few questions

[lamprellsarah]

i am training 13yr old, rachel and she is soo good, but i need a little bit of help

she has the perfect postion in walk and does well in it, sometimes forgets to use her legs until the horse stops!!

in trot her heels aren't down and her legs move fowards, to solve this i am doing non stirrup work little bit of bareback, and lots of lunging and exercise any tips hints to help???

she is rising up instead of forward how can i explain about her pushing her stomach out!!

if the pony is strong to stop, she often braces her back to much and pushes her legs foward, and then ends up leaning back, this doesn't always happen but how can i encourage her to sit up???

oh one more her legs are weak what can i get her to do on and off the horse to improve her??

[THEO]

How about trying to get her to practice the trotting movements when the horse is stood still I know it will be a bit difficult for her but will also help with legs also walking strengthens leg muscle and also cycling would she be interested in any of that?

[lleeaannee]

Sarah have you tried lunging her so she can concentrate on her own postion and not worry about speed/direction.

[lamprellsarah]

, to solve this i am doing non stirrup work little bit of bareback, and lots of lunging
yes!!! leane

[qwerty]

With non stirrup work, have to tried doing rising trot? That worked wonders for me! Also sitting on a chair so she can practice tilting her hips.

[lleeaannee]

Duh, I'm blind!!

[qwerty]

Dice has been doing a lot of that recently!:p

[Maci]

The thing that helped me when I first learned was to imagine a rope tied to your pelvis area. When you rise, imagine someone is in front of you, standing, and they are pulling the rope (gently) up towards them. So, you therefore have to raise your pelvis up, but forwards to follow that rope...if that makes sense. Once she gets the hang of it, she won't need to imagine anymore, because it should become natural.

Good Luck!
Maci :)

[Mehitabel]

standing up in the stirrups at walk and trot is a good one for lower leg position, because they have to keep their legs underneath them to balance, especially if you take the reins away as well. i usually tell people to hold onto the mane or neckstrap to start with, to save any suddden bumps, and then gradually get them doing things with their arms as well. i was also taught to think about moving my hips so they were over the pommel when i rose, which helped me a lot.

[lleeaannee]

yeah i have to agree that is a very good one for balance. I find it a giggle - you can only hold it for so long and your bum ends up back in the saddle. You can do it canter too! I would say to take reins away for beginners or risk her leaning on the horses mouth. Maybe say to hold reins and neck strap togther.

[lamprellsarah]

Sorry Lampy, I know you'll forgive me - thanks doll!

thanx you lot, oh i will forgive u, some of my threads have ended up 3 pages long with only chat!! :)

oh and its sarah!!!!

[lamprellsarah]

err i don't mind lampy Dice, but being call sahra instead of sarah is just a bit weird!!!!

[lleeaannee]

weird?? Don't you ever do typo's? Same letters - different combination.

Oh, I'm sorry. Me very, very bad!!;)

[lamprellsarah]

nah, i like saz best!!!!!! :) :D

[qwerty]

what about Sazzle?! :p

[qwerty]

Happy Birthday by the way! :D :p

[lamprellsarah]

hmmm getting better!!! :)

[qwerty]

I do notice things! I'm not as dence as I may seem!:D