and work your way up to bigger ones!!

As you say, keep us posted!!

Heather

[Jules Barbour]

A canter simulator - what an absolutely fab idea! While I am keen to get going I always find myself thrown totally off balance because I just cannot get the hang of sitting trot ... when and where is the next seminar?

[JaniceH]

Hi Jules

Have a look at Heather's website, you can get to it from the Enlightened Equitation Forum on the Main New Rider Forum page.

I totally recommend her courses - you will have a great time and learn lots.

[Jules Barbour]

Certainly will - there's no better recommendation than someone who's been there, done it and enjoyed it!