Last week, S left me with a bit of homework and some canter poles strategically placed around the ring. The goal is to get Midget thinking a bit more about where her feet are and starting to teach her that her canter can be adjustable, rather than the all or nothing we currently have. G came out with me today and got a few 'interesting' shots as well as the standard ones. You are welcome to laugh at our failures :)
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| Reach for it! |
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| So cute! |
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| Does this count as getting her off her forehand? lol Also +1 for completely ineffective riding! I was like "whoa she's going to jump...let me just drop my reins and go fetal/do nothing" |
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| I am a bouncy motorbike, whee!! Riding a baby pony is hard...I have the utmost respect for all of you out there making it look easy. |
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| Neat to see even with all the outtakes, there are moments where she's starting to sit back and balance when I get my self together and ride. |
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| Trotting like a grown up pony |
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| Spirals and circles |
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| I often lose her shoulder in the spirals. I can see here I've used too much inside rein. These pics are like a riding lesson for me :) |
These pics are pretty representative of my ride today. I think many more canter poles are in our future. Even if Bridget masters them, I'm not liking how I've reverted back to tipping forward more often than not and am not super great at being proactive about our pace until the last couple of strides. Honestly, I'm depressed by my riding...so tomorrow's lesson I am going to make S focus on me and nitpick all my bad habits. (She is a great coach, but we've been very oriented towards training the pony rather than correcting all my faults. Also I am entrenched in my terrible ways - just so no one looks at my riding and thinks she's a terrible coach lol)
She looks really good over the poles!
ReplyDeleteLol don't be so hard on yourself! Riding babies does the worst things to our positions!! Trust me, mine is bad too, I just don't post the bad ones because I'm a wimp lol. Also remember every photo is just a moment in time. I've seen photos of my riding where I look absolutely awful and then literally one stride later I look decent hehe. I love these photos! She is sooooo cute!
ReplyDeleteI got some video I don't have the patience to edit and post...but you're right, there are moments where I look terrible, then a couple of strides later it's much better. Some things, though, like my shoulders being hunched and my hands being way too low are consistent lol I have serious envy for the people who are super effective but still make it look good!
DeleteI feel the same way!! I'm so bad about slouching!! Dang shoulders! :) We just have to keep trying. That's the fun of riding. :D
DeleteLove the stretch & reach in those first pictures! B is such a fancy prancy pony ♡♡♡
ReplyDeleteYou are making such fab progress with her ☺☺☺
She's really starting to try, which is just so rewarding after all those months of her saying she can't/won't do anything !
DeleteOh gosh her little flippy feet are so CUTE! She is such a cool little pony, and don't be so hard on yourself! You really don't look as bad as you think you do. :)
ReplyDeleteCheck out those flicking hooves!!! Wow!
ReplyDeleteShe's getting the idea that the poles aren't for smashing lol
Deletei love all the pics!!! she looks so excited and exuberant to be cantering out and about over the poles! a little polish will come in time - and as she settles in and figures out her rhythm it'll be easier to ride :)
ReplyDeleteI really do feel like she's enjoying herself lately - so odd that we had nothing in the work ethic or forward department at first and now even though she doesn't find it easy she is all try!
DeleteIs that a tolt? lol Pony is getting fancy with that footwork.
ReplyDeleteLol, there were a couple of scrambly moments where she couldn't figure out how to get all four feet over those poles. Thank goodness she can't tolt - we've had enough issues with the tranter thing :)
DeleteDon't get depressed by your riding, I think we are all in the same boat and feel disgusted sometimes by how we look in pictures. I think we all want to improve :) It's apparent that you are an effective rider since she's improving so nicely.
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