It was something like 10 degrees C colder than our normal winter average, and I was definitely feeling it. I need to break out my Alberta winter gear for the weekends rides, I think!
Bridget warmed up kind of fresh and stuck at the same time. I tried my best to be soft and patient with my bouncy pony ball of tension. Eventually, it felt ok, then all of the sudden it felt like I forgot to ride. Either my butt was too numb from the cold to post quietly, or Bridget was really lifting her back up and it and the saddle were meeting me a millisecond before I expected. As I was adjusting, EC again proved she has eyes in the back of her head and voted for option 2. Good to know, now I have a feel for the trot we really want. The good news is that trot flowed into a lovely canter, and I was able to get that trot back again pretty easily after. There's hope yet for our dressage!
The previous lesson ended just as I was inadvertently finding a dressage groove, so the change of focus to jumping felt a little abrupt. Luckily, we started easy, with grids made of poles on the ground like so:
Then progressed to the first of each turning into a crossrails, and eventually ending with all the poles bumped up to about 2'. And, we did fine. I still have so much to work on, but compared to last year, I feel quite secure and balanced not matter what is going on and am much better able to make corrections to my position. I can implement suggestions mid grid, rather than my previous go to of just getting in there and hoping not to die :) Will I ever look pretty over fences? Likely not at this rate. I do believe good equitation equals good riding made easier so I will certainly not give up and will keep trying to be a little closer to GM approved.
Bridget was a good girl. I would have hoped for her to be a bit more forward thinking, but if we again compare to last year she's much improved. She was amazingly honest and had zero issues with finding where her feet should be this time. She still requires the odd bit of encouragement not to quit mid way, but she's getting so much closer to the place where she will be experienced enough to just take me thru with minimal rider input.
I'm impatient and want to be better/fitter/braver NOW, so it's good when we have these types of lessons where I can see a little improvement in my riding.
All in all, an excellent, confidence boosting ride!
Seeing the improvements makes it all worthwhile! Also, I'm totally stealing this exercise.
ReplyDeleteIt rode easier than I thought it might!
DeleteGreat job! It is so nice to see improvement
ReplyDeleteI always want more, but any improvement is good!
DeleteAgreed on stealing this exercise, I want to teach this one to my kids!
ReplyDeleteThe kids in the lesson before me found it super hard...it's really great for teaching them to find a good line and then to stay quiet.
DeleteSounds like such a great lesson! I hear you on the weather, it's been colder than average here for the last few days as well
ReplyDeleteIt's fresh pony season!
DeleteGreat exercise, and it is truly an accomplishment to just feel COMFORTABLE doing things that were once really difficult! Even if you don't feel like a total rockstar with the grids yet, the improvement shown by not being anxious or nervous about it is HUGE!
ReplyDeleteAgreed 100%. I'm so great at convincing myself I can't do things, that getting to where it's comfortable is the hardest part. Bridget is the same, we almost always need to show her she CAN do it, before she actually believes it's worth trying.
DeleteI love the grid work! Definitely going to have to set this up. Confidence boosting rides are the best rides. Get it girl!
ReplyDeleteHa I can't wait until my horse is educated enough to try grids like that!!! And I know exactly what you mean about wondering whether I'll ever look "good" over fences. So much of it seems to be a function of how the horse jumps too
ReplyDelete