I got to have 2 lessons this week because of a makeup. On Tuesday the lesson involved Chewie, a pony that wears grazing reins, but will do everything you ask as long as you're clear. He tested me a couple times, trying to wander into the middle of the ring, but by the end of the lesson we got him to canter on the rail. I'm still understanding the balance between my legs as an aid and sometimes having to actually pull a little bit to get him over.
My second second lesson we worked on sitting the trot and then "revving the engine" as my instructor calls it, where you tell him "go" but you hold him back, then explode into a posting trot to go smoothly over a cavaletti. We did this both ways and then my instructor said, "how about you do a big circle while I set up this jump." I look over and there is a 15" jump waiting for me. Without much preamble she sends me trotting up to it and I do a kinda-jumping position over it. The last time I attempted that was when I broke my arm, but this was so casual and smooth that I couldn't imagine falling off. It's amazing, nothing marks progress in riding like falling off trying something and staying on the next time! A few more times over the jump and I finally was getting into jumping position. And because I was focused on that, it wasn't until later I realized how more in-control I had gotten of Chewie, to keep him on a straight line, to get him more energized at the trot when I asked and to not feel all flustered when he cantered after landing the jump.
As you can imagine, I can't wait to try that jump again. I can see it all now: Trotting the jump, then cantering the jump, then two jumps, then higher jumps.
I should mention one other small victory. While getting Chewie tacked up, everyone kept remarking on how pissed off he was looking. He tried to bite me at least 5 times and finally I was firm with him and he gave up sulkily. #Confidence
My second second lesson we worked on sitting the trot and then "revving the engine" as my instructor calls it, where you tell him "go" but you hold him back, then explode into a posting trot to go smoothly over a cavaletti. We did this both ways and then my instructor said, "how about you do a big circle while I set up this jump." I look over and there is a 15" jump waiting for me. Without much preamble she sends me trotting up to it and I do a kinda-jumping position over it. The last time I attempted that was when I broke my arm, but this was so casual and smooth that I couldn't imagine falling off. It's amazing, nothing marks progress in riding like falling off trying something and staying on the next time! A few more times over the jump and I finally was getting into jumping position. And because I was focused on that, it wasn't until later I realized how more in-control I had gotten of Chewie, to keep him on a straight line, to get him more energized at the trot when I asked and to not feel all flustered when he cantered after landing the jump.
As you can imagine, I can't wait to try that jump again. I can see it all now: Trotting the jump, then cantering the jump, then two jumps, then higher jumps.
I should mention one other small victory. While getting Chewie tacked up, everyone kept remarking on how pissed off he was looking. He tried to bite me at least 5 times and finally I was firm with him and he gave up sulkily. #Confidence
great work! it's great when things just come together.
ReplyDeleteis chewie named for his habits?...
I think he might be! If he could talk I think he would say, "Bah, humbug!" The camp kids were tasked with putting bios up on all the horses' stalls and Chewie's description said, "He can really teach you a thing or two," and other work-arounds to the fact that he is very sassy.
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