Bemused laughter. "Umm...bareback, if that's okay with you."
"Sure." (My sore muscles from CrossFit said no, my mouth said yes.)
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| I freakin love him. |
It ended up being an awesome lesson, and I'll say our Dressage was better than it was Sunday, but we were focusing on lateral movements and total pony body control, so that makes sense.
The big exercise of the lesson was this:
To get warmed up for it, shoulder in, then 8m circle at each letter.
Then:
Shoulder in coming around the corner, two steps forward in shoulder in down the long diagonal, then with the horse's body at that same angle, move him back to the rail. So the outside hind is the only thing that should hit the rail.
It was hard at first, but as he got softer and more on my aids, it got easier. Once we had it both directions at the walk, then we did it at the trot. We really had some mojo going then - especially when she told me to "ride my outside hip around the circle". I think that also helped me weight that seatbone more, and I felt him come underneath me more evenly when that happened (very obvious without a saddle.)
Finally, we ended up with canter and yes, hand gallop bareback. What! I used to be such a chicken bareback.
Right now, our big goal is to hand off some of the responsibility for keeping the gait/impulsion/bend/whatever to Connor so that I don't have to micromanage as much anymore, and that's mostly what we did at the canter. Time for him to take responsibility for his own body and get him more confirmed in this stuff so I'm free to do other things. (That sounds like I'm handing off his training to him and leaving to watch TV or something. Ha. Totally not the case.)
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| He's been shedding for a while, but today he started SHEDDING. Bye bye, summer coat. |
And we ended with some best friends time, grazing in the dark on the last 80 degree day of the year. So long, summer, it was nice knowing you.
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| I could look at that body all day. So different from when I first got him. |
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| Bad horse for sale photos: "LOOK HOW UPHILL MY HORSE IS, GUYS!" |
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| Beautiful evening. |
that exercise sounds really tricky - like the kind of thing that could easily piss off a horse if ridden poorly (or is that just my horse?? lol). nice work!!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, there was some tail swishing involved. I think we're at that point though, where there's going to be some tail swishing every once in a while.
DeleteYour plaid bareback pad + that bonnet. MY EYES!!!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, the idea of him doing his thing while you watch TV was hilarious. If only!
Isn't that bareback pad amazing? It looks like leftover fabric from a 70's couch.
DeleteWhat a leg workout that must've been!! Sounds like a great ride, and he is adorable (as usual) in the pictures.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't too bad - a lot of the lesson was her trying to get me to do less with my body and Connor to do more with his, so I was trying to relax instead of work harder. Thanks!
DeleteHe's so cute in that first picture. Ugh I'm hearing you on the muscles screaming no btu we keep on pushing them forward/
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes, I've always been told the best thing for sore muscles and DOMS is to work those same muscles. So we keep going.
Deletewe do that exercise a lot...its a goodie
ReplyDeleteMiles has finally started seriously shedding too. It's so sad :-(
ReplyDeleteCutest bareback horse ever!
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking about bareback. Maybe you'll inspire me to be brave.
ReplyDeleteShoulder-in Entwicklung! Once I have my larger space squared away I am totally employing this exercise. They also do it in Travers and Renvers and it is awesome for developing suppleness. Never see it in a test, but I think that is the problem some riders have: they ride to the tests and no more so they leave out so many tools that could help develop theit horse (s). You have a great trainer.
ReplyDeleteSuz has lost her summer coat also!
ReplyDeleteUgh shedding! Go bareback dressage!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like Comrade's hairy butt. ha brothers. I love bareback lateral work because it lets me feel the movement so much better. Great exercise.
ReplyDeleteOkay, now I want to go ride bareback. That lesson sounded like so much fun!
ReplyDelete