JOJOBA
12th Mar 2006, 08:08 PM
About 3 yrs ago I started having lessons on my instructors own riding horse. I had seen this horse being schooled, looking beautiful and showing off, and thought I was moving up in the world. Unfortunately, we just did NOT click. I had lessons on him on and off for about a year - a year of him hollowing out against me, shaking his head and (I SWEAR this is true) casting pleading looks at my instructor along the lines of 'ow! ow! she's hurting me! get her off! What did I do?!'. :o
Eventually we decided that me and this horse were just not meant to be, he's very sensitive and picky and I just didnt get on with him. I rode other horses and improved a bit, and occasionally I had a lesson on him again, always with the same result as before.
For the last 6 months or so Ive been having my lessons on a little connemara called Baxter. He's very green and has improved a lot - he's only been on the yard that long too. I absolutely love him.
On wednesday I arrived on the yard to find I was riding one of my favourite horses - a big clydesdale cross. Except I wasnt, because it had been crossed out and Id been put onto my instructor's horse instead. I prepared myself for half an hour of his hopping and pleading eyes and head straight up in the air.
When I got in my instructor said 'I know you find him difficult, so just pretend he's Baxter. Just ride him exactly how you would ride Baxter, dont change anything.'
And do you know what? It only worked :cool:.
Unfortunately horse had a cough that got to him every time he went onto the bridle, but we worked him through it and soon I was walking and trotting my Everest horse, in outline, and doing leg yield on him, with not a single 'MUM! GET HER OFF ME!' moment from him, or a single 'Move your head, I cant see where we're going!!' moment from me.
Instructor said it was the best Id ridden him and shows how much of a positive improvement there has been in my riding, :) oooo :).
Isnt it nice when something goes right?
I was going to post a picture of him but they've taken him off the website :(. He's a 15.3hh dappled grey Hanoverian x Andalusian gelding anyway. Very pretty and knows it. :p
On reflection I may not have conquered him, but Ive certainly gotten halfway up and dug a nice little snow cave which I will refuse to be dislodged from. ;)
xxx
Eventually we decided that me and this horse were just not meant to be, he's very sensitive and picky and I just didnt get on with him. I rode other horses and improved a bit, and occasionally I had a lesson on him again, always with the same result as before.
For the last 6 months or so Ive been having my lessons on a little connemara called Baxter. He's very green and has improved a lot - he's only been on the yard that long too. I absolutely love him.
On wednesday I arrived on the yard to find I was riding one of my favourite horses - a big clydesdale cross. Except I wasnt, because it had been crossed out and Id been put onto my instructor's horse instead. I prepared myself for half an hour of his hopping and pleading eyes and head straight up in the air.
When I got in my instructor said 'I know you find him difficult, so just pretend he's Baxter. Just ride him exactly how you would ride Baxter, dont change anything.'
And do you know what? It only worked :cool:.
Unfortunately horse had a cough that got to him every time he went onto the bridle, but we worked him through it and soon I was walking and trotting my Everest horse, in outline, and doing leg yield on him, with not a single 'MUM! GET HER OFF ME!' moment from him, or a single 'Move your head, I cant see where we're going!!' moment from me.
Instructor said it was the best Id ridden him and shows how much of a positive improvement there has been in my riding, :) oooo :).
Isnt it nice when something goes right?
I was going to post a picture of him but they've taken him off the website :(. He's a 15.3hh dappled grey Hanoverian x Andalusian gelding anyway. Very pretty and knows it. :p
On reflection I may not have conquered him, but Ive certainly gotten halfway up and dug a nice little snow cave which I will refuse to be dislodged from. ;)
xxx