Dressage Lesson!!!- help!!

[jumper-4-joy]

I finally am getting a dressage lesson from a Grand Prix rider- dont remenber the name though...:o

Anyway, I want to know what I should try to achieve during it.I know things like leg-yields, overbending, turn on the forehand, and a little collection and extension.

So, if the trainer asks what my goal to achieve is- what is it???:confused: What types of lateral movements should I try to learn? The horse can do just about anything (Trakahner trained 3rd level about 10 yrs. ago,probably forgot by now).:p

So, please help me!!!:)

[Tangle]

Oooh - sounds exciting :D When is it?

It might be worth being a little more generic - so rather than focussing a specific movement maybe find an area (collection, extension, bend, softeness/submission, "throughness" etc) that you don't feel is going as well as it should and let the instructor suggest how best to improve it (which will probably include whatever lateral movements are appropriate).

Also could be worth considering whether you want the lesson to be primarily about the horse or about you ;)

Hope you have a fantastic time - looking forward to the report :D

[andreaB]

i wouldn't worry too much

a good instructor will usually ask you to ride & will often ride the horse themselves & will quickly assess where both you & the horse are at & what you need to be working on to move forward

but likewise if you've got some idea's of things you would like to improve or achieve they should be receptive

good luck!!

[Ross]

Well, what IS your goal? Are you just aiming to improve generally, or aiming at competing, or something else entirely?

I'd try not to decide in advance on specific things to tackle - a good instructor should assess how you are going at the moment and work from there...

Ross

[dressage1anja]

Im gonna go ahead and guess this is a Clinic?

we have many of thoes at our barn.. usually with a GP rider.. and he asks us what we would like to improve.. Usually we will tell him something thats going wrong between horse and rider communications- like misunderstandments-resisting.. or something like that, usually we dont say one specific movement.. the last clinic with him i said- miscommunication on the outside rein.. meaning horse not responding rite!

[jumper-4-joy]

Hey everyone! thanks for all of the responses. Well, this is actually a dressage lesson, because a GP rider is coming to the barn and working with each of us for an hour. Anyway, for a goal, I dont really know... I guess I just want to learn exercises to help the horse balance and use the correct muscles and carry themselves better. Also build a stronger bond. Well, so I will give all of you an update after its over! Wish me luck!:D


PS- Does anyone know now what I should tell the instructor giving the lesson? I dont know how to make all of what I wrote above sound simple!!:o

[IrisSilverMoon]

I'd probably state it just like that.

though in my experience they usually ask what you already know how to do and then ask you to ride through some things. Then once they pick something it looks like could help you, that's what they start with and move on from there.

[Ross]

Just tell him exactly what you wrote - it's where you want to go, and he should be easily able to relate to that.

Have fun :)

Ross

[dressage1anja]

yea thats what a clinic is.. you pay a GP rider to come in and give you a lesson for and hour, and there is a variety of people doing it:)

[jumper-4-joy]

Hey everyone! Ihad a great time at my lesson (clinic, I guess:) )Anyway, it was great! The horse I was riding was an absolute angel (for once) and everybody (even the instructor) thought he was great. They called him "cute" and my trainer said they obviously didn't know him that well ;) !

Well, first she sadi to just ride around to evaluate our level. Then, since my horse was a little hot, we were told to do circles, and then I started doing 20m circles around the instuctor, and we worked on spiraling in/out and counterflexing while trotting and cantering in that circle. And it really made the neck light! My horse carried his own neck flawlessly. Everyone said he looked gorgeous. Why cant all horses be that way?:p

Anyway, so it was great. I also learned stuff that I could use on my younger green horse! Perfect!

So, anyway, there is the update, and thanks for replying earlier!:D :D :D