Showjumper
17th Oct 2005, 07:26 PM
Whooooooooo! I've been trying for almost a year now to find someone to teach me, and have had responses such as, "I don't teach adults on ponies", "I don't teach if you don't have a bit", "Treeless saddles are dangerous" and "You're too big for that pony". I've had a few people offer to teach me, but they were very kick-pull which I don't want.
A friend recommended an instructor to me, and she came to teach me tonight :D She has worked with Richard Maxwell, and is very into softness and connection between horse and rider.
Firstly, I'm super lopsided! More so than I thought I was! And I was seriously knocking Dolly off balance too! She fixed me into a straight, balanced position, and explained that today's lesson was all about softness. I was to pretty much let Dolly choose direction and just stay soft and stay with her. I wasn't to mess with her, or use my reins. All turns and transitions to be done with minimum fuss, and preferably just body weight and thought.
I fiddle and nit pick poor Dolly! If she asks a question, I answer it instead of just asking her for what I want. At one point, I asked her to circle, and she dropped out through the shoulder. My instructor told me not to correct her, but to put leg on, keep looking where I wanted to go to stay on the circle that I wanted. You know what - Dolly corrected herself and came straight back onto the circle!!! :D
Soooooooooo impressed! I had the lesson in next door's arena, and the lady that owns it always speaks her mind. She told me that she had no idea that me and Dolly could go so well :D I have another lesson in 2 weeks time :D Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo pleased :D
A friend recommended an instructor to me, and she came to teach me tonight :D She has worked with Richard Maxwell, and is very into softness and connection between horse and rider.
Firstly, I'm super lopsided! More so than I thought I was! And I was seriously knocking Dolly off balance too! She fixed me into a straight, balanced position, and explained that today's lesson was all about softness. I was to pretty much let Dolly choose direction and just stay soft and stay with her. I wasn't to mess with her, or use my reins. All turns and transitions to be done with minimum fuss, and preferably just body weight and thought.
I fiddle and nit pick poor Dolly! If she asks a question, I answer it instead of just asking her for what I want. At one point, I asked her to circle, and she dropped out through the shoulder. My instructor told me not to correct her, but to put leg on, keep looking where I wanted to go to stay on the circle that I wanted. You know what - Dolly corrected herself and came straight back onto the circle!!! :D
Soooooooooo impressed! I had the lesson in next door's arena, and the lady that owns it always speaks her mind. She told me that she had no idea that me and Dolly could go so well :D I have another lesson in 2 weeks time :D Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo pleased :D