Multi tasking!

[Georgia68]

I've been taking lessons since January, and reading every horsey book I can get my hands on! I think I know most of the theory behind upward/downward transitions, but once I'm riding all this goes out the window, I just forget everything!

What in your experience is the best way to remember the aids and actually apply them in practice?

For the more experienced, how long until you didn't have to think before doing?

[Trewsers]

I was like you and read everything horsey I could get my hands on - and then when I used to go for my lessons I'd forget most of it! lol. Now it is just second nature to me. (Not that I'm saying I'm any good you understand!). Getting on board Storm and just "doing" just feels natural and right. It always did with her right from the start somehow. I think the concsious (sp) part about remembering the aids etc went after I'd been having twice a week lessons for a few months - I couldn't be sure tho.

[Heucherella]

In a word - practise! It will all get easier the more you do it - promise

[pferdy]

I have found with any manual or instruction on anything, if you read it all at the beginning, it just becomes too daunting! I now only read up on the particular thing I am learning or (more accurately!) struggling with at each lesson. I am also trying to go with the horse and feel the riding rather than constantly thinking about technique (the RI will always remind me if my technique starts slipping anyway!!).