Broke Rider Journals

Lesson #4

Taught some lessons this morning before my lesson, so was kind of tired and the massive asthma attack I had before my lesson probably didn’t help? Love me some lead line lessons where I have to run...

Lesson was good, was on grumpy old man horse again but he was pretty good. Wasn’t a terribly exciting lesson as there was a bunch of us in the lesson so I didn’t get a huge amount of “riding time” but it was all good. Pretty much just did trot and walk in 20m circles for a couple of laps about 3 times in the lesson.

It felt like one of those lessons where nothing was particularly good or bad? and I don’t really feel like I learnt anything new? I mean, I probably learnt heaps, but it really didn’t feel like it! So, not a whole load to break down?

We’re in for a storm tonight!

Have been a bit MIA this week oops!

Had a lesson last weekend. I was back on my bosses old eventing mare (still young, but does not compete anymore). She is super responsive, so the first ten mins of the lesson was me attempting to remember what it’s like to ride a forward horse...

We started off large in the arena, I could not keep her out, no idea why, so we kept drifting in for the first ten or so mins of the lesson. No matter how much inside rein (slack in outside rein to open her shoulder up) and inside leg I used she was not moving. This was only an issue on right rein though? Left rein was fine, so go figure! I went in after a few rounds so the other rider in my lesson could go and when we went out next everything was fine. 

Did more work on flexion and bend etc. I completely forgot that she’ll throw a tantrum if she is even slightly over-flexed at the poll. So I just have to remember to keep her straighter (even in the corners and circles) and use my leg more to wrap her around my leg.

I’ve been noticing that the past couple of lessons my heels have been coming up all of a sudden? No idea why, as I used to have a really good leg position which has kept me well in the saddle for many horse tantrums and spooks. Any suggestions as to why or tips to fix would be greatly appreciated?

At the end of the lesson I got to canter again, for the second time! I found it a lot less daunting this time... I think partly because I had already cantered so I kind of knew what I was in for, but partly because I was on a smaller horse? Maybe? I think it’s very much so a mind thing with me at the moment...

Anyways, her canter is really nice and smooth (more so than the last horse I cantered on) and she goes into it really smoothly. I still have no steering in canter, so my 20m canter circle was more of a 20 sided polygon of sorts. We cantered both reins and I (by some miracle) got her on the correct lead both times.

The missing fence caps are nowhere to be seen. The saga continues...

1 - I trained in ballet for over a decade (hit me up with questions because I miss it!)

2 - I’m a sucker for dark coloured horses with bright tack and a dark saddle