Although I didn't ride Friday night (John rode Thursday), Duke was master class during his jump lesson today. John told me that in the future, if I can't make it, even if it's late, to let him know and he will go out and hack Duke if he can.
We started over a cross rail, using it to change directions, then it turned into a vertical, and then John started us on a small course right away, with a seven stride line. Then we jumped a two stride to five stride, then to a triple bar.
Duke felt great. On turns, I bend him a little to the outside, then use an inside open hand to move his shoulders back over. In between the fences, I have to think really hard about keeping my left leg on so he doesn't drift out. I don't need to look down at the fence, and for the love of god, put my damn heels down.
But other than that, Duke was a delight to ride today. It was very much a confidence building lesson.
Charlie with the long sought after cooler
Spring NWEC 2013 Novice
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Amazing dressage lesson
Duke had his hocks done last Thursday, so he had Friday and Saturday off, a hack (at the walk) Sunday, light ride Monday, and increased ride with 20 meter circles Tuesday.
John started us by "breaking up his neck" where he holds his neck stiff at the base. I opened my inside hand, used my inside leg just a little to keep him from collapsing in too much, and then as soon as he bent his neck, used inside leg to leg yield back out onto a bigger circle (and released inside hand). If he tried to bulge out through the outside shoulder, I used outside leg to keep him on the circle, moving in.
If I couldn't break him up, I'd either do a couple steps of counter bend, or move his haunches into the circle with the outside leg. Then, when he gave everywhere, we'd ask him to go forward a little (both legs on-off-on-off even) and John said he could see a difference in the trot (I could feel it) where it was more "swinging".
We did this, took a break, did it again, then did the other side, a break, did it again.
Then we moved up to trot, doing it again, and then canter.
John had us change directions through the circle, and then he did this absolutely amazing thing, where I could FEEL Duke lift up his inside shoulder (John said that was his hind leg stepping under), which was really cool.
Duke tried to figure out what I wanted, and tried to do it. It was pretty awesome.
But what was amazing was not only could I feel him go round, I could get him to do it. John had to talk me through it, but I didn't have to have John get on him first to get that amazing feeling. Very very very cool.
John started us by "breaking up his neck" where he holds his neck stiff at the base. I opened my inside hand, used my inside leg just a little to keep him from collapsing in too much, and then as soon as he bent his neck, used inside leg to leg yield back out onto a bigger circle (and released inside hand). If he tried to bulge out through the outside shoulder, I used outside leg to keep him on the circle, moving in.
If I couldn't break him up, I'd either do a couple steps of counter bend, or move his haunches into the circle with the outside leg. Then, when he gave everywhere, we'd ask him to go forward a little (both legs on-off-on-off even) and John said he could see a difference in the trot (I could feel it) where it was more "swinging".
We did this, took a break, did it again, then did the other side, a break, did it again.
Then we moved up to trot, doing it again, and then canter.
John had us change directions through the circle, and then he did this absolutely amazing thing, where I could FEEL Duke lift up his inside shoulder (John said that was his hind leg stepping under), which was really cool.
Duke tried to figure out what I wanted, and tried to do it. It was pretty awesome.
But what was amazing was not only could I feel him go round, I could get him to do it. John had to talk me through it, but I didn't have to have John get on him first to get that amazing feeling. Very very very cool.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)