This lesson started off with Bob asking me what I'm going to do with Mercury. I said I didn't know. I haven't made much of an effort to sell him, and I don't really want to in case things work out with the current boyfriend and I can keep him as my second (trail) horse. Bob offered to get one of his horses ready for me to ride, and then I can keep saving my money for a nice horse until I find one, which is really generous of him.
This lesson we focused on just a few things, but the same old: my position (more on this in a second), keeping my hands still (not following his mouth), and getting him to move right out and respond right away to transitions.
What I'm supposed to practice this week is my position and snappy transitions.
My position needs a lot of work. What I don't do is move my hips - I move my upper body and think I'm moving my hips. But when I do relax and open them and move with Mercury, my upper body goes all crazy. I have to think of it like this: above my waist is a statue, including my hands; below my knee is a statue (and I need to point my toes more straight ahead (90 degrees) and not at an angle (45 degrees).) This alone felt weird enough to be worth a few weeks work, though I could immediately see how it would make a difference because it opens my knees and lets things flop around. It is also yet another repeat of the I need to FEEL it, not rote do it.
Bob said it's a good idea to keep him fit and keep him working and not worry too much about the future right now. He doesn't want me to get in a rush and buy another problem horse, then burn out and get frustrated and stop riding.
Charlie with the long sought after cooler
Spring NWEC 2013 Novice
1 comment:
Thats interesting because my trainer drills into us that our hands must follow our horses head. Different strokes for different folks. When you say Bob will get one of his horses ready to ride does this mean that you can compete that?
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