tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146995948798827920.post5448114460286959881..comments2023-11-16T03:43:07.585-05:00Comments on food, life.: Getting it Together.RuckusButthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14760056031442317243noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146995948798827920.post-3738663899662122722010-04-25T20:54:32.942-04:002010-04-25T20:54:32.942-04:00Thanks! Today was my first lesson since things sta...Thanks! Today was my first lesson since things started to feel like they were coming undone and it was awesome! He still gives some resistance at times and bucks or threatens to rear (or both) but he is figuring out it doesn't work anymore. Aside from those little "moments" he has been great. I really think riding outside has improved both of our states of mind!<br /><br />HoC - Oh I've been playing alright! I needed to think about what you said with respect to what I do and consider how they are different and similar. I do exactly what you describe in the trot-walk transition but you helped me realize that in the canter-trot I was using a different approach, though I didn't intend to. I was anticipating a problem in the transition and focusing on my seat as the cue. I was not riding forward into the transition like I usually would. I still need to ride this through a little more and see if I can figure out why I am doing this with him, but not previous horses.<br /><br />If I could just put a coin in and get advice from you anytime, I would either be poor, sleep deprived, or both! lol.<br /><br />Melissa - thanks! It's sad but true, sometimes. Bonnie sounds a lot like Brumby (or vice versa), actually. I finally realized I should do the full w-t-c without asking much, then come back and work, exactly like you describe. I think I missed this in the winter because I would spend soooo long warming up - walk in hand, walk under saddle, trot, trot...I had to recalibrate as the weather has changed!RuckusButthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14760056031442317243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146995948798827920.post-18001876418885626622010-04-25T12:12:23.682-04:002010-04-25T12:12:23.682-04:00I love the "emotionally abusive" comment...I love the "emotionally abusive" comment, gave me a laugh. <br /><br />Glad you are on the upswing again. In regards to warm-up Bonnie is the type of horse that I get on, walk a few laps, then trot and even canter a few laps around the ring on a totally loose rein (I only ask that she not put her head down some but no real contact at all) a few times around as well. Then I come back to the walk, ask her to come on the bit, and then we actually go to work. I usually starting with some lateral work at the walk to help supple her for the ride. I finally learned that she just needed time to stretch and move around before I asked anything "real" of her AT ALL.Melissa-ParadigmFarmshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14274830693649851658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2146995948798827920.post-82372000413070244992010-04-25T02:38:15.265-04:002010-04-25T02:38:15.265-04:00Yippeeee!
I am so happy for you, RB!
Riding can be...Yippeeee!<br />I am so happy for you, RB!<br />Riding can be very frustrating, but also SO fun when things work out.<br /><br />You wrote: "it still seems odd to me to stop with my legs instead of my seat" - but that's just it! <br />You are not to "stop". <br /><br />If my horse is collecting correctly, she will use more energy than she does in the working canter. It is very easy to lose both energy and balance in the transitions, and often it is because we use too much seat (and/or hands), and forget about the leg. <br />That is why it is so important to concentrate on the rythm, and the rein contact. The horse should at all times be ready to go forwards. If I have a hesitation going from collection back to working canter or extension, then I know that I probably did not have enough energy when collecting. <br />We need both energy and balance to make a good transistion!<br /><br />When I have a nice collected canter - then I use the seat for making the actual transition from canter to trot; just by thinking trot rythm. That should be it! <br />I then need to release the energy into a forward trot, I have to let go in my seat and hips to (hopefully) get a large, energetic trot. (This is also a very good opportunity to improve the trot, you know!) <br /><br />The input was just some general thoughts, RB, based on my own struggles and making a guess from how you decribed your problems. <br />Play around with it, or just ignore it, LOL! <br />I love to discuss these matters being the dressage nerd that I am. <br />Put on a coin and here we go!!<br />And remember, what works with your horse is the ultimate proof of doing things right.HorseOfCoursehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15907659164579327290noreply@blogger.com