Lesson was great

Doodle92

Doodle92

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Apr 6, 2021
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The combination of an instructor and mirrors made such a difference. It also helps when instructor has a similar temperament horse (all be it doing psg) so she saw when Robin was trying to get a reaction from me and knew what the reaction would be if I had risen to him!

It’s also amazing how restively simple exercises make a massive difference. Of course the medium canter back wasn’t too terrible. The first way her reaction was “what was wrong with that?” “Err not much”. Of course we had already been working hard before that. She homed in on me as I asked her. I try and sit too still in the canter. I need to move my hips more and in return he can be softer in his back, therefore softer over the neck and of course then softer in contact and not throwing his head.

I am lucky with Robin that he IS sensitive. So when instructor makes a tweak, I improve me and immediately robin improves. She also homed in that on the left rein he canters with 1/4 s in. A very common issue which has been mentioned. To me it feels straight. So shoulder fore in trot down long side. I wasn’t sure we could do that, turns out we can, another “what was wrong with that” “err nothing?” Canter in corner, shoulder fore down next long side in canter. I can then look up and see we are actually properly straight and so the translations are way easier. So now I feel what IS straight. Not just what I THINK is straight!

Very very good ride, he mostly tried very hard but of course has his own opinions at times 😂
 
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You'd be bored if he didn't have opinions :) . Sounds like a very productive lesson, now to take it to the next show!
 
I have never had mirrors, but I like to feel when things are right and when they are not, as then you feel the difference if you follow.
 
We have mirrors. I have concluded that Ella does not know the horse in the mirror is her. I dont know if any research has been done on this and horses?
 
Glad to hear you had a good lesson. Sounds like a good instructor.

Billy was not a mirror fan when i took him to an arena which had them. Every pass at that end of the school he cut short the end. Im sure hed have got use to it if we had done more.
 
Robin dosnt seem to notice them. He had a look the first time he saw them a while ago but nothing now.
 
I'll always remember the first time Jim saw them, thankfully not with me on but a male pro, he tried to attack them! I always had to watch him if I rode in a mirrored arena. Luka was horrified I was riding him straight at another horse and ran back until he hit the opposite wall, but having got the idea they weren't a problem after that.
 
Mine likes to look at herself in windows. She likes to look at people in windows, actually she just likes to look in people's houses!
 
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