I DID IT!!!!!!!

[Silver1]

I have had a great deal of trouble trotting, i just couldn't relax and bounced right onto poor Missy's neck, well i rode another horse today, but i don't think it is the horse that made me relax, I switched from using a slippery, uncomfortable, stirrup using saddle to a pad. And i finally figured out how to sit the trot...TROTTING IS FUN!!!!

The only thing that spoiled my lesson a touch is that my instructor rode with me to get me used to working with other horses, it was loads of fun, but Gracie wouldn't cooperate, she trotted to fast, she trotted to slow, she tail gated, I tail gaited when Gracie just stopped, Val had to use a whip with her, but at last she got her all straightened out, I had so much fun!!!

But then i ended up cooling Gracie, I have never had any trouble leading any of the horses, even the yearlings, with out so much of a tug they follow, same with the mares and geldings, but Gracie (mare) was just AWFUL, she wasn't in heat, we walked past a stallion with no reaction (mare may be pregnant) but Gracie walked incredibly slowly, and she fussed and she tried to drag me backwards, and finally i reached behind with the end of the lead rope and hit her with the end of it. She finally decided to behave and would respond when i gave her the signals. Then she got bored and stoped paying attention and walked a few steps ahead when i stopped. So i made her back up, all horses have to pay attention when they back up, and gracie did fine...sort of...until i went to put her away, and she forgot again, all i had to do was twitch the lead rope slightly near her quarters and she started behaving.


but the whole point of this long boring post is I TROTTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cobbie2001]

just wait untill you canter i find its better than trotting

[JackiAH]

Oh Cobbie is right! Cantering is SO much easier than trotting! Trust me!

I only just fell off a canter toda- erm.... Wrong subject. :)

Congrats,

Jacki

[Silver1]

cool!
I've been kinda iffy about riding for awhile, the caring for horses is fun, but riding...on a squeaky clumsy piece of leather...is hard!!! It jsut keeps getting in the way!!!

[Maci]

At least I find! It's challenging and makes you think, making all those snap discisions (sp?) and all (how to approach this jump, flying lead changes, etc.)!

When you think about it (which I do alot because I have no life! JJ!) when you are riding, you are getting the horse to trust in you, and when he does trust in you, he is your "puppet" looking to you for guidance and to make the right descision that will benifit both you and him. He is basically saying, "You are now the leader for me. I will serve you and try to make you happy by allowing you to control my actions and movement. Please be kind." Most "outsiders" (to riding, that is) don't get it- when you finally get a 1000 pound noble beast to trust in you, a lowly human (compared to him), they don't understand the great achievment it is and that you feel!

Pretty Deep Thinking, Huh?
Maci :)

[fionahogg]

That’s great Silver!
And jumping is even better than cantering!!(until you fall off, oh the fun of it all :)!!)

Fiona

[Katie_85]

I remember my first trot. Watching the world bounce up and down and wondering how much daylight could be seen beteween my bum and the saddle! Glad you had fun. Happy trotting...

[Somethingroyal]

lol, when I first learned to post, my trainer could see semi's between my but and the saddle. Now she can only see their tires:)

[Katie_85]

lol I don't think there is much to be seen between me and the saddle now, unless of course you count the massive amount of daylight that was seen when I fell off... but that's another story! :)

[Silver1]

Riding isn't hard at all, its the doing it RIGHT thats hasrd!

Lol, actually my first trot was a few days ago, i bounced around so much that poor Miss hated me...luckily she is very forgiving, but i took 'liza out on my second trot, and i got it right. I'm not sure what your talking about with daylight between the saddle, i'm guessing it's bad? When i ride 'liza my bum is glued to the saddle and simpily isn't coming off...

[Maci]

If you are rising trot and your instructor can see what is on the otherside of you, clearly, between your saddle and your bum, then something's wrong! More than likely, you are coming too far up off the saddle; instead, it should just be a little rise up and forward and gently down.

Maci :)

[JackiAH]

LOL! I remember my first trot. I didn't get to do it on the lunge line for the first time, and it was rather frightening! I remember that I kept landing on... well, the front of the saddle was going in inappropriate places if you catch my drift!

I kept thinking "OW OW OW OW OWWWW!" lol! But ya know, it was fun after-all. First canter was alot more fun though, but I was extremely scared to do it without stirrups! Ugh. *shudders*

Good way to keep your bum *in* the saddle- FULL SEAT BREECHES! :)

Jacki

[Silver1]

ooh, I see!
Thanks Maci, and JackiAH now i asee what i'm doing wrong...

i can trot better on Missy now, but she keeps pulling me forward on the reins, apparently, i'm riding in to weak a bit, she just barrels right through it and pulls her head down and yanks the reins out of my hands, i was to tight, now i'm to soft :(

anyway, she totally ignores the bit, i really didn't notice except for the rein yanking, because i'm so used to leg aids, i found out the reason why i had to wallop her is because my legs are to far forward and i was kicking the girth, now that i reach back i can just barely brush her and she responds.

But the bit is a bad problem, so they are changing her to a pelham, i don't think she likes the snaffle either, she just doesn't "go" well with it...maybe that sounds wierd?

And why would you be afraid to do it with out stirrups? When ever Val says i can its like YAAAAHHHH!!!!!! I knew Val was good, i didn't know HOW good, one of her riders has got such great balance she can go over a 1ft jump bareback with hands stretched straight out, (with a helmet of course, you can here her on the other side of the ranch if you stick your foot in the stirrup with out a helmet...

I don't have breeches, i really want some, and will be getting some in a few weeks.