Wednesday, February 11, 2015

progression

I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
I mentioned a few weeks ago, that while working on the basics is so important and so good for you it is sometimes hard to be patient.

But now we are starting to progress again. Watching my trainer ride was helpful to see that when Whin didn't jump off her leg she would give her a bump with the spurs. Also Whin remebers from that ride that she needs to get off your left leg.

We did all sorts of shoulders in and haunches in and even did a little half pass. It was so nice to have those things be easy.
 Before I always tried to fix the movement which is really hard and very frustrating for Whin. This past few months has really taught me to just go back to the basics when those are there then the movements are so easy.

The things that 6 months ago Whin was really struggling with are  simple with  no fuss.

Some Epihanies that I had were that if Whin is stiff in the bridle if I just play with the rein for a moment she will soften and become nice and light.

Also to help Whin balance to the right in the canter I have been counter bending her but not then leg yielding her to the outside enough.  That is when she can really balance.

I have high hopes that when we get the canter in the right place the flying changes will become easy too!

Friday, February 6, 2015

The DYI rider

I am largly a DYI rider, with the acception of the first 90 I have done all the riding on Whin. But now that I have a new trainer that can ride I am starting to see the light of having a trainer ride your horse.
Yesterday in our lesson my trainer rode most of the time. 
Before I had, had trainers get on when things were not going great,but now I see the value in having a trainer regularly get on.
It is so nice to have a trainer hop on because than they get to feel what is going on. My trainer realized that my horse was throwing her haunches in and her shoulder out and then tilting her nose instead of really bending around my leg. This is on her harder side  which is why it has never felt as through.

Also Willow started to do her backing up thing, it was so nice to see how my trainer dealt with it, and got her through it.

So now we have new stuff to work on and I had the benefit of hopping on afterward and feel how Whin is supposed to go.

So I am still a DYIer but I think my trainer hopping on  is great.