Here we go!!!!!!!!!

[shandy84]

I have just been up and booked a lesson for my little mare and I. We will be working for thirty minutes, we haven't ever been in a school and worked so it will be a really new experience for her.

The problem I have is that I don't really have a good rapport with the instructor and I disagree with some of her methods. Am I still able to learn things from her that will benefit Shandy for example she will hit a horse and when I used to ride with her encouraged it, yet Shandy is a little whip shy and the most i ever do is touch her can we still work together even with these different opinions.

My aims are small circles a tiny bit of lateral work and a balanced trot, I don't expect it quoickly but we would really like some rounding rather than the hollowing we have had.

Also I'm really nervous as the school can be quite clicky and although i get on with a couple of people there are many more that would take the mickey.

Shandy is only just past three but to be honest I don't know the best way to teach her the basics like circles (she thinks I'm asking her to trot) also I find it hard to judge when she's coming rounder etc when I'm on top.

What should I say to the instructor when we get there in terms of what I do and don't want to do? Shandy doesn't canter yet (unless very frightened) so it would be walk and trot work?

With hacking there and back the session would be about forty minutes, is this okay? Am I best to boot her up as she's unbalanced and I wan to do circle work?

[wildponies]

if you don't have your own boots i wouldn't rush out to buy them but ask at the school first to see if they have any spare (they should have a few lying around). I'd stick some brushing boots on her just to be on the safe side. As long as you start off your circles quite large before going small there shouldn't really be a problem. the different surface under her feet might feel a bit strange to her so give her a chance to get settled on it first before asking her to do circles.

I'd tell the instructor exactl;y what you want to achieve from the session/s before you get on board so that you have a goal. As for the whip-using methods.. why not just tell her that Shandy is whip-shy and you'd rather find an alternative way to overcome problems, for example I was riding a young gelding the other day and we had a few problems with napping when we came to a gate, rather than giving him a good smack (which was suggested by a few onlookers) i turned him in tight circles in both directions before asking him to continue so that he got the idea 'unless he goes where i ask him to go.. i'd make him do plenty of work on thge spot.. so he may as well keep moving'.

With my instructors (quite a few at the moment) i find i don't agree with certain methods they use or solutions to various problems but on other issues i find what they say really useful anfd works a a treat, so i think it depends.

I'd stick to walk and trot for at least a few sessions until she's balanced and confident on both reins, then perhaps after a while you can start to introduce a (sane) canter, rather than a panicked one. I know that when Miss used to panic she'd start to run and then suddenly jump into a break-neck speed canter :rolleyes:

Teaching her to do circles, your best bet when on board is to keep your outside rein at one (relatively tight) length, to stop her running through it and to turn her head for an inward bend using your inside rein. get her to bend around your inside leg by keeping it on the girth and applying pressure. Keep your outside leg still and don't apply pressure, (this and keeping the outside rein at one constant length should stop her running into trot and ask her to bend from her ribs around your inside leg).

I've just had a lesson from a dressage rider.. can you tell? :rolleyes:

Anyway good luck, and get OH to go along to take some photos of the lovely Shandy! :)