Winter blues better - and so is Ben!

[sophie33]

Thanks for the support when I was feeling useless the other week. Turns out Ben had a really bad case of mites but he is on the mend now, and can be ridden again.
And my confidence also seem to be on the mend! I had one more pathetic 10 minute ride round the school in the dark last week, in which I felt totally useless. But then on Sunday I had a lesson, and things started to look up. I had gone backwards - tensing up, leaning forward, letting my heels come up - all, I think, cos I was feelling useless. But my lovely RI got me working hard on sorting all that out, and sold me a whip, which I must say, little as I used it, immediately made life easier! So yesterday I had the afternoon off work and went and rode for 45 minutes in the school on my own. I made a little plan and followed it. Feeling thoroughly proud of myself, I actually work Ben hard enough to get him sweating a bit - a first for me on my own!
And afterwards - when Ben yet again started trying to grab other horses dinner - one of the women who works on the yard told me that Ben's owner takes Ben out of the stable block at the far end and walks him all the way round it, cos then she doesn't have to go past the other horses dinner! She said that it wasn't really allowed but maybe I should start doing the same. It made me feel much better (I know this is wrong but...) it is so nice to know that Ben takes the pee out of everyone on this score - not just me!! :p

[Tizer]

Well done for sticking with it, expect not so good days but dont dwell on them.
On the other hand when you have a good day tell everybody that will listen, will make you feel great. :D

[Whatanejit]

Oh well done Sophie!

Big pat on the back, mate.

[sophie33]

Thanks!

[Chinarider]

Well done on a good lesson and then taking that good feeling through to your riding on your own :D

I wish I could have my RI at my disposal all the time, but I suppose some time to practice is good and he has better things to do ;) . What did your RI suggest to stop you tensing and leaning forwards? this is my problem too when I feel nervous, sometimes I am like a clothes peg !!!! Not the best way to develop a deep seat :p

[sophie33]

Thanks Chinarider. I am probably more noivce than you but I can tell you what she did. She got me doing some sitting trot without stirrups, concentrating on sitting back on my seat bones. Also bending in and out of various obstacles in walk without stirrups - using my weight etc. Then walk and trot standing up in the stirrups - concentrating on pushing my weight through my heels, and trying to stand tall and keep my balance without gripping with my knees! Very difficult, poor old Ben had to put up with a few ungainly thumps down into the saddle. Then some sitting trot with stirrups.
And then endless transitions, serpentines and circles with a constant commentary "heels down, shoulders back, don't let him pull you forward, your right side is okay but your left isn't obeying you - get that left heel down"!!! I'm not saying I am fixed, but it definitely helped. ANd I repeated it all on my own yesterday (although have to say I didn't do standing in the stirrups in trot on my own - someone else had come into the school and my steering while doing that is pants!)

[VickiGG]

isn't it great how a lesson from a keen observant RI can do the world of good to our confidence

[Chinarider]

Sophie, I am such a beginner !!!!!! I will have a bash at those this weekend, but it would take a very persuasive RI to get me to give up my stirrups !!:p If good old Jeffries put them on the saddle then I'd better use them :D

Hum.... standing balancing AND steering :o

[sophie33]

Well yes I can't stand, balance and steer! :p I was just trying to!! And when the riding instructor first suggesting doing it in trot I thought she was mad! Have to say my trust that she must know what she is doing was justified. It definitely help with the whole weight through the heels thing (at least on my right side :o )