Dressage Lesson and Helpful Tricks

I know you're probably sick of hearing about how happy I am with the coaching at the current barn, but I can't help talking about how great it is! I did a quick google just now so I could sum up EC's background a little, and now I'm feeling thoroughly intimidated. Long story short, her relevant credentials would be a blog post in itself. The lady is way overqualified to be teaching me! Thank goodness she's friendly :)

 I am learning so much and feel like my riding has improved more in the past few months than in my entire life before that. (Changing my riding that much is a serious accomplishment in itself and probably should go somewhere near the top of her list of accolades ;) )

In all seriousness,  I've had good coaches and not so good coaches in the past, but I've never found that happy place where the instructor is super experienced/knowledgeable AND able to communicate that knowledge well AND able to adapt the teaching style to the student's needs/goals. 

OK, I'll stop gushing now. Promise. On to a lesson recap...

But first, a pic from last spring to break the text

As the tile of the post would indicate, tonight was dressage lesson night. EC was inspired from a recent clinic and had a trick waiting for us in the form of a rope tied in a loop.

I know, your mind is blown, right? Right now you're so grateful you read this blog...so much insight, so many great tips! OK, ok,  I'll explain - it really is a helpful tool :)

The idea is simple enough. I'm sure we've all had to do the riding crop under the thumbs thing to remind you to keep your hands level and together at some point in our education. Same idea, adjust your reins to the appropriate length, pick up rope goes around pony's neck, but hold it like the curb rein on a double. The idea is to keep some tension on the underside of the neck rope. It works kind of like the whip under the thumbs, with the added bonus of making it impossible for you to pull back on the reins. Also, you still get a little independent motion of your hands, so it's a little closer to 'real life' riding. Then, focus on going forward into the contact, forward into the down transitions, NO pulling back on your reins, ever! Use your seat to slow the pony :) For me, it was also a great reminder to keep my hands up and in front of me. I saw it in action and actually begged her to teach me with it in our lesson. I knew it would help in the canter when my inside hand gets all weird.

I did a google search for neck ropes and came up with a ton of weird and wonderful things... this pic is closest to what we're talking about although the reins here look like they're being held in a way that would make life difficult. Via pinterest

And, it worked. The left lead canter was actually pretty good, and that's our really tough side. In general, Midge felt super fussy in the contact at first, but since for once I knew it wasn't me, I didn't get weird about it and just kept pushing her forward. When she was soft and forward, the instructions were to the same as a normal ride - imagine you're pushing a shopping cart ie: hands up and forward a little. And voila, by mid ride I had a soft, amazing, fancy pony! I also felt like my position gradually got more solid - I wasn't as inclined to hunch my shoulders forward since the whole idea of keeping a light tension on the neck rope sort of forces you into keeping your shoulders back and seat in the saddle/core strong.

We played a little with really collecting (like almost trotting in place collected, so amazing), then extending the trot, also the whole straightness thing which will be our nemesis forever. We can go straight in a straight line or we can bend like a banana and drift all over the place. Straight on a circle? So difficult. EC took pity on me and had us do about a million leg yields...2 to 3 steps over - then straight and forward. Repeat, alternating direction/bend. So helpful and much more friendly than entire circles. Most amazing moment? Leg yield through that super slow, collected trot to a canter transition. It created a transition well beyond Bridget's norm and would rank up there as one of the best I've ridden EVER. So cool.

SuperPony!

So, we had a great ride. I wouldn't pin that all on the neck rope. The Midge was being extra responsive to my seat and legs and still had some forward thinking due to our recent jump schools. I could see the neck rope thing not being as helpful if she was greener or in a mood, ie when exaggerated aids might be necessary. As a remedial tool I'd still highly recommend if you've got busy/'disobedient' hands and/or a fussy in the contact pony, or maybe just need a reminder to make those transitions off your seat. For someone like me on a green pony, it was a super cool way to really feel how things should be as far as my aids and position and having pony properly on the bit. Worth a try - especially for the price point of FREE - everyone must have a rope or some baling twine or a spare set of reins somewhere in the barn!