Oh, also this happened in the hour before my lesson:
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| That is ONE MONTH'S worth of hair growth. |
Our lesson was spent on exploring further his lead switching issue when we're doing lines on the right lead. The moral of that story was 'controlled canter', and 'remember that you have a left leg and left rein'. Most of the time, we were doing a one stride to a two stride off the right, or two stride to a one stride, then around to the gate in the upper left of the photo.
The gate brought up our combination of his unusual jump + my bad eq again. She says he cracks his back so hard over the jump and also dives down with his nose, and it's never going to be easy to ride that, but especially since I'm still pretty green myself over fences, it makes it hard.
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| All kinds of awkward eq. |
That said, I spent the lesson working on not pinching with/pivoting around my knee and sending my hips back. But when I made that adjustment over the gate the first couple of times, I got whiplashed through my body, more or less. I asked her why, and she said it's because my shoulders were totally loose.
To fix that, she had me think about "putting my shoulder blades in my back pockets", as Cathy would say. That made a really big difference, and is going to be something I focus on going forward (you know, when I have a saddle again!).
Woohoo for having a saddle buyer!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it feels good! It will feel better once it's all paid and done tomorrow.
Deletehuh. interesting points all around. both the lead swapping and *interesting* eq are struggles for me too... thanks for sharing your trainer's pointers! also - congrats on the sold saddle!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, and you're welcome!
DeleteCongrats on selling your saddle! No comment on the back cracking jumps other than one of the lesson horses I rode this past year did the same thing and it was hard to get the timing and 'spot' for my upper body just right - I never did figure it out consistently, so i look forward to your posts about it :)
ReplyDeleteDarn, I was hoping you'd finish that by telling me you have the magic solution. ;-) I'll be sure to keep you updated.
DeleteCongrats on the saddle buyer! It's so nice to have it gone at last... And to get one that fits :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes. And one that my best friend can adjust for me.
DeleteJust purchased an Equifit Shoulders Back- really helps keep your shoulder where they should be and promotes good posture. You might want to put that on your list for Santa:)
ReplyDeleteI am one step ahead of you ;-) http://www.cobjockey.com/2014/03/product-review-equifit-shouldersback.html
DeleteGo girl! You ARE ahead of me:). I will say it makes a big difference for dressage riders- I can see how it would not be great for jumping, but for dressage it really keeps your shoulders they should be and also helps to keep you for collapsing. Wore it today for the first time during my ride and it made a huge difference!
DeleteI meant to say it helps to keep you FROM collapsing- the rib cage- which is always my issue.
DeleteI read that wrong at first and thought you were having a bareback jumping lesson!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I think that is way outside my skill level with this horse. We'll see, I have up to 60 days without a saddle coming up, I might get bored.
DeleteExpedite the CWD delivery?!?! But, so glad your saddle sold!
ReplyDeleteOkay - I'm with StanTheHorse - at first I thought your jump lesson was bareback and was very impressed! ;) Going to be revisiting your equifit shoulder post as well…
ReplyDelete