In yesterday's private we worked on trotting without stirrups, and I realized why it's so hard. I thought I could just relax my leg down the side of the horse, but apparently that isn't the right position. I had to put my hand on the pommel to pull my seat forward, let my leg hang long, but then I have to make sure my leg is lightly touching the horse, from my knee down to my heel. This meant my toes were still up, like the stirrup would position them. It also meant I had to use muscles I never use. I couldn't do it for much more than 5 minutes, and with a lot of readjusting by grabbing the pommel.
This is the sort of thing that would be great to work on during practice rides!
...
I'll be traveling for work 5 days a week for the next month.
Sigh.
We also worked on keeping a rhythm at the trot and canter and going over crossrails/2' verticals. I cantered longer than I think I ever have on the rail (ok, sometimes I cut some corners) and was actually doing it long enough to find a rhythm. My left leg really slides around, though. Which just makes me think that no-stirrup work is really valuable!
This is the sort of thing that would be great to work on during practice rides!
...
I'll be traveling for work 5 days a week for the next month.
Sigh.
We also worked on keeping a rhythm at the trot and canter and going over crossrails/2' verticals. I cantered longer than I think I ever have on the rail (ok, sometimes I cut some corners) and was actually doing it long enough to find a rhythm. My left leg really slides around, though. Which just makes me think that no-stirrup work is really valuable!
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