**There will be no video. I tried repeatedly over the weekend and Monday am trying to upload the thing to blogger - to no avail. I am not a quitter, but there are some things that you just have to say, ENOUGH! :-) Maybe another time I will get one, that is shorter, that will upload okay.**
Is my horse landing heel first???? I tried for a long time last night to freeze the video enough to tell, but I couldn't be for sure. The footing in the arena is pretty deep, so that makes it tough to tell.
Certainly I have a lot of room for improvement. I need to work at not working as hard at posting, let Arabee's movement push me up out of the saddle. I need to quit leaning forward so much. I need to work on less upper body movement at the canter, especially.
I love how far Arabee is reaching underneath with her inside hind leg at the canter. Very nice!
I also need to decide whether I really want to ride on a loose rein or not. From the video it is clear I haven't been. In some ways a loose rein makes sense, in others, Arabee was wanting to lean in on the corners, so she needed some extra guidance to keep her from leaning so much.
4 comments:
Very interested in seeing your vids!
You sound like ME- in my head!
From the picture you posted- you two look GREAT, you're doing a fine job!
All I can think to say is ENJOY the time you ride together- whether or not you EVER get to compete- your relationship with your horse is MOST IMPORTANT! (Guess it comes down to how competitive you are)- I'm stuggling with this one, myself)
If you worry so much on how to DO everything right- it interferes with your bond. I have gone through this with my TAZzy. I just ride as if I were riding for the pure pleasure of riding! And let TAZ tell me what she enjoys- (she likes to sight see- looking mostly for trucks on the roads with TRAILERS- otherwise- deer, pheasent, turkey- and YES, MOUNTAIN LIONS!!!)
I HOPE to someday compete- BUT, it really doesn't really matter if we ever do!
...I understand your 'worries'- Just enjoy yourself- everything else that comes along is a BONUS!!
You wrote down exactly what goes through my head when I ride.
I get so frusterated sometimes because I cannot make my body do what I know it SHOULD do, but at the end of the day I try to take a deep breath, and enjoy the ride.
Nicole,
Please touch base with me at the end of the week so I'll know if you are riding at Versailles on Saturday. I am so HOPING for a decent riding weekend. We are only eight weeks out from the Chicken Chase, and I'm not feeling Phebes is ready. She might push through the miles, but emotionally she does not have it pulled together yet.
I'd love it if you could give me some pointers on getting me balanced while we are riding. Part of my problem is her impulsion is extremely hard to keep up with and once you get behind the motion you are sunk. The rest of it is FEAR. I envy you young women who just ride so free and beautifully. There was a time long ago when I rode bareback arms flung wide...I don't know what happened to me, but I think her name is "Phebes."
Jacke - if the weather cooperates like you said, I am planning on riding at Versailles w/ you on Saturday. Looking forward to getting some miles on Arabee. I think she can do 1.5-2 hours, providing we take some walking breaks.
I know what you mean about getting behind the motion. A big part of that is the fear you mentioned, but if you can do lots of these exercises like I'll write about below, it'll help build balance, get you used to the movement of your horse, and help you let your horse move YOU - like I mentioned w/ posting the trot in this post - me, like A LOT of people work too hard at that. Really, letting the horse's motion lift you out of the saddle is way better and easier, and believe it or not helps you stay w/ the horse easier.
Does Phebes longe well? I mean, will she calmly walk, trot, and canter on a consistent circle on a longe line? One thing that I used to do was have my mom longe my horses while I sat on them - having someone else in control of your horse so you don't have worry about where she's going helps you to stay centered and able to focus on your seat and position - all you do is help keep her on the right circle with your leg cues, and hold on! The longe-er is also good at reminders to keep shoulders back, or move legs back, or heels down, or whatever! This helps build your confidence and trust in your horse, at least for me.
Another thing that works WONDERS for both riding balance, and your core muscles is to ride without stirrups. Do this in the arena!! After you ride a bit to take the "freshness edge" off when she's in a good state of mind and kind of tired, so you don't have to worry as much about her dumping you. Just lift the stirrups up over her back in front of you, and lay it across the saddle. Try to keep your legs in the same riding position as you would normally, and start with the walk and trot, and as you get more comfortable and balanced, try the canter. You can post w/out stirrups! It really builds your inner thigh muscles and knees and helps you be better able to "stick" a spook when you do have stirrups.
I haven't done these exercises in a while..but I should! It really is great. They won't be cure-all fixes - it's hard to be calm and relaxed enough to ride a horse fluidly when you can never anticipate what they're going to do next. Hope you're able to try them, and that they help.
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