'Ride Like it's October' Lesson Recap

 The weather finally seems to be getting better which has lead to more consistent riding. So yay. But it's still been chilly until very recently.  On Friday I had a lesson booked in the afternoon and it was Quaid's turn.  I was really looking forward to having input on us and it did not disappoint. 

sorry for the picture quality the sun was off to the right

Jane had us walk and honed right in on my right leg being too far forward. It felt really weird to move it back. Then she was correcting my rein aids because I was giving and taking too much with my arms rather than following with my elbows.  I've been really struggling with this, I tend to take more with hands and bend the wrist. Or tighten my hands into fists. But it's not like I was all terrible. Quaid feels a lot more steady this year and Jane commented that his trot is way better.  Our steering is also much better.  

Quaid is not steady in the contact and, not surprisingly, takes exception to me holding him. But he also has a habit of pulling the reins out even when I'm not being hard.  Turns out that the answer is to absorb the movement in my elbows. I definitely didn't really get it during the lesson but I was really trying. 

at least our halts are square. And look how fuzzy he still is! 

trotting into contact

For the transitions I was to make sure that the contact was consistent on the outside rein throughout the transition. If he ducked behind the contact I was to follow with my elbows but not let him think the contact was to be avoided, rather he needs to learn to go to it and I need to make sure that it's a steady contact not hard.  

I had told Jane that we were just starting to canter this year.  And of course you know that she was going to put us through our paces.  

there was some nice moments 

and some feelings

 As we went along Quaid was getting frustrated and there were a few things going on. One was he wanted to have his head free to drop it and buck a little (in a playful way not a 'get off' way) and was getting pissed that I wasn't letting him.  The other was that I was riding too stiff in my hips/legs.  Jane told me to 'ride him like he's a broke horse. Ride him like it's October, not April'.  Funny how riding with expectations really help. 

I had to give him a few days off after the lesson between weather and family easter events.  Tuesday I tacked him up but first I lunged him in side reins. I thought that they might help him understand contact without the added randomness of my interference.  Being on the ground and helping him to go forward to the contact seemed to make a huge difference and I could see the penny drop. Especially at the trot-canter transition. When I rode I really tried to shift my focus and feel with my elbows not my hands. I have no idea if I can explain it correctly, but it felt like when I shifted to keeping a consistent feel in my elbows my hands were softer and I could maintain the contact way better.  So I guess the penny dropped for me too. 

Today it was even better and I was able to do multiple transitions without any fussiness with his head. And he went to canter from trot without feeling the need to pop up behind.  

I used to think that riding training level (which is where we are, albeit barely) was boring. Now I find it so fascinating because Quaid is so honest. It is such a privilege to bring along a young horse and help them figure it out. 

My goal is to have weekly lessons, alternating between Quaid and Carmen. So far the 'weekly' part hasn't been happening but we'll keep trying. 

Quaid: "I'm such a genius. I deserve all the cookies"