Lora
14th Apr 2005, 11:59 AM
I knew something was wrong, we were starting to cantor independantly and I have a mess up there. I could feel that things that should be happening weren't. I kept losing my stirrups, the horse would feel me all messed up and refuse to cantor. (imagine that!) :(
So out of desperation to fix things I knew were going wrong (but had no idea what) I talked to the barn manager, asking her if she would do a private lesson. She heard what I was saying and agreed that would be best.
She basically filled in the gaps of things I had never been taught in the last year of lessons. She used zero sarcasm, barking, etc like I normally get from another instructor and I had the most amazing ride, using maybe half of normal energy.
She fixed how I was holding my hands (wrong for the last year, never mentioned once) she also taught me how to control the speed using the post, pushing her faster, then slowing her down.. repeatedly alternating so I could see it does work.
By the end of the lesson the horse was a dozen times more responsive. She could tell when I'm about to ask for something and made herself ready when I did. My balance was better and had far better luck keeping my stirrups when getting ready to ask for a cantor.
The previous sunday, same horse, my regular instructor.. I had a BEAR of a time! I lost my stirrup in mid trot, was trying to retrieve it and wouldn't you know instructor asks (barks) for a cantor. When I didn't spring into action she was sarcastically barking over and over like I don't understand. I told her I was getting my stirrup and she told me to do it anyway and will collect it in cantor. (I don't THINK SO! I hope I misunderstood that direction.)
The fact that I was losing them at the faster trot tells me something was not being done right. I need to fix that problem, not work around it I feel.
The private lessons taught me that we were skimming over important things in group, and also that I'm not at my best with negative teaching. She filled in missing information and helped me work out some basics without using negative tactics. When the basics improved, the horse became really responsive and eager, so did I!
My barn manager is an amazing teacher and can't wait for the next private lesson to see what else she brings out of me. I've never ridden that well in my life.
So out of desperation to fix things I knew were going wrong (but had no idea what) I talked to the barn manager, asking her if she would do a private lesson. She heard what I was saying and agreed that would be best.
She basically filled in the gaps of things I had never been taught in the last year of lessons. She used zero sarcasm, barking, etc like I normally get from another instructor and I had the most amazing ride, using maybe half of normal energy.
She fixed how I was holding my hands (wrong for the last year, never mentioned once) she also taught me how to control the speed using the post, pushing her faster, then slowing her down.. repeatedly alternating so I could see it does work.
By the end of the lesson the horse was a dozen times more responsive. She could tell when I'm about to ask for something and made herself ready when I did. My balance was better and had far better luck keeping my stirrups when getting ready to ask for a cantor.
The previous sunday, same horse, my regular instructor.. I had a BEAR of a time! I lost my stirrup in mid trot, was trying to retrieve it and wouldn't you know instructor asks (barks) for a cantor. When I didn't spring into action she was sarcastically barking over and over like I don't understand. I told her I was getting my stirrup and she told me to do it anyway and will collect it in cantor. (I don't THINK SO! I hope I misunderstood that direction.)
The fact that I was losing them at the faster trot tells me something was not being done right. I need to fix that problem, not work around it I feel.
The private lessons taught me that we were skimming over important things in group, and also that I'm not at my best with negative teaching. She filled in missing information and helped me work out some basics without using negative tactics. When the basics improved, the horse became really responsive and eager, so did I!
My barn manager is an amazing teacher and can't wait for the next private lesson to see what else she brings out of me. I've never ridden that well in my life.